Over-ear
Over-ear headphones are similar to on-ear headphones, except they actually encompass the entire ear, sealing it to prevent ambient noise from seeping in. Like on-ear headphones, they have a foam or cushion over the earcups and a plastic or metal band connecting the two.
Pros and Cons
Over-ear headphones tend to be larger – you see them often used by DJs in dance clubs. The padding on the ears is typically larger, but more comfortable. They’re the least portable of all the types of headphones, and definitely won’t fit in a pocket. However, since they encompass the entire ear, over-ear headphones are able to block a considerable amount of noise and provide high-quality sound.
Who Should Use Them?
These definitely aren’t for the gym. They’re big, well padded, heavy, and not at all inconspicuous. They tend to have longer, thicker cords, and simply aren’t made for portability. They’re most often used by DJs, music producers, and the like, who need high quality sound with noise reduction.
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1SMS Audio SYNC By 50
The SYNC by 50s aren't inherently _bad_, they're just terrible for $500. Read full 12-part review
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$464.582Denon AH-D5000
The Denon AH-D5000s are a great, if pricy, pickup. . Read full 12-part review
$464.58 -
3Denon AH-D7000
Durable and flashy, the Denon AH-D7000s should satisfy audiophile and audio-newbie alike, but you'll certainly pay for the luxury. Read full 12-part review
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4Beyerdynamic Tesla T1
The new Tesla line has a long way to go, but it does have its bright spots. Read full 13-part review
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5Beyerdynamic T 70
While the T 70s certainly are impressive in some regards, they do show their rough edges a bit in a couple areas. It may be a while before the Tesla line is as polished as Beyerdynamic's older models are, but it's certainly worth a listen, if you can justify the high pricetag. Read full 13-part review
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$349.006AKG K701
With a great frequency response, extremely comfortable wear and open soundstage, these are a good entry to mid-level pickup for those who are fans of an analytical sound. . Read full 13-part review
$349.00 -
$28.997Sony MDR-NC7
We strongly recommend that you avoid buying these headphones. If it wasn't bad enough that they flat-out lie about their abilities, they also massively underperform at a hugely inflated cost. Read full 13-part review
$28.99 -
$229.008Beyerdynamic DT 860
With decent build quality and high performance for the price, the Beyerdynamic DT 860s are over-ear cans that offer impressive audio quality. Though their open backs mean they don't leave the computer, they're great for home use, and don't disappoint for the price. Read full 12-part review
$229.00 -
$249.959Sennheiser HD 598
Not only do the Sennheiser HD 598s provide a flat frequency response and clear sound, but their open soundstage helps provide a very realistic sound. Though these cans aren't perfect, they should easily satisfy a large swath of audiophile consumers. Read full 13-part review
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$204.9510Audio-Technica ATH-AD900
The Audio Technica ATH-AD900s are decent performers, and they are certainly comfortable. While they offer superior comfort and good audio quality, be aware that these are cans that stay by the computer. Read full 12-part review
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$349.9511Sennheiser PXC 450
The Sennheiser PXC 450s are an all-around decent set of active noise cancelers that don't sacrifice much performance for decent isolation. Read full 13-part review
$349.95 -
$149.9512Bose AE2
Overall, the Bose AE2s aren't a bad entry-level bet, but you can definitely do better for the price no matter what you're looking for in headphones. Read full 13-part review
$149.95 -
$303.8513Sony MDR-Z1000
The Sony MDR-Z1000s ($549 MSRP) are a mid-range set of over-ears that are definitely well-suited to perform as a set of headphones that stay near the computer, but they aren't without their setbacks for their price range. Read full 12-part review
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14Audio-Technica ATH-M50
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50s ($199 MSRP) aren't a bad set of over-ears if you're using these at home or at a show; and you shouldn't be disappointed with them for the amount of money they'll set you back. Read full 12-part review
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15Monster Beats Pro
The Monster Beats Pros are a set of higher-end closed-backed over-ear headphones with a very rugged build and high amount of flair, but with an unreasonably high bass response. Read full 13-part review
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16JVC HA-M5X
JVC sent us a pair of comfortable over-ears, but with lackluster performance. Read full 12-part review
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$94.0518Panasonic RP-DH1200
The Technics RP-DH1200s are a set of closed-back, over-ear from Panasonic. As far as a set of dynamic headphones go, the RP-DH1200s are decent. Read full 13-part review
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$89.00ArchiveAble Planet True Fidelity NC300
