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Here’s the truth: expensive headphones are worth it

Headphones are more than mere accessories. In 2022, a proper pair of noise-cancellers are an absolute essential for every city-dweller, hybrid worker or frequent flyer. You need a pair that delivers the specs and is lightweight enough to live in your bag or around your neck.

Sure, you could rely on a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds (we often do), but there’s nothing quite like the performance of some of the best over-ear headphones. The top models can cancel more noise than buds, you can happily wear them for longer, and they bang out phenomenal audio reproduction.

It’s worth saying that the cost can get high, but we’ve found it’s true that expensive headphones are worth the investment. Top pairs will last ages, and pack in features that you’ll struggle to find on cheaper rivals. While we’re tried to include options at a range of prices here, you’ll find it’s rare to get effective active noise-cancelling (ANC) at a lower price. When it comes to sound, you can tell the difference when you spend a bit more too. And once you’ve heard the best, it’s impossible to go back.

When it comes to over-ear headphones, we test out the top models by using them as you would. We pair them to our phones and tablets, before firing up our music and podcasts. We use them to tune out the ambient background noise while on the commute or at the office. And we check how they perform when playing several different music genres. We also factor in how well the carrying cases work for travel and look at the battery life, charge time and any bundled accessories too.

Available at John Lewis, Selfridges and Bowers & Wilkins

If you’re looking for over-ear headphones that tick every box, whether that’s comfort, weight, style, audio quality, noise-cancelling or versatility, the new Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 get our vote. These look seriously polished and refined, and they sound just as impressive. We love the included carrying case, wired connections via the bundled cable and multipoint Bluetooth for maintaining two separate connections at once. If we were forced to pick just one pair to toss in our bag before heading out to commute and for a day at the office, this is it.

We can happily wear them for hours on end and not tire of them. And the look of these feels unique too. They’re not identical to the sea of Sonys and Boses that, while excellent and also featured on this list, don’t do anything too ambitious when it comes to the design. You can’t deny that the B&W pair looks sophisticated, and we much prefer the tactile real buttons over unreliable touch control interfaces. The sound is detailed, accurate and rich, the noise-cancelling is some of the very best, and we like the simple but functional companion app. We’d struggle to find any drawbacks here, and we reckon the 30-hour battery life will be more than enough for most people too.

Weight: 307g Battery Life: Up to 30 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-C to USB-C charging and audio cable, USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable Colours: Blue, Black or Grey

Available at John Lewis, Amazon, Currys, Argos and Apple

We’ve got to be honest, we adore the AirPods Max. If you’ve ever seriously considered Apple’s premium cans, we’re here to tell you they’re every bit as good as you’ve heard. After being surrounded by all the high-end headphones on the market over the last few months, these are the ones we keep picking up. They’re ultra-comfortable to wear because they have fabric earcups, rather than foam or leatherette, and they come with loads of added convenience for Apple users. The sound quality is superb, and we can’t get enough of the sleek design.

We set them to split audio with a pair of Beats Solo Pros while watching Yellowjackets on our iPad during a cross-country train journey, they have incredible "spatial audio" for cinematic movies and TV (when viewed on Apple devices, of course) and a class-leading transparency mode that makes it feel like you’re not wearing headphones at all. The noise-cancelling is powerful and capable, and they instantly pair with all your Apple devices. Aside from some very minor charging quirks – you’ll need that Lighting cable rather than a USB-C and they have to go back in their unusual “Smart Case” rather than having a typical off button – there’s nothing to dislike here.

Weight: 384.8g Battery Life: Up to 20 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-C to Lightning charging cable Colours: Pink, Blue, Grey, Green or Silver

Available at John Lewis, Amazon, Sony, Argos and Currys

The key priorities for travel headphones are a small case, low weight, long battery life and effective ANC. This Sony pair ticks all these boxes, and while the brand has released a newer flagship, that model lacks the excellent folding design of these. We’re sure Sony’s aware of just how good this 2020 release is, which is why it’s still manufacturing the ultra-portable and popular XM4s. When we tried these out, the almost aggressive noise-cancelling completely silenced the roar of our Central Line tube carriage, bringing us peace in conditions that often exceed 90 decibels. It’s superb, but it also got the closest to giving us a bit of a “cabin pressure” feeling with the ANC on.

