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The Best Over-Ear Headphones Buying Guide: Welcome to TheIndianSubcontinent's round-up of the best Hi-Fi over-ear headphones that you can

buy in 2019. If you value good quality sound and best-in-class performance when it comes to listening to music, then nothing out there

beats the full immersion you'll get from a pair of solid over-ear headphones. It's a fact: in terms of soundstage, sound quality and

comfort during extended listening sessions, no other form factor can compete with them.Plus, if keeping your ears healthy long into your

twilight years is just as important to you, they also tend to be better for your ear health overall because you don't need to amp up the

volume to get a good level of audio performance and noise-cancellation.The pair you go for will be down to personal preference, but before

you invest in a pair of the best over-ear headphones, you'll need to consider what your priorities are

What you need to know about Black Friday 2019It's no secret thatBlack Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to find

fantastic over-ear headphone deals

Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser have all recently released new models – and that means older models could be discounted

Make sure you bookmark our best Black Friday deals page for all the updates in the lead up to the massive sales event.For example, do you

want wireless headphones or do you want noise-cancelling headphones? Do you want something expensive and mainstream like Beats headphones,

or the audio prowess of the best Sony headphones? We've even seen true wireless over-ear headphones that transform into a portable

Bluetooth speaker with a single snap (yes, you read that correctly).There are so many options out there, so deciding your list of must-have

features or brands can be a good starting point.Things to look forOver-ear headphones: what to look forTo make things easier for

audiophiles, this guide will focus on sound quality above all else. When buying over-ear headphones, sound quality is the most important

feature to look out for – the more expensive, the better your cans tend to sound, although there are quite a few impressive exceptions to

this rule. How you define good sound quality depends on your personal taste

Do you like a warm, well-rounded sound, or do you prefer ultra high-fidelity that allows you to hear every single detail of your music? Are

you a dedicated bass head or a classical music junkie?If you're all about that bass, you'll want to look out for dynamic drivers that

displace lots of air, leading to a bassy soundstage

If detail is everything, look for large frequency ranges – 20Hz to 20 kHz is the standard, so anything larger than this may allow for

more detail in the highs and lows. It's also important to consider the soundstage as a whole; if you love a wide, open sound, try a pair of

open-back headphones

Worried about sound-leakage when you're in the company of others? Try a pair of closed-back cans with a secure fit to stop your tunes

bothering the people around you.As we mentioned, there are a few wireless and noise-canceling headphones in this list – that's because the

sound quality of these models is exceptional

Many over-ear headphones come with these quality-of-life features these days, although they're often pricier than their wired counterparts

– if you can't live without these modern conveniences, make sure you're buying headphones with the latest Bluetooth technology and active

noise cancelation. Design is also hugely important, as a good pair of over-ear headphones need to be comfortable for long listening

sessions – look out for padded earcups and headbands in materials like memory foam for ultimate comfort. Best over-ear headphones at a

glanceBeyerdynamic DT 1990 ProPhilips Fidelio X2Beyerdynamic DT 1770 ProSennheiser HD 8001More Triple Driver Over-EarBowers - Wilkins P9

SignatureSony WH-1000 XM3Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BTBeyerdynamic Amiron WirelessBose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700JBL Live 650BTNCCreative

SXFI Air headphonesSennheiser Momentum WirelessFocal StelliaOur favorite over-ear headphonesWhat are the best over-ear headphones?Image

Credit: Beyerdynamic(Image credit: Beyerdynamic)1

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 ProProfessional headphones that know how to have funAcoustic design: Open | Weight: 370 g | Cable length: 9.8 ft or 3.9

Wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/ABuilt like a tankExcellent comfortBreathtaking resolutionSlightly recessed midsHighs can be fatiguingWhile

Beyerdynamic may not be as well known as its German brother, Sennheiser, the audio company has a history of creating some of the best

sounding audio gear on the market – the company’s DT770, DT880 and DT990 were renown for their excellent build and sound quality. Above

them all, however, stands the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, an open-back version of the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro, a headphone which won our

