Odi Productions
We’ve tested over 50+ pairs of wireless headphones, and these are our overall best noise cancelling over-ear headphones for 2026. As a professional audio engineer and expert headphone reviewer with over 10 years of experience, along with running the RecordingNow YouTube channel dedicated to reviewing headphones and earbuds with over 24,000+ subscribers and over 5 million views, this is my definitive list of the best of the best.
This list includes brands like Apple, Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins, Focal, Bang & Olufsen, Dali, Cambridge Audio, Sonos, Nothing, JBL, and more.
This article will cover the following categories:
- Best Comfort
- Best for Movies / TV / Gaming
- Best Headphones for Bass
- Best Noise Cancelling Performance
- Best Sound Quality
- Best Value
- Best Overall
These headphones are ALL wireless over-ear headphones which we’ve reviewed and thoroughly tested individually on the website for hundreds of hours in total. You can read our review for each headphone inside the individual product boxes below.
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Best Comfort: Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen
True to its name, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen is the most comfortable pair of over-ear, noise cancelling headphones we’ve tested to date.
That total number is up to over 40 pairs and counting.
The 2nd Gen actually shares a nearly identical design to the 1st Gen, so you can get the same level of elite comfort with both headphones.
It starts with the Bose’s light weight of 262 grams on our scale, which is one of the lighter measurements for this class, especially for the more premium models.
For reference, the AirPods Max weighs a whopping 387 grams on the same scale.
Now what really sets apart the QC Ultra 1 and 2 is the interior earcup space, which is one of the largest in the class.
My ears are totally free inside of the earcups, whereas they’re pressing against the inside of something like the popular Sony WH-1000XM6, also new for 2025.
Add in some of the most plush cushioning on both the earpads and headband, and the QC Ultra 1 and 2 are our comfort kings.
Best for Movies / TV / Gaming: Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION
Our winner for this category in 2025 was the Sony WH-1000XM6 (see the write-up below) due to its excellent “Cinema Mode”, and Sony took it even further in 2026 with the newer 1000X THE COLLEXION, aka “WH-1000XX”.
Sony improved upon the popular XM6’s spatial audio by introducing “360 Upmix” which utilizes a brand new “Sony Integrated Processor V3” dedicated to upmixing any audio coming through the headphones to give it a spatial effect.
There are now 3 dedicated spatial audio modes that all sound distinctly different and unique: Music, Cinema, and Gaming.
I was already in love with the XM6’s lone Cinema Mode, but the 1000X is even better and now more versatile.
Combine this with the improved overall sound quality, bigger soundstage, and improved acoustics of the 1000X over the XM6, and this is my absolute go-to for movies, TV, gaming, and even YouTube.
Runner Up #1: Sony WH-1000XM6
When performing my testing, although I spend a large amount of time exclusively listening to music and dialing in custom EQ settings, I also use each headphone in practical daily use cases.
One thing I love to test is watching TV, Movies, Podcasts, YouTube, and Gaming.
If there’s ONE headphone that I just keep coming back to for non-music media, it’s the Sony WH-1000XM6 which came out in 2025.
The reason why is the XM6’s absolutely excellent “Cinema Mode”.
Now, there is a LOT of “Spatial Audio” features on many wireless headphones today.
However, most of them are kinda gimmicky IMO, aside from Dolby Atmos support for the most part.
The cool thing about the XM6 is that it doesn’t rely on Dolby Atmos-mixed media, and can apply Cinema Mode to ANY audio you run through it.
And the end result is one of the most believable “Cinema” experiences I’ve heard in a headphone.
It’s a mixture of very believable room reverb plus an excellent sub-bass response.
Cinema Mode simply elevates any non-music media, even just listening to YouTube or Podcasts.
That said, I wouldn’t listen to music with it turned on, as it’s just not flattering.
Runner Up #2: AirPods Max 2
The Spatial Audio and official Dolby Atmos support is fantastic as well on the AirPods lineup in general, with the best being the latest AirPods Max 2.
However, one BIG caveat is that Spatial Audio can only work with certain Apple devices, as opposed to 100% onboard processing like the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION or XM6.