These used to go for well over £300 but are now consistently under £250, making them one of the best value pairs on the list too. The Bose QuietComfort QC45s are a close competitor that also boasts a small travel case and lightweight form factor. Overall, the sound here is warm, rich and detailed, and we love how they can tell when you’re on the move or standing still, changing between transparency and noise-cancelling to suit your activity. We found this ideal when rushing into work, and it would be invaluable for anyone hurrying to their gate at the airport. The only real downside is that these achieve a lighter weight by having a more plasticky feel than others in this list.

Weight: 254g Battery Life: Up to 30 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging and audio cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, flight adapter Colours: Blue, White, Silver or Black

Available at Amazon, John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Bose

The Bose 700s ooze style, with one of the most futuristic designs on our list, thanks to the slim steel headband that slots neatly into each earcup. It’s a striking change from the older and more traditional appearance of the Bose QuietComfort 45s below and we love that the headphones have a close fit to the sides of the head. On test, the plush pleather earcups fully covered our ears and were comfortable to wear on a two-hour commute, with strong active noise cancellation effectively blocking out background noises including conversations and deep rumbles of the train.

While the QC45s have two ANC modes, the 700s have 11 different levels of noise cancelling, controlled via an app or a button on the left cup. On the right side, you’ll find the power and voice assistant buttons, but we like that you also have the option of changing volume or skipping tracks using touch controls on the sides of each cup, too. While anyone prioritising portability may not like that the cops don’t fold (they twist to the side) the 700s come with a carry case that’s small enough to pop in your bag. But the appeal here is the look – get them if you want ANC with style.

Weight: 250g Battery Life: Up to 20 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging and audio cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable Colours: Black or Silver

Available at John Lewis, Amazon, Selfridges, BT, and Bang & Olufsen

The circular earcups of the Beoplay HX make them a distinctive option, and they’re especially stunning in the two-tone brown and grey shade that we tried for this roundup. If it’s good looks you’re after, we think these are your best bet. They’re just the most attractive pair of over-ears on the market, delivering heaps of elegant Scandi style. B&O offers them in four different colour approaches – Sand, Black Anthracite, Timber and Dark Maroon – and depending on which you pick, these can be subtle and sleek or bold and beautiful.

They’re comfortable to wear for hours on end and give you quality noise-cancelling in addition to the energetic and detailed sound. They’re especially great with vocals, we were particularly impressed when listening to ‘Brothers in Arms’ by Dire Straits on these. The cans aren’t bulky too, which we consider a major plus, and they come with a much more portable and lightweight travel case when compared to the other Bang & Olufsen pair on our list.

Weight: 285g Battery Life: Up to 35 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable Colours: Sand (Beige), Black Anthracite (Black), Timber (Brown/Grey) or Dark Maroon

Available at Amazon, John Lewis and Sennheiser

We love wearing Sennheiser’s latest over-ear cans at home connected to our laptop just as much as we do when travelling, and that’s a testament to just how much the quality impressed us. The sound profile is deeper and fuller than some other models we’ve tried, including the Bose QC45s, and they have no trouble handling a variety of musical genres, from rock to jazz. There’s no muddiness at loud volumes, and we love how quickly they pair once they’re powered on. It’s a seamless and smooth experience.

Aside from a power button, the Momentum 4s use touch and gesture controls. While it took a while for us to get used to the navigation (especially the pinch movement to change the ANC) it’s responsive and works well, even if we wish there was a voice to tell you which mode you’re in. Our favourite aspect of the headphones is that you’ll be able to enjoy music for ages: they give 60 hours of ANC from a charge – perfect for longer journeys. These have comfortable earcups, but they are fairly large so this is not a set for anyone searching for a subtle pair of cans.