The AblePlanet Clear Harmony NC300s are an upgraded version of their predecessors, the NC200s. For a $300 price tag, you'll get a bump in quality all across the board. Read full 13-part review
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$299.9520Bose QuietComfort 15
The QuietComfort 15s are the latest headphones in Bose's line-up of active cancelling headphones. It's quite an improvement over the QuietComfort 3s. Read full 13-part review
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$89.99ArchiveAble Planet True Fidelity NC200
The AblePlanet Clear Harmony NC200s are an entry-level pair of active noise cancellation headphones. You can find the NC200s for about $100, making them a decent budget option. Read full 13-part review
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$1,400.0022Sennheiser HD 800
We finally got in the Sennheiser HD 800s. So what's our verdict? They're amazing. Read full 13-part review
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$194.9523Beyerdynamic DT 770
The DT 770s are another set of headphones in Beyerdynamic's MANUFAKTUR line. The MANUFAKTUR service allows users to create customized color schemes as well as fine-tune other aspects of their headphones. Read full 13-part review
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$499.9524Sennheiser HD 650
The Sennheiser HD 650s are a set of high-end, open-backed, over-ear headphones. The HD 650s implement their open-backed design in an aesthetically interesting way, covering the backs of the ear cups with a grey grate which offers barely any physical barrier between your sound and the world around you. Read full 13-part review
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$259.39ArchiveBeyerdynamic DT 990
The DT 990s recently got re-released under Beyerdynamic's MANUFAKTUR line. This line lets you pick out the headphones' color, impedance, and cord style. Read full 13-part review
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$129.00ArchiveAudio-Technica ATH-ANC7
The ATH-ANC7s are a pair of active noise cancelling over-ears from Audio-Technica. The ATH-ANC7s have the ability to turn their active noise cancellation feature on and off, which immediately puts them leagues beyond many other active-cancellers. Read full 7-part review
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$99.00ArchiveAudio-Technica ATH-A700
The Audio-Technica ATH-A700 headphones are on-ears intended for use with your home sound system. The cable is long and covered with a woven-cloth casing, so it should be safe stretched across your room. Read full 7-part review
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$299.00ArchiveMonster Beats
The Beats are a set of over-ear headphones created by Monster, with collaboration from renowned rapper, Dr. Dre, and are currently available for $349. Read full 7-part review
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$299.99ArchiveCreative Aurvana X-Fi
The Aurvana X-Fi over-ear headphones are Creative's entry into the world of active noise cancellation. Unlike many competing noise-cancelling headphones, the Aurvana X-Fis allow you to switch the noise cancellation on and off, and will let you listen to music even if your batteries are dead. Read full 7-part review
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$179.00ArchiveUltrasone HFI-2200
The Ultrasone HFI-2200 headphones are a set of home theater over-ears currently available for $300. Their aesthetic is a bit different from the usual monochrome of today's headphones, but if you want under-stated and different, the HFI-2200s will meet your needs. Read full 7-part review
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$289.00ArchiveSony MDR-NC500D
The Sony MDR-NC500D headphones are a set of noise-cancelling over-ears. With the noise-cancelling feature and premium price ($400), it certainly appears the NC500Ds are Sony's answer to Bose's QuietComfort series. Read full 7-part review
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$199.99ArchivePioneer SE-A1000
The Pioneer SE-A1000 headphones are on-ear headphones intended for use in a home theater setup. To help facilitate such an environment, the A1000s come with a very durable cord that's almost 20 feet in length (6 meters). Read full 7-part review
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$289.89ArchiveSony MDR-DS6000
The Sony MDR-DS6000 headphones are a set of wireless headphones with digital surround sound. They also offer compression (so you don't get deafened when the loud bits come on) and music and cinema modes that tweak the sound. Read full 7-part review
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$260.00ArchiveBose QuietComfort 2
Bose is known for producing headphones that look great and wear well; the QuietComfort2 headphones are no exception. This pair of over-ears have a subtle and classy appearance. Read full 7-part review
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$169.95ArchiveSennheiser HD 555
The HD 555 headphones hail from Sennheiser's lineup of over-ear home theater solutions. They have open backs, which will provide a more natural, airy aural experience. Read full 7-part review
$169.95
Features
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Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and You
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