Best Over-Ear Headphones 2021: Bose, Sony, Beats, AirPods Max, Audio-Technica & More!
Best Over-Ear Headphones 2021: Bose, Sony, Beats, AirPods Max, Audio-Technica & More!
David & David review and rank the best over-ear headphones of 2021. We bought ten different pairs of over-the-ear headphones — with our own money — and compared them all head-to-head.
In addition to audio quality, we considered factors like style, comfortability, size, weight, portability, durability, and the case the headphones come with.
We quickly learned that you can’t always trust professional review websites, and that expensive doesn’t necessarily equal good — especially when it comes to over-ear headphones.
1. The headphones we reviewed [0:10]
2. Why you can trust our reviews [0:15]
3. How we reviewed these headphones & what we listened for [0:29]
4. Other ranking factors [0:38]
5. Why it’s important we paid for every pair of headphones ourselves [0:57]
6. Apple AirPods Max: Review highlights [1:30]
7. Anker Soundcore LifeQ 20: Review highlights [2:07]
8. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT: Review highlights [2:32]
9. Beats Studio3: Review highlights [3:04]
10. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700: Review highlights [3:32]
11. Bose QuietComfort 35 II: Review highlights [4:07]
12. Bose SoundLink Over-Ear Wireless Headphones: Review highlights [4:33]
13. Bowers & Wilkins PX7: Review highlights [5:02]
14. Skullcandy Crusher Wireless: Review highlights [5:29]
15. Sony WH-1000XM4: Review highlights [5:51]
16. Introduction: The Worst Over-Ear Headphones Of 2021 [6:23]
17. Dishonorable Mention: Anker Soundcore LifeQ20 [6:32]
18. #3 Worst: Bose SoundLink Over-Ear Wireless Headphones [6:59]
19. #2 Worst: Bowers & Wilkins PX7 [7:30]
20. #1 Worst: Skullcandy Crusher Wireless [8:21]
21. Introduction: The Best Over-Ear Headphones Of 2021 [9:57]
22. Honorable Mention: Apple Airpods Max [10:00]
23. #3 Best: Sony WH-1000XM4 [10:39]
24. #2 Best: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT [11:43]
25. #1 Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2021: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 [12:45]
26. #1 (Alternate): Bose QuietComfort 35 II [13:46]
🧑⚖️ We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking a link on this page. (Thanks for your support!)
Where To Buy:
🎧 Anker Soundcore LifeQ 20 on Amazon: https://geni.us/qd8klP (Amazon)
🎧 Apple AirPods Max from Best Buy: https://www.payetteforward.com/bb/airpods-max
🎧 Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT on Amazon: https://geni.us/GBF7WJE (Amazon)
🎧 Beats Studio3 on Amazon: https://geni.us/HVYXGk (Amazon)
🎧 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 on Amazon: https://geni.us/tvAq (Amazon)
🎧 Bose QuietComfort 35 II on Amazon: https://geni.us/vZpFCR (Amazon)
🎧 Bose SoundLink Over-Ear Wireless Headphones on Amazon: https://geni.us/A83loG (Amazon)
🎧 Bowers & Wilkins PX7 on Amazon: https://geni.us/1nAhdy (Amazon)
🎧 Skullcandy Crusher Wireless on Amazon: https://geni.us/gjAI (Amazon)
🎧 Sony WH-1000XM4 on Amazon: https://geni.us/v9ut6 (Amazon)
Tracks We Used For Reviewing & What We Listened For:
“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk — Pristine, well-recorded track: Overall clarity, space
“Jack Of Speed” by Steely Dan — Pristine, well-recorded track: Overall quality, 3D space
“Weird Fishes” by Radiohead/Noordpool Orchestra — Wide Dynamic Range: Clarity from loud to soft & “big” soundstage
“Tin Pan Alley” by Stevie Ray Vaughan — Wide Dynamic Range: Clarity from soft to loud & “live” sound
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson — Bass: Makes you want to move but not overpowering
“Morning” by Beck — Bass: Not too much or too little (Goldilocks zone)
“Brass Monkey” by Beastie Boys — Bass: Powerful but doesn’t get muddy / rumbly
“Waterwheel” by Kronos Quartet — Dynamic range & space: Sounds like sound is coming from outside your head
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#AirPodsMax #BestHeadphones #OverEarHeadphones #Bose #Sony
Thanks for the UNBIASED opinion! REFRESHING!
It is an openion matter so every one would prefer one to another but after I saw all these reviwes Im glad that I bought the sony xm4 and what helps more that I turned the base a little pitt higher with the app that came with it that some other headphones dont have
the audio on this video is so trash
I heard and know sony beat out those other headphones and bose didn’t even close
0:27 lmao marques’s face isn’t even blurred haha
You high end sweater wearing guys are too ritzy to get cables at dollar tree.
