We’re just over half-way through the year, and of the 28 pairs of headphones we’ve had the pleasure of testing so far, there are a number of standout over-ears from both ends of the price spectrum. If you’re looking for a new pair of cans, these are the models you should be checking out.
At the affordable end of things we have the Nothing Headphone (a), which manage to be both way better and much cheaper than their predecessors. We praised their “impactful and well-balanced sound, good active noise cancellation” and “excellent and truly useful app”. A little pricier but still affordable are the retro-styled and ridiculously comfortable Marshall Milton ANC, and the clear-sounding JBL Live 780NC, with their never-ending battery life.
For true audiophiles with deep pockets, we’ve tested two blow-the-budget bangers. The Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 are the only pair of over-ears to earn a perfect five stars, with their “beautifully precise and engaging audio with exhilarating low-end performance” (here are all the five-star buys of the year so far, if you’re interested). We were also blown away by the Grado Signature S750, a pair of handmade, open-back headphones that offer “an exceptional soundstage and excellent clarity”, and sound “amazing” on well-produced music.
Scroll down for a comprehensive list of our top-rated over-ear headphones of the year so far — hit the ‘View details’ button for a summary of the main pros and cons of each one, plus a link to read the full review. Alternatively, head to our general best over-ear headphones list for a run-down of our favorite sets of all time.
Outstanding over-ears
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