Weight: 293g Battery Life: Up to 60 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, flight adapter Colours: Black or White

Available at John Lewis, Amazon and Hard To Find Hi-Fi

For a lot of potential shoppers, Technics probably isn’t one of the first names to jump to mind when considering the top headphones on the market, but we’re here to tell you that these match up to the performance offered by the Sonys, Sennheisers and Boses of the world. Hi-fi fans will know the name Technics from its turntable credentials, and these over-ear noise-cancellers bring a traditional and classic design to the table. We love the brushed aluminium of these, and the whole package feels premium. They also fold down into a compact case, a big benefit for travellers.

We found the ANC was more than good enough to cancel out the background rumble when we used them on the train, and they’re just as impressive when silencing the distracting chatter from your coworkers at the office. They offer a bit of a mix of touch controls and regular buttons, but as mentioned, we prefer the reliability of a button you can press and we found the touch panel imprecise on these. Beyond that, we’d say these are a great pick for an old-school look that will stand out from the ones everyone else owns, and they’re damn good for audio quality too.

Weight: 300g Battery Life: Up to 50 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, flight adapter Colours: Black or Silver

Available at Amazon, John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Bose

If you need a reliable and comfortable set of over-ear headphones that have physical control buttons instead of touch input, we highly recommend the Bose QC45s. They’re now one of our go-to cans for the commute to work as they block out nearly all of the annoying noises from the train, and we can wear them for hours at a time thanks to the soft ear-cup covers – which cover our ears without ever feeling tight. The ANC makes these a serious contender too, drowning out typing on a mechanical keyboard, passing traffic and a desk fan.

The design isn't as sleek as the Bose 700s above and you only get two sound modes – “Quiet” (noise-cancelling) and “Aware” (transparency) instead of an adjustable series of levels – but we like the simplicity of the QC45s approach, and the audio quality is fantastic. The closest competitor on our list is the Sony XM4s, which have a few hours more battery life but a slightly chunkier design. The QC45s are ideal for anyone searching for a good-looking and no-fuss pair of over-ear headphones that puts comfort first.

Weight: 240g Battery Life: Up to 24 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable Colours: Black or White

Available at John Lewis, Mr Porter, and Amazon

If only luxury will do, you’ve got to consider these gorgeous Bang & Olufsen cans. They’re the most expensive model on our list, and they deliver premium performance to match the sky-high price tag. B&O claims they’re ideal for travellers but we think they’re a top pick for listening at home. The fairly heavy aluminium carrying case feels a little too large to bring in your backpack but is ideal for the coffee table or displaying on your shelves. Remove and unfold the headphones from the plush interior of their case, and you’ll find that the sound is warm, detailed and precise. We found these transporting when listening to some Pink Floyd and Radiohead.

The adaptive ANC is impressive too, as is the long 38 hours of listening time that you get even with noise cancelling turned on. Overall, the design is sumptuous, with clear attention to detail and loads of aluminium detailing that pairs with the soft and comfortable memory foam and lambskin ear cushions. If you’re after headwear that will turn heads, you need look no further. These are some of the most eye-catching models around, so they’re ideal if you’re happy to bring them out into the world. These scream high-end indulgence, though, so we’d be quite happy to leave them at home for our relaxing weekend listening sessions. They also come with all the cables you need and a polishing cloth in the box – an essential to keep them looking their best.

Weight: 323g Battery Life: Up to 38 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, flight adapter, microfibre cleaning cloth Colours: Light Grey, Black, Gold, Nordic Ice (Silver), Chestnut (Dark Brown) or Navy

Available at Master & Dynamic and Mr Porter

If it’s the very best materials you’re after, this Master & Dynamic model matches the likes of the Bang & Olufsen models and the AirPods Max when it comes to both price and luxury design. We love the feel of the anodised aluminium and lambskin leather that gives these a seriously premium finish, and they’ve also got a tempered glass surface to cover the logo on each earcup. The memory foam earcups are a little on the smaller side for us, so we would recommend other headphones on this list if you’ve got bigger ears. The travel case is also a bit bulky, so you’ll need a fair bit of room in your bag to take these with you.