In simple terms, I can’t turn on spatial audio with my smart TV, but it works with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac instead.
When you can use it, it sounds very convincing and impressive, especially with dynamic head-tracking.
But I prefer the Sony’s because I can simply apply spatial audio to ANY passthrough audio. Not to mention, I like the sound of the Sony’s for this mode better, especially the 1000X COLLEXION.
Best Headphones for Bass: Sennheiser Momentum 5
The previous-gen Momentum 4 was already a bass cannon in its own right, and Sennheiser followed it up in 2026 with its successor, the Momentum 5.
The bass response on the newer Momentum 5 is similar to the Momentum 4, but elevated to be cleaner with an even deeper sub-bass response to the lowest frequencies.
There isn’t much to nitpick about the Momentum 5 in the bass department.
It’s visceral, impactful, controlled, and overall very satisfying.
Now if you’re an audiophile, you may think this massive bass response means inevitable muddiness in the mids, but you would be wrong.
The Momentum 5 magically has both massive bass and full, detailed, cleanly-separated mids that never sounds muddy or bloated.
Make sure you listen in aptX Lossless for the cleanest and most controlled bass response, and you’ll surely be impressed.
See our Full Sennheiser Momentum 5 Review on YouTube below
Runner Up #1: Sennheiser Momentum 4
I recently updated my Momentum 4 review after 3 years of ownership, and I’ve pretty much come full circle to appreciate them today as an “audiophile’s bass cannon”.
The Momentum 4 is unique in that it has massive bass response while still mostly being acceptably balanced as an audiophile in the mids and treble.
That said, the newer Momentum 5 is even more impressive in its sound quality, and this translates to cleaner bass and mids.
Runner Up #2: Nothing Headphone 1
The Nothing Headphone 1 made a decent splash onto the scene in 2025 as Nothing’s first over-ear noise cancelling headphone.
I was quite impressed by the sound quality, especially for the price.
But if there’s ONE thing that I think makes these headphones stand out, is its massive bass response. Turn “Bass Enhancement” up to 5, dial in some EQ, and these are head-rattling bass cannons.
The ironic thing is, I was actually testing both the Nothing Headphone 1 alongside the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2, a headphone with actual proprietary “Sensory Bass” technology that physically vibrates to emulate subwoofers.
And the crazy thing is, the Nothing Headphone 1 was hanging right there for bass impact, slam, and quantity.
If you listen to the more modern genres, or are simply a bass-head, check out the Nothing Headphone 1.
Runner Up #3: Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 actually makes a case for being #1 on this list for best bass, due to its unique “Sensory Bass” that physically rattles your head from the bass response.
If you’re looking for the closest thing to subwoofers strapped to your ears, this is it.
My only reservation about these is that they aren’t on the level of the above headphones in terms of overall sound quality, noise cancelling, and features.
So in that sense, they’re just a bit gimmicky when judged as an overall product.
But they sure are FUN, and there’s nothing quite like it in the market currently.
Best Noise Cancelling Performance: AirPods Max 2
Apple claims “Up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation” than the first generation AirPods Max, and in my testing, I have every reason to believe that claim.
The AirPods Max 1 (both lightning and USB-C refresh) was already fairly competitive in the noise cancelling department against the other flagships from Sony and Bose, but the AirPods Max 2 takes the crown for now.
No headphone I’ve tested to date delivers the impressive amount of silence that the AirPods Max 2 with its upgraded H2 chip can deliver.
Almost just as impressive is its transparency mode, which as its name suggests, makes you hear like you’re not even wearing a heavy pair of closed-back headphones. This is also thanks to the upgrade from the H1 to the H2 chip.
If you’re looking for the best-in-class noise cancelling and transparency mode currently, this is it.
See our Full AirPods Max 2 Review on YouTube below
Runner Up #1: Sony WH-1000XM6
Our 2025 noise cancelling award winner from last year was the Sony XM6, with its excellent “QN3” processing chip that delivers impressive real-time adjustments and consistent noise blocking.
Another big benefit of the XM6 is that it has very little “side effects” like hiss or white noise, especially compared to the competition like Bose QuietComfort Ultra 1 and 2.
