TechRadar's Audio experts test dozens of pairs of headphones each year, and 2026 has been especially strong when it comes to new over-ears. I thought I'd pull together a roundup of our top-rated models — just in case readers were thinking of using next month's Black Friday sales to upgrade — and I was inundated with excellent options. Below, you'll find a collection of all the over-ear headphones that scored four stars or above in our tough review tests. A five-star standout is the open-back, wired Heddphone D1, with its proprietary driver design that "blows away audiophile-grade options at three times the price". If you're looking for something better suited to, say, public transport or the office, there are plenty of wireless, ANC cans that knocked our socks off, too. Two brands that upped their game in a big way for their second-gen over-ears were Nothing and Sonos. The Nothing Headphone (a) wowed us with their "gigantic" battery life and excellent on-ear controls, and the Sonos Ace Ultra impressed with a "fantastic" suite of features including detailed EQ options and Dolby Atmos for movies. We also loved the AirPods Max 2, and they're a strong recommendation for anyone who has an iPhone and doesn't mind a case that looks like a bra. And for budget-hunters, the OneOdio Focus A1 Pro deliver "surprisingly good" sound and long battery life, and you won't believe how cheap they are.Scroll down for a closer look at all of these headphones and more. Hit the More details button for a summary of the main pros and cons of each pair, as well as a link to the full review. 4.5 or 5 stars Marshall Milton ANC Read our full review ProsIncredible comfort for on-earsClean, spacious soundFantastic battery lifeExcellent, sustainable designConsBass is a little overzealous out of the boxNoise cancellation is a bit limitedNo wear detection Sonos Ace Ultra Read our full review ProsFar more musical than the AceExcellent Dolby Atmos for moviesFantastic feature-suite with enhanced ANC and detailed EQ optionsStunning design; responsive controlsConsSome rivals still offer more detailCase doesn’t mirror the headphones’ premium look and feelNot fully foldable Nothing Headphone (a) Read our full review ProsGreat sound that's a big upgrade over Headphone (1)Fantastic on-ear control options and appGigantic battery lifeConsStill heavy, with a strong clamping forceSome rivals offer better sonic detailNo auto-pause feature or case Technics EAH-A1000 Read our full review ProsLayered, expansive audio qualityStill the only company regularly offering triple-device connectivityCompetent spatial audio and ANCSupreme comfortConsOccasionally a little polite-soundingPhysical buttons sometimes fail to register presses (including playback and power) Apple AirPods Max 2 Read our full review ProsTop tier active noise cancellationLive Translation that's easier to use than on Apple's earbudsAdaptive Audio means meatier, punchier sound than the originalsHead-tracked Spatial Audio feels accurate and crispConsBattery life below averageThat flimsy 'headphone bra' case remainsStill very iOS-only (Android owners need not apply)No wireless hi-res codec support still JBL Live 780NC Read our full review ProsClear and pleasant soundExcellent battery life and feature setComfortable and foldableConsA bit bass heavyNo charging cable in the boxEar pads aren't removable HEDD HEDDphone D1 Read our full review ProsBroad, clear soundstageTight and tactile transientsNon-fatiguing over timeConsUnderwhelming material construction in placesOpen-back means sound leakageSupplied cable quite long for desktop listening Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 Read our full review ProsBeautifully detailedExceptional low endLightweight and comfortableConsVery expensiveVery high impedance Austrian Audio The Arranger Read our full review ProsDirect, informative and wide-open soundThey're gentle with less-than-perfect recordings or source equipmentRemain comfortable even after very long listensConsNothing special about the look or the materialsA balanced cable costs extraProfoundly unsexy colorway with no optional alternatives Noble FoKus Artemis Read our full review ProsConjure up an impeccable sense of spaceBeautifully balanced, nuanced soundPremium design and feelUnique feature-set with personalized EQConsAverage ANC and looser fit allow quite a bit of sound inThe price is undoubtedly steepSpatial audio modes aren’t class-leading Meze Audio Strada Read our full review ProsDetailed, organized and appealing performanceSound more spacious and airy than most closed-back designsLight and comfortable, relativelyConsOccasionally confuse passivity for refinementCable transmits noiseWill not suit smaller-headed listeners Grado Signature S750 Read our full review ProsVery wide soundstageExcellent positioning and clarityAmazing on well produced musicConsRelatively expensiveMay be too bright for someDivisive fit 4 stars Sony WH-CH730N Read our full review ProsSolid performance with impressive low-end outputGood feature-set and battery lifeVery affordableConsNo LDAC supportUnbalanced tuning out of the boxMiddling noise cancellation EarFun Wave Pro X Read our full review ProsComfortable, suave designExpansive equalizerLong battery lifeConsAn occasionally muddy soundConfusing ANC modesNo IP rating Nothing Headphone (1) Pro Read our full review ProsComfort and ANC vastly improvedExtra spatial audio profiles add valuePersonal Sound and EQ tweaks well implementedConsCumbersome, heavy, silly case'Flat' audio switch is hard to locate and not available in the appExpensive against Nothing's excellent (and similar) budget efforts Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) Read our full review ProsVery comfortable to wearImpressive, energetic soundSpatial audio works wondersConsDesign feels surprisingly cheapPoor battery lifeTempting to wait for a discount before buying JBL Live 680 NC Read our full review ProsGood, warm soundFull of features like adaptive ANC and personalized EQIncredible battery lifeA lot on offer for the moneyConsHeadphone weight sits on top of headOccasionally overwhelming low-end Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Read our full review ProsHigh-quality aptX LosslessFantastic soundstage and strong Dolby AtmosGreat features like Sound Zones and sound personalizationConsDefault tuning underwhelmingPretty weak ANCAche after longer listening sessions Sony 1000X The Collexion Read our full review ProsDetailed, expansive soundPremium build quality and sleek lookDSEE Ultimate upscaling and lossless audioClass-leading touch controlsIncredibly comfortableConsUnderwhelming 360 Upmix modesBattery life is on the lower sideNoise cancellation is a step down from WH-1000XM6Can be beaten for value Anker Soundcore Space 2 Read our full review ProsGreat ANCDistinct lookComfortable fitConsSignificant price hikeMissing the midsNo IP rating Sivga Robin SV021 Pro Read our full review ProsTight, controlled high-end performanceIncredibly comfortable to wearAbsolutely look the partConsDisappointingly disordered low-end representationProne to sound contamination via the cableNo balanced outputs Soundpeats Cove Pro Read our full review ProsLong battery lifeComfortable fitSome features you wouldn't expectConsMuddy soundNext to no ANCNo 3.5mm port OneOdio Focus A1 Pro Read our full review ProsSuper-low costLong-lasting batteryDecent sound, for priceConsCheap-feeling buildNo app or EQANC is light-touch Final Audio DX3000CL Read our full review ProsForensically detailed, spacious and articulate soundWell made and comfortableBalanced and unbalanced cable termination optionsConsNot the most sonically engaging headphones aroundQuite wideNo travel case