When it comes to sound, they’re just as first-rate as they look, delivering a slightly more bassy profile than some of the others here. We listened to several different genres and were impressed with how they handled the layers and instrumental depths of ‘Snowcone’ by deadmau5, we could feel the reverberations and hear the subtleties of the track. The noise-cancelling is good, but not as refined as what you’ll get from Sony, Bose or Apple, and there’s a slight background buzz that you’ll only notice on low volumes. Overall, the MW75s are a terrific package with balanced audio, a comfortable design, and high-end construction. They’re a gorgeous pair of headphones, but the high price can make them hard to justify among rivals.

Weight: 338g Battery Life: Up to 28 hours with ANC on Included Extras: Carry case, USB-C to USB-C charging cable, USB-A to USB-C adapter, USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable, 3.5mm to 1/4” adapter, flight adapter Colours: Gunmetal and Black Leather, Silver Metal and Grey Leather, Silver Metal and Brown Leather, Black Metal or Black Leather

You’ll thank yourself for taking a little time before you buy to think about the key factors that matter most for your headphones. You don’t want ones with too small earcups, too much weight for your travels or a battery life that won’t last for your long-haul flight. Here are the main points we’d keep in mind when shopping around:

Weight and comfort: Being able to wear your headphones all day long is essential. We’ve tried every model on this list, so can vouch for their comfort credentials. You’ll want to consider some of the things that matter to you though, like whether you’d prefer memory foam, leather or fabric on the earcups. And it’s worth thinking about the weight too. The models in the list are all well-balanced and won’t feel weighty on your head, but there is a bit of a difference between almost 400g and 250g (about as much as a small bag of coffee beans) especially if you’re travelling.

Sound quality: There’s a lot of complex design that goes into making certain headphones sound better than others, and there are several components that each play their part. We don’t want to get into the jargon, but we’d recommend looking at guides like our own and checking reviews from serious audiophiles when considering the audio quality. In 2022, loads of headphones are incredible, so you’ll often be picking between ones that have a slightly more bassy or slightly more balanced sound signature.

Noise cancelling: This clever tech used to be reserved for only the most high-end headphones, and it can still cost a fair bit to get decent active noise-cancelling (ANC). It’s not as simple as just blocking noise from reaching your ears, it’s an advanced approach that listens to external ambient sounds and plays an “inverted” sound wave to cancel them out. Because of this, it works best with persistent noises, like a plane engine or the hum of office chatter. Every model on this list has noise-cancelling, so we’ve done the hard work for you.

Battery life: You’ll find that you’ll get somewhere between 20 hours and 60 hours with ANC on from most of the over-ear models out there. We’d suggest picking ones with longer battery life if you know you’re going to be away from a wall charger for some time, although you could always bring a power bank with you to keep the cans topped up.

Companion apps: While you’ll be able to control these models from the body of the headphones themselves – whether with touch controls or our preferred proper buttons – it’s worth downloading the relevant app to access more features and customisations. These will allow you to tweak the strength of the noise-cancelling, adjust what the buttons and gestures affect, set your voice assistant and more. The only one on this list that doesn’t have an app is the AirPods Max, which is controlled through Apple’s own iOS menus and settings (sorry, Android users).

Extra features: We’ve just mentioned voice assistants, and it’s pretty common to find these built into your headphones, whether that’s just the assistant from your phone (such as Siri or Google Assistant) or Amazon’s Alexa that can be set up through the app on some models. The AirPods Max will give you extra features like "spatial audio" and announcements of your notifications (when paired to an iPhone or iPad), something you won’t have with other models. It’s also worth looking out for special Bluetooth features, like “multipoint”. This allows your headphones to stay connected to two devices at once and pick the one currently playing audio - super useful if you like to quickly switch between your tablet and phone, for instance.