Factor in the stronger clamping force and tight earcup space (a drawback for comfort, but a plus for noise cancelling), and the XM6 is arguably the most consistent noise cancelling performer in the class.
Best Sound Quality: Dali IO-12 + Focal Bathys MG (Tie)
The Dali IO-12 at $1,750 and Focal Bathys MG at $1,499 USD retail price are two of the most expensive wireless headphones, aside from the $2,200 Bang & Olufsen H100 (which we’ve also reviewed).
Coincidentally, they also just so happen to be the top 2 best-sounding wireless headphones we’ve tested to date. Maybe you do get what you pay for, after all?
Price aside, these two headphones are the closest thing to wired headphone sound quality that I’ve heard in a wireless package.
Both excellent from a technical perspective, with two distinct flavors.
The Bathys MG is the more “reference-like” and neutral of the two, with the Dali IO-12 being the livelier and more open soundstage out of the box.
You can’t go wrong with either, but the Bathys MG is down to around $1,230 market price at the time of this writing, presenting a much better value.
See our Full Dali IO-12 and Focal Bathys MG Review on YouTube below
Runner Up #1: Sennheiser HDB 630 + Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 (Tie)
If you’ve been following our website / YouTube channel for the past year, you would know how picky we are when it comes to sound quality.
We do try to infuse a bit of an audiophile theme to our reviews, as sound quality is our #1 weighted score category by far.
Simply put, there were 2 headphones that released in 2025 that changed the game: The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 and Sennheiser HDB 630. These two headphones have officially brought WIRED headphone sound quality into a much more convenient WIRELESS NOISE CANCELLING package. This is no easy feat, so we tip our hats to these brands.
Now, these 2 headphones have drastically different sound profiles, with the Px8 S2 leaning much more musical and warm, and the HDB 630 being quite neutral.
To put it simply, I find the Px8 S2 a lot more FUN to listen to from the factory, while the HDB 630 is certainly the more clinical and sterile.
But at the technical sound quality level, I find them to be equal, and offering sound quality that is similar to other previously-excellent wireless headphones like the Focal Bathys in wired USB-DAC mode, or the original Px8 in wired mode.
That alone is simply incredible, and new territory for this class of headphones.
See our Full Sennheiser HDB 630 and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Review on YouTube below
Runner Up #2: Focal Bathys
The Focal Bathys was our sound quality king under $1,000 for a long time, only having been recently usurped by the four mentioned above.
That said, I still absolutely LOVE listening to music with the Bathys.
In terms of stock tuning, the Bathys has one of the most pleasant and musical sound profiles I’ve heard in a wireless headphone.
It’s got all you’d want as an audiophile: soundstage, spacing, musicality, and more.
That said, as time went on, I did notice the Bathys wasn’t perfect and had its limits.
Also, I was able to EQ a bit better sound profile than stock over time.
2026 UPDATE: Having now tested the $1,499 Focal Bathys MG, I can confidently say that the “original” Bathys is about 90% of the same headphone for about 1/3rd the cost. I have a newfound appreciation for the Bathys now.
See our Full Focal Bathys Review on YouTube below
Best Value: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Even though the Momentum 4 has now been officially replaced with the Momentum 5 in mid-2026, the Momentum 4 continues to be the “value king” of the class.
At the time of this writing, sale prices frequently dip to just $199, and this should be expected to drop even further with the Momentum 5 now the focal point. At under $200 to $220, this is an insane value for the money and a “must-buy”, in my opinion.
If you want to maximize the sound quality of the Momentum 4 to truly punch above its weight, throw on our custom EQ settings from our Sennheiser Momentum 4 Review, add in a Bluetooth dongle like the Questyle QCC Dongle Pro (linked below) or Sennheiser BTD 700 to unlock aptX Adaptive hi-res codec, and you now have arguably the best wireless listening experience for the money.
![Questyle QCC Dongle Pro [MFi Certified] USB-C Bluetooth Audio Adapter with LDAC,aptX Lossless&aptX-Adaptive,Low Latency Bluetooth 5.4 Dongle for PS5,Wireless Lossless Transmitter for PC/Headphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21jT-Cm5ZVL._SL500_.jpg)
Runner Up #1: Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE
At $299 full retail price, the P100 SE is simply one of the best-sounding wireless headphones for the money.