Editor’s Choice for its imaging, design and value for the money

Both headphones are priced the same ($599, £589, AU$1,159), so you won’t find a deal picking up one over the other

The difference here comes down to sound. As they’re open-back, the DT 1990 Pro are meant to be used at home or in the studio for serious

analytical listening

Sound is able to get in and out but the good news is that the open-back design gives you the DT 1990 Pro a great sense of space

Soundstage is quite wide, too, allowing even the most lackadaisical listener to pinpoint the exact location of where each instrument is

playing. If you've been searching for a pair of Hi-Fi headphones that are used by some of the world's leading audio engineers, these are

them.Read the full review: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro(Image credit: Philips)2

Philips Fidelio X2Brilliant headphones for a brilliant price Acoustic design: Open | Weight: .85 pounds | Cable length: 9.8 feet | Frequency

| Wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/ABrilliant soundSuperb value Very comfortableLacks extrasThe Philips Fidelio X2's are a superb pair of

headphones offering premium comfort and build quality with a sound that rivals even the most vaunted audiophile cans

Perhaps on sheer sound quality they're a notch off the likes of the top Oppo or Sennheiser offerings – but the fact that you'd be saving

vast amounts of cash by opting for the Philips is just a no brainer.Read the full review: Philips Fidelio X2Image Credit: Beyerdynamic3

Beyerdynamic DT 1770 ProRecording studio pedigree, DJ booth price Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Cable length: N/A |

range: N/A | NFC: N/ABeautifully crafted soundscapeSleek design Good price for the qualityThey're a bit bulkyThe Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pros

are a stunning pair of headphones

Are they expensive? To some no, to most yes; but for the sheer listening experience they deliver you'd be hard pressed to take them off

after putting them on, even using them with portable HRA players and mobile phones.That said, they really do push the boundaries of what you

can do with a dynamic driver

All praise to Beyerdynamic for putting together such a wonderful product.Read the full review: Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro4

Sennheiser HD 800The Sennheiser HD800 is the headphones fit for kingsAcoustic design: Open | Weight: 330g | Cable length: 3m | Frequency

N/A | NFC: N/A View at Musician's FriendSounds simply superb in every wayBeautifully balancedIncredibly detailedComfort is

excellentUndeniably expensiveThe fourth entry on our list easily could've been the first if it didn't cost well over $1,000/£1,000

The Sennheiser HD 800 are, hands down, one of the best-sounding pairs of over-ear headphones on the planet, affectionately praised by inner

circles of audiophiles the world over

When paired with the proper hardware, they sound absolutely excellent – balanced in every way. Unfortunately, they're supremely

expensive and require more audio equipment than the average consumer is ready to buy

Should you find yourself in need – or, let's be honest, in want – of amazing over-ear headphones, these are them.Read the full

review:Sennheiser HD 800(Image credit: 1More)5

1MORE Triple Driver Over-EarExcellent sound at an affordable priceAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.65lb (293g) | Cable length: 4.40ft

Impedance: 32 Ohms | Battery life: N/A | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/ADetailed and balanced soundQuality materialsExcellent valueNo inline

mic or remoteIf you’re looking for a pair of audiophile headphones that won’t break the bank, the 1MORE Triple Driver over-ear is a

great place to start

Its build quality and detailed sound really impress and we think bass-lovers will like the slight mid-bass emphasis and control in the lower

registers while not sacrificing the mids or highs

The headphone reveals a good level of detail throughout the frequency range and never get harsh in the upper registers. To that end, it’s

hard to fault the $250 (about £190, AU$338) 1MORE Triple Driver Over-Ear, making them an easy recommendation for the price. Read the full

review:1MORE Triple Driver Over-EarImage Credit: Bowers - Wilkins(Image credit: Bowers - Wilkins)6

Bowers - Wilkins P9 SignatureThe B-W P9 Signature is all about the sound qualityAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 413 g | Cable length: N/A

| Frequency response: 2 – 30,000Hz | Drivers: 1.6 inch (40mm) Mylar/Titanium | Driver type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: 111dB SPL @ 1kHz – /