You guys need to learn how to criticize bad products ( I don’t like the way you reviewed the Skull Candy)
What if anything did you use to tweek the sound quality besides the volume control or base and treble? I’m pretty sure if you went in with the intention of finding the best settings for the best application this video would be of more value to the viewer. These are speakers capable of refinement like any other speakers. Did you use a preamp? There’s alot of videos on this platform and most aren’t much help. Each song and source recording has its own strengths and weaknesses. I don’t believe its as simple as plug and play.
Its not cool to call people out like that
Very Nice Sir
I just wanna know the best wireless headphones under 250$
Which one do I get
The fact that there are no grado, abyss, hifiman, audeze or focal headphones on your list is concerning. You should change the title to ‘Best closed backed headphones for casual listeners’
Me listening on my quiet comforts… hmmm good investment
Micro USB? Yeah… Nexxxt !
This is a really interesting video! thank you guys!!
Just picked up the 700 from this review. Super excited. Thanks for the clear cut no BS review 👍
I love and respect the honesty of these guys but I feel like I got played by the other YouTubers. I ended up getting the XM4’s but everyone was saying they were the best
When I went to JB-HI-FI to test them out the bose weren’t working there but I was able to try them on and they felt very comfortable and i think i could tell the noise cancelling was better even though no music was playing so i couldn’t compare the sound quality and i asked one of the people there and i askeed. if the bose 700 were better than the XM4’s and he just shrugged and said "depends which reviews you watch" lmao
And I am listening to this on a Skullcandy crusher wireless😂
Lmao….are you guys bitter?
These guys are a joke. You can tell that they are not audiophiles and not to be listened to.
Xm4 headphone user here! Good taste right? I always feel like I’m rich walking around with these.
Hey guys I can’t decide between beats studio3 and solo pro any idea? I’m using apple devices
I can tell a lot of work went into this video. Very helpful. I’m probably going with the Audio Technica. Thank you
I find Bose is heavy on the bass and not too much high trebles. How did you find them please??
For reviewing headphones…you kinda forgot Sennheiser…and that Audio Technica has M50 has been ridiculously consistent for the past FEW years…
Ohh y’a i TOOOOOTALLY cant recognize the faces like mkbh oooooor unbox therapy TOOOOOOOTALLY can’t recognize it!!!!
skullcandy hesh anc is way better than crusher wireless.
Dont need to try put others down. Others might got it for free, but not all has bias just coz its free. Viewers will make the judgement, this is not the only review that we are watching. Dont try to hard to tell viewers that you are genuine, coz if you have to tell us you are genuine, you are not. Seemed so surfaced. So you sure you bought all those to do such a brief review? I guess this is paid
Funny to include trash like beats in 2021, dam that sh… Look and sound horribles
This is my first time to buy my headphones. And this vlog helps me a lot. Thanks😃
I’m not a big fan of the Bose 700. I’ve had mine for 2 years now and they’re really underwhelming bass wise, and the higher frequencies are way too prominent.
Bose is not worth the money. Clear and high pitch but no bass.
I was missing a gay headphones review. Now I got it. They talk about sound as Milo Yiannopoulos would talk about last Kardashian outfit
listening to this video on my $5 dollar store headphones 😊
You should use Orbital:- Somewhere Out There as a reference track. It covers all the parameters in your list.
get paid to promote them? unless you have proof you really need to stop making such accusations.
Nice REVIEW
The jab at other reviewers in the beginning seemd a bit petty.
Just because reviewers get sent stff for free doesn’t automatically mean that you can’t trust their opinions. Not saying that there aren’t bad apples, but I’ve seen acting like everyone who gets sent product for free automatically isn’t trustworthy is just ridiculous. If anything, it makes you seem quite jealous of those reviewers.
Especailly in the headphone market there are enough reviewers who got sent headphones for free and then ripped them apart, because they just weren’t good.
Nice cool video the comment on fear factor for skull candy was awesome thanks
Me listening to this video on ATH-m20x
🙁
You can trust our reviews
Senheiser:Hello?
I’m trying to decide but this video made me more confused 🙃
wait did yall just call the xm4s flat???? ayo???
Beyer and Dynamic?! Master and Dynamic? Oppo?… Jesh
Where are Marshall’s ????
You can buy that cable at dollar tree…for a dollar plus tax.
My experience with Sony 1000xm4;
1. Not comfortable after a while of using.
2. Connecting with iPhone, the volume is turned up high sometimes when reconnecting or changing to other deceive. 🥲
3. The time wasted on waiting to connect to any device is frustrating, with of course the high volume 🦦.
Not an easygoing headphones.
*Sound quality is perfect.
These issues probably only for iPhone users 🙃
I subscribed to your channel today. Hopefully it helps a little.
Would never recommend Skullcandy if you are going to use them for longer hours.