Headphones can be hard to buy. There are so many different styles and types to choose from and each kind is designed for different situations. There are in-ear headphones, which are great for portability and use during sports or activity. Then there are on-ear headphones, which still retain some level of portability while delivering improved comfort and often improved sound-quality. Last but not least are over-ear headphones, which are the ultimate in comfort and sound quality, but they aren’t always very portable.

If you decide that over-ear headphones are the right choice for you, then there are a few other things you should look for before you buy any old pair. For starters, you’ll want to think about whether you want wired or wireless headphones. Wired headphones generally sound a little better, though for the untrained ear it might not make a difference, while wireless headphones are more convenient because you cut the cord out of the equation.

You’ll also want to consider the type of driver you want inside the headphones. This won’t matter for most people, but audiophiles who are looking for a pair of headphones that boast a ton of clarity and detail might want to consider a pair of planar magnetic or electrostatic headphones for the best performance.

Perhaps the most important thing to think about when looking for a new pair of headphones is budget. Audiophiles will be the first to tell you that it’s easy to spend thousands on a great pair of headphones, but you’re probably not looking for a pair of multi-thousand-dollar headphones. With all this in mind, we’ve rounded up the best over-ear headphones in a variety of price points.

Here are the best over-ear headphones you can buy:

Prices and links are current as of 03/27/2020. Replaced Sennheiser HD280Pro with the Audio-Technical ATH-M20x as our pick for best affordable over-ear headphones. Added links to related buying guides and headphone deals. Updated by Steven Cohen.

The best over-ear headphones overall

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO headphones may not be cheap, but the sound quality of these cans makes them absolutely worth the price.

If you're simply looking for the best over-ear headphones out there and don't care too much about anything else, then the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO headphones are the way to go. These headphones may be a little pricey, but they're built with the recording studio in mind, and they're made specifically to deliver a powerful yet natural sound.

There are a few reasons these headphones sound so good. For starters, unlike most headphones these days, the DT 1990 PRO feature an open-back design. That means outside noise can get in, and your music can be easily heard by those around you, but it also helps create a much more natural sound with a wide soundstage. Open-back headphones are perfect for those who plan on listening at home by themselves a lot.

On top of the open-back design, the headphones feature plenty of padding, replaceable and removable cables, and more. The sound-quality on these headphones, however, is where they really shine. They're slightly bass-forward with plenty of midrange support and a ton of detail in the high-end. With more detail, instruments sound defined and separate, which makes for an awesome listening experience.

So what's the downside? Well, the main one is price. They're also a little bulky, though considering they're really built for home use, that may not be an issue for some.

Pros: Amazon sound quality, extremely comfortable, nicely designed

Cons: Expensive, bulky, not wireless, open-back design lets in outside sound

The best wireless over-ear headphones

Foto: Source: Malarie Gokey/Business Insider

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 headphones are the complete package, offering excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, and decent noise cancellation.

Sennheiser is known for building some of the best headphones on the market, and the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 headphones are no exception to that rule. The headphones are beautifully designed, super comfortable, sound great, and even offer noise cancellation.

There are a ton of reasons to love these headphones, but the biggest reason is how great they sound. The headphones may not be the most accurate sounding headphones in the world, but they offer a fun listening experience.

For example, while there's a little extra bass, it's not too over-the-top. The mids are well-tuned, and the highs offer plenty of detail and clarity. They may not be as detailed as a pair of high-end wired headphones, but when it comes to wireless headphones, these are the best.

The headphones offer some great smart features too. They have noise cancellation, and while it's not quite as good as Bose's or Sony's, it's still effective. They even have Tile tracking built into them, so you shouldn't ever lose them.

What about the downsides? Well, the biggest is that the headphones are a bit pricey. Still, they seem to be absolutely worth it. Insider Reviews Deputy Editor Malarie Gokey tested them briefly at a tech conference and deemed them some of the best tech launched at IFA 2019.

The headphones have gotten great reviews since their release, with Digital Trends giving them 8/10 and What Hi-Fi going a step further to a whopping 5/5.

Pros: Excellent design, great sound quality, comfortable, noise cancelling

Cons: Expensive, noise cancellation isn't on par with headphone models from Sony and Bose

The best noise-cancelling over-ear headphones

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones look good, sound great, and offer the best noise-cancelling tech of any headphones.