1Vrms | Impedance: 22 Ohms | Battery life: N/A | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/AExceptional level of detailClarity across the whole

rangeComfortable for long periodsPremium price tagThe B-W P9 Signatures are simply some of the best-sounding headphones we’ve ever used

They have a tight, refined sound that offers an almost unmatched level of detail. That said, the fact remains that they’re a

comparatively feature-light pair of cans

If you want to spend less then you can get a much more portable pair that’ll be better suited to the morning commute or a plane ride

thanks to additional features like noise-cancellation and Bluetooth connectivity.But, if you’re looking to invest in a seriously

high-quality pair of headphones to listen to a high-quality music collection, then there are few that can match the P9s at this price

point. [Update: We've been informed that the last pair of P9 Signatures have been shipped to retailers, so if you want to get your hands on

these cans, you'll need to snap them up quickly.]Read the full review:B-W P9 Signature(Image credit: Sony)7

Sony WH-1000XM3Over-ear cans that offer the whole packageAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 23g | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: N/A

noise-cancellingGreat-sounding audio30-hour battery lifeVoice assistant supportCall quality issuesIt's almost unfair to stick them in the

same category as the more critical listening-focused over-ear headphones, but the Sony WH-1000XM3 are one of the best all-around headphones

we heard last year

Not only do they sound great and pack excellent noise-cancellation, but they manage to do this all wirelessly. Other headphones on our list

offer superior sound quality, sure, but the WH-1000XM3 manage to offer the best balance of features and performance. And while it's the

noise-cancellation that really sell these headphones, they've also got a couple of interesting tricks up their sleeves like built-in Google

Assistant and Alexa, plus support for NFC and aptX HD with some Android devices. Offering all of this without a serious price-premium over

the competition means the Sony WH-1000XM3 are a great all-around choice for on-the-go music listeners. Read the full review:Sony

WH-1000XM3Image Credit: Audio-Technica(Image credit: Audio-Technica)8

Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BTOver-ear headphones that bring both performance and value Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: .64 pounds | Cable

ohm | Battery life: 40 hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: NoStellar battery lifeBalanced soundWired mode sounds even betterHighs can be too

energeticAudiophiles typically shun wireless headphones because of poor sound quality

However, Bluetooth audio has improved tremendously over the years

There are now plenty of wireless headphones that can please the music enthusiast, with Hi-Res Audio support being more and more

prevalent.That said, the Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT feature some of the best wired and wireless sound quality for a headphone under $200

(£150)

They play well with all music genres and offer a near-flat response curve

They're extremely comfortable for long listening sessions and are well built

Battery life is equally impressive with nearly 40 hours of playback from a charge

And while they lack some features of more expensive wireless headphones like active noise cancelling and multi-device pairing, these are

tradeoffs worth making for phenomenal sound.Read the full review:Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BTImage Credit: Beyerdynamic(Image credit:

Beyerdynamic)9

Beyerdynamic Amiron WirelessIncredible audio fidelity backed by a serious price Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Cable length: 4.6

hours | Wireless range: 30+ feet | NFC: YesExcellent build quality and comfortDetailed and spacious soundSounds just as good wiredNot ideal

for travelThe Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless are the best-sounding wireless headphones you can buy, period

Sound is spacious, detailed, and makes you want to rediscover your music library

Their bulky design and average noise isolation make them terrible for travel but if you’re looking for the best sound from a wireless

headphone, this is it.Read the full review:Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless(Image credit: Bose)10

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700Class-leading noise cancelation, but not the best battery lifeAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 25g |

Wireless range: 33 ft | NFC: YesOutstanding noise cancelationFun, lively soundElegant designBattery life could be betterMore expensive than

the Sony WH-1000XM3They may not beat the Sony WH-1000XM3's battery life and price, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still a

fantastic pair of over-ear headphones. By applying noise cancelation on both music and phone calls, they offer class-leading technology,

and well as a vibrant, lively sound and wide, well-balanced soundstage. If you’re trying to decide between buying the Sony WH-1000XM3s

and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, we’d recommend going for the former because of that lower price and better battery

life. That being said, you wouldn’t be making a mistake if you opted for the Bose cans instead (and we wouldn’t blame you if you did)