Make no mistake, this competes with headphones costing twice as much, such as the Focal Bathys, Bang & Olufsen H95, and Bowers & Wilkins Px8.
Add in the fact that it has decent noise cancelling performance, solid build quality, up to 100 hours of battery life (with noise cancelling off), and a user-replaceable battery, and the P100 SE is a no-brainer at under $300.
This is easily one of the most hidden gems in the class.
Best Overall: Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION
One of the biggest surprises of 2026 is the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION, which debuted at a whopping $650 USD retail price.
I know what you’re thinking, there’s NO way it can be worth $650. Isn’t this just a fancy XM6 with better materials?
I said the same thing before testing them as well.
(Believe me, my wallet hurt clicking the “Buy” button.)
But after my first week of testing, I realized I was wrong.
The 1000X COLLEXION is NOT just a simple cosmetic upgrade to the XM6, it is a total overhaul with much improved comfort, more premium materials, significantly improved sound quality, reworked acoustics, and upgraded spatial audio.
Despite its many flaws, I actually was using the XM6 on a daily basis just for its excellent “Cinema Mode” spatial audio and strong ANC. But I didn’t even listen to music with the XM6, as there’s much better options.
The 1000X not only improves upon that spatial audio and Cinema Mode, but has much better sound quality that makes them truly enjoyable for music listening as well. Even as an audiophile.
To put it simply, this is THE most complete wireless headphone I’ve tested to date, and has our highest overall score using Version 2.0 of our headphone scoring criteria.
I’ve been using them daily since its release, both at home and traveling in the air, and I can attest that this is the #1 “all-in-one” wireless headphone available today.
See our Full Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Review on YouTube below
Runner Up #1: Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
The 1st generation of Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra was already a fairly complete all-arounder in terms of comfort, noise cancelling performance, and sound quality (after applying my EQ settings).
But in 2025, the 2nd Gen improved upon the 1st Gen in pretty much every way:
- Better sound quality and stock tuning (much less EQ needed)
- 30 hours of battery life versus 24 hours
- Improved noise cancelling (less hiss / side effects)
- Cinema Mode
- Lossless audio via USB-C
This is the second closest thing to a “perfect” headphone for this class, with no real weaknesses.
At this point, having tested over 50+ pairs of wireless noise cancelling headphones, if I could only have one… it would be the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION, followed by the Bose QC Ultra 2nd gen.
See our Full Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen Review on YouTube below
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase all of the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment. Noise cancelling performance is tested in the real-world, primarily on airplane flights, coffee shops, and walking around large metropolitan city environments.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
Post Update History
- June 2026: Added new 2026 wireless headphone releases including Apple AirPods Max 2, Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION, and Sennheiser Momentum 5. Also included older releases that were previously untested like Focal Bathys MG and Dali IO-12.
- November 2025: Original publication date. Updated pricing to reflect Black Friday sales.
Conclusion
After having reviewed over 50+ pairs of wireless headphones and earbuds, I’m quite excited for the future of this category of product.
There was real innovation starting in 2025, with the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 and Sennheiser HDB 630 bringing wired headphone quality in a wireless noise cancelling package.
The mainstream all-arounders like the Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen and Sony XM6 simply improved upon their predecessors in meaningful ways.
And the value for dollar is actually increasing as favorites like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 dipped to below $200 USD, which is simply incredible.
Then in 2026, three massive releases shook up the game: Apple AirPods Max 2, Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION, and the long-awaited Sennheiser Momentum 5.
In addition, I finally got to review the three most expensive wireless headphones in the class: Bang & Olufsen H100 ($2,200), Dali IO-12 ($1,750), and Focal Bathys MG ($1,499).
Those absolutely did not disappoint in the sound quality department, but the question of dollar value is the more valid argument.
Overall, the competition in the wireless noise cancelling headphone category is more fierce than ever before, so we’ll do our best to consistently adjust scores and awards as needed.
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