Bose has been dethroned. The Bose QuietComfort line of headphones have a ton to offer, but the best noise-cancelling headphones currently available are the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones.

There are plenty of reasons to love these headphones. As mentioned, they offer excellent noise-cancellation tech, meaning they'll be able to easily block out plane engine noise, noise from the train, or simply noise from the street.

But the headphones go beyond great noise cancellation - they also sound awesome. Like other wireless headphones, they're not the most accurate headphones out there, but they still sound absolutely awesome. There are plenty of low frequencies, a well-tuned mid range, and a ton of detail in the high-end, making for a great listening experience.

The headphones offer other great features too. They're super comfortable, so they can be worn for hours on end with ease, and they have a whopping 30-hour battery life, which is better than most wireless headphones. Really, there aren't many downsides to these headphones, and they've gotten excellent reviews, including a score of 4.5/5 from Tom's Guide and from CNET.

Though the list price is on the expensive side, recent sales have brought the price down quite a bit, which only adds to the overall value the headphones offer. There are better sounding over-ear headphones without noise cancellation that are available for more money, but at their current sale price, the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are the best noise-cancelling models you can buy.

Pros: Well designed, comfortable, great battery life, good sound quality, excellent noise cancellation

Cons: Pricier headphone models without noise cancellation offer better sound quality

The best mid-range over-ear headphones

Foto: Source: Beyerdynamic

The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones may not be the prettiest around, but their sound quality is unrivaled in this price range.

Beyerdynamic may claim the top spot on our list with the expensive Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO headphones, but it turns out the company makes some pretty great budget headphones, too. Case in point: The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones. This model features an affordable price and offers excellent value for the money.

While these headphones may not be wireless or have noise cancellation, they do offer excellent sound quality. The DT 770 PRO boast plenty of bass without going too far over the top, a well-tuned midrange, and a good amount of clarity and detail in the high-end.

Of course, the headphones aren't perfect. They're largely suited for home listening rather than anything else, and they're a bit bulky because of that. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's still something to keep in mind. The headphones also don't have a removable cable, which is a little frustrating for some.

Still, despite those issues, most reviewers love the headphones. PCMag gave them 4.5/5 stars, while CNET gave them 8/10.

Pros: Excellent sound quality, good value for money

Cons: Bulky, no removable cable, no wireless support

The best affordable over-ear headphones

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are an ideal choice for buyers who want a budget-friendly pair of over-ear headphones that still sound great.

Though they are a step down from our other picks, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x over-ear headphones perform remarkably well for their price.

The entry-level pair of studio headphones use an over-ear design with 40mm drivers. Bass isn't particularly impactful, but the headphones offer impressive audio performance for their class, with pleasing high and mid-range sound quality. Again, these aren't audiophile level, but they get the job done very well for everyday listening.

Comfort and build are also strong thanks to the cushioned headband and padded ear cups. While the headphones don't feature wireless connectivity or active noise cancellation, the cups actually provide solid noise isolation so outside sounds won't bother you as much while listening.

As a brand, Audio-Technica is known for higher end headphone models, like the M50x and M70x, but for such a budget-friendly price, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x provide a very nice value.

Pros: Comfortable, 40mm drivers with excellent sound for the price

Cons: Bass response is lacking, no wireless support

Check out our other headphone buying guides

Foto: Source: Amazon

The best noise-cancelling headphones

With active noise-cancellation technology, headphones are able to analyze and minimize surrounding noise. This makes it easier to listen to music in loud environments, like during commutes. Through research and testing, we've picked the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.

The best earbuds

Earbuds offer a compact and portable music-listening solution. Some models still require wires while others feature wireless playback support. Earbuds need to be well constructed to offer the same kind of audio performance you'd get out of a bigger pair of headphones. With different budgets and features in mind, we've selected the best earbuds you can buy.

The best true wireless earbuds

True wireless earbuds are completely free from cables, enabling you to connect each earbud to your phone without any wires getting in the way. Some true wireless earbuds even feature noise cancellation technology. After researching and testing different models, we've picked the best true wireless earbuds you can buy.

The best cheap headphones

Though audiophile headphones can be very pricey, there are still many worthwhile budget-friendly headphones on the market. With different needs and styles accounted for, these are the best cheap headphones you can buy.