– they sound great, look stunning, and the noise-cancelation is out of this world.Read the full review:Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

700(Image credit: JBL)11

JBL Live 650BTNC Well-rounded headphones that are excellent valueAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 249g | Cable length: 3.93 feet |

hours with ANC and wireless enabled | Wireless range: N/ADynamic, punchy soundSupports Google Assistant + AlexaExtremely comfortableMicroUSB

chargingGood, but not class-leading ANCNon-adjustable ANCFor the money, the JBL Live 650BTNC punch above its weight in terms of sound

quality, build, and features

The cons we have listed above – like mapping the assistant to the touchpad and its use of microUSB – are simply nitpicks with none of

them being outright deal-breakers. That said, we came away very impressed at the well-rounded package JBL created for the market and would

certainly recommend them to anyone in the market for a cheap pair of noise-cancelling headphones.Read the full review: JBL Live 650BTNC

review(Image credit: Creative)12

Creative SXFI Air headphonesOpen-back sound from closed-back wireless headphonesAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.7lbs | Cable length: N/A

life: Up to 10 hours | Wireless range: Up to 10 m / 33 ftSmart, comfortable designImpressive SXFI audio technologyGood connectivityBluetooth

audio lags on games and videoFiddly set-up processNo carrying caseThe SXFI Air headphones are something of a mixed bag when used in

Bluetooth mode, and if you’re mainly planning to use them indoors then it’s tempting to opt for the less expensive wired version

instead. However, the wired mode really shows off the SXFI holographic audio to best effect, adding a dramatic sense of space to music,

games and video alike

There’s still some room for improvement when listening to music – but for gaming and video the SXFI Air is about as good as you’ll get

for just over $150.Read the full review: Creative SXFI Air headphones review(Image credit: Sennheiser)13

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019)Over-ear headphones that don't skimp on the smart featuresAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: N/A | Cable

hours | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: YesBrilliant audio qualityCool designCustomizable settingsBattery life isn’t greatMore expensive than

rivalsIn terms of audio quality, these Sennheiser over-ear headphones sound fantastic, with high levels of detail, warm bass, and

natural-sounding highs.Customizable noise cancelation is a great touch, but it doesn't quite reach the class-leading standards set by Sony

and Bose

Battery life also doesn't compete with the Sony WH-1000XM3s, and they're more expensive to boot. So, why buy the Sennheiser Momentum

Wireless (2019)? Well, if built-in Tile tracking appeals to you, and you like the industrial design and premium materials of the Momentum

Wireless, that could be reason enough – and if you do opt for them over the Sony model, you won’t be missing out on any audio quality

In that respect, they’re truly matched. Read the full review: Sennheiser Momentum Wireless (2019) review(Image credit: Focal)14

Focal StelliaLuxury headphones, luxury priceAcoustic design: Closed | Weight: 0.96 lbs (435g) | Cable length: 1 x 4ft OFC 24 AWG cable, 1 x

life: NA | Wireless range: NA | NFC: NoStunning, precise soundOpen soundstageComfortableOpulent designExtremely expensiveA bit bigThe Focal

Stellias sound absolutely fantastic

Their wide-open soundstage and detailed, accurate sound treatment means they make any genre of music sound brilliant.If you listen to songs

you think you know inside out, the Stellias' precise separation of the frequencies means that you will probably hear details you’ve never

noticed before.So why didn't they make the list? Well, we included them as a bonus option because they're incredible

But they're very, very expensive. They're $3,000. And as good as they are, therein lies the problem: the Focal Stellias are prohibitively

expensive for most people, at 10 times the price of our current favorite headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3s.UPDATE: If you like the sound of

these luxury headphones but can't justify the price, check out our initial hands-on review of the new Focal Elegia

They may not sound quite as breathtaking as the Focal Stellia - at least that’s what we gathered from a short listening session – but

the Focal Elegia headphones are still very impressive.Read the full review:Focal Stellia reviewOver-ear headphone

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