Best OVER-EAR Bluetooth Headphones under $400 for 2021

scrimshaw on 04/03/2021 - 17:13
Last edited 04/03/2021 - 17:14

Moderators at OzBargain have decided to run yearly polls to decide the best products in popular categories that get asked repeatedly in the forum. Our aim is to have a central thread where users can vote on the items, suggest options and also change their vote throughout the year. The polls will end once the year is over.

Question

What is the best Over-Ear BT Headphones under $400 in 2021?

Results from 2019 shows that most of you voted for the Sony WH-1000XM3, then followed by the Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Taking suggestions from last time, I've made the poll focus on Wireless headphones.

Over-ear headphones are bulkier than their in-ear or on-ear counterparts, but the benefit of having headphones sitting over, rather than on or inside your ears means they're much more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Some of the things you need to look out for in a pair of headphones apart from their sound quality:

  • Open back or closed headphone types
  • Optional detachable Wired connection cable
  • Built in microphones for smartphone usage
  • Boom microphone for gaming
  • Whether they support being connected to a game console, such as Xbox Series and PlayStation 5
  • Active Noise Cancelling features
  • Sizing of the earcups and their materials (affecting comfort)

Remember: You can change your votes at anytime, and suggest more than 1 product over the course of the poll.

How do I suggest products to What Should I Buy polls?

If you have a product that you would like to suggest for the poll (that is currently not in the Poll Options), you'll need to make a top-level comment (i.e. not replying someone else's comment) and fill up "Suggestions" text box just above your comment:

Suggestion box

Do try to make a sensible suggestion and include a brief argument as to why you would recommend the product. You can only suggest 1 product at a time.

Poll Options expired

This is part of What Should I Buy poll for 2021. Check out other recommendations from the OzBargain community.
Electrical & Electronics Gaming Headset Active Noise Cancelling Headphones BeyerDynamic Bluetooth Earphones Bose Earphones Headphones Headset HyperX JBL Kingston Logitech Microsoft Razer Sennheiser Sony SteelSeries What Should I Buy Wireless Headphones Yamaha

Comments

  • garetz on 04/03/2021 - 17:42

    I'm a fan of Marshall Majors, ive had 2s and 3s, 3s have been recently superceded by 4s.

    Got extremely good battery life.

    • scrimshaw on 04/03/2021 - 17:44
      +1

      On-ear. Poll is for over-ear.

  • Gnostikos on 04/03/2021 - 19:28
    +2

    Best in what category?

    Sound quality or ANC?

    If it's ANC, then the XM4s/XM3s are going to be the crowd favourite. If it's sound quality, maybe the Drop Pandas, though wireless and sound quality are still mutually exclusive and serious audiophiles would laugh at the suggestion of buying BT headphones specifically for "sound quality".

    I think the XM4s when they're close to $300 dollars and if you're going to be using them with a device that supports the highest-bitrate LDAC codecs (990Kbps) and has customisable equalisation settings, are really unbeatable value for money for a well-rounded pair of circumaural BT ANC cans with fairly adequate sound quality, excellent battery life, great connectivity and a really comfortable fit, but there is definitely way better raw sound quality to be had out there in BT headphones.

  • Gnostikos on 04/03/2021 - 19:29
    Suggested Drop + THX Panda

    Forget to add it in the above post.

  • timthetoolman on 04/03/2021 - 22:15

    Can anyone who owns the Sony 1000xm4 comment on the comfort?
    I've got a pair of WH-XB900N which sweat quite badly in warm weather and curious if the xm4s are the same?
    Thanks

    • ilikeradiohead on 05/03/2021 - 11:15
      +4

      I have xm2's and they do get quite sweaty in warm weather. They look very similar to the xm4's. I think it might more be a function of effectively having ear muffs on on warm weather :D

      • hero000 on 28/03/2021 - 20:01
        +1

        I can't agree more. I've to wipe it every few minutes. I got Sennheiser PXC550 and XM3 too. That's worse than that. None of them is good for a workout. They are so good on planes or in any noisy places.

    • Chadlynx on 06/03/2021 - 16:47
      +1

      I have the XM4s, very sweaty. I used them at the gym only once, never again.

      • timthetoolman on 06/03/2021 - 19:06

        Not ideal. I need to replace the cushions so might try and find some that aren't leather

    • zjz93 on 10/03/2021 - 08:22

      Yes they have more space between the ears and drivers but they are still quite hot to wear in summer. However I don't think there are any headphones out there that don't cause my ears to sweat in hot weather

  • masterball63 on 23/03/2021 - 12:26

    Does anyone have extended experience with both the QC 35 and the XM3/4? I know the QC 35's comfort level is the best I've tried for long periods but have not experienced XM3/4 for hours on end. Looking to see opinions from people who have good amount of experience with both. Thanks!

    EDIT: looking specifically for opinions on comfort.

  • shabaka on 26/03/2021 - 05:22
    Suggested Sony WH-XB900N
    • have AptX, Aptx HD, AAC, LDAC, DSEE engine
    • have decent ANC (won't match XM3/4, but decent for commute/plane)
    • sound better for people who prefer bass heavy signature (in my opinion XM3/4 are too forward with their mids, I find xb900n to be more pleasant with ambient, shoegaze, bossa nova etc it just works better and doesn't lose any details)
    • fantastic touch controls
    • build quality is a bit cheaper compared to XM3/4 but they still feel premium and comfortable, definitely not entry level
    • $239 at Myer, I price matched at JB Hi-Fi easily with some gift cards cost me just over $170
    • shabaka on 26/03/2021 - 09:35

      that was about Sony WH-XB900N btw

  • usbc activist on 21/04/2021 - 13:50
    Suggested Beyerdynamic lagoon

    Great headphones for the sound quality and ANC

  • Hornpub on 09/07/2021 - 01:11

    love my xm4, the sound is abit too dark for my taste, but for travel, no complain.

  • southparkSnoop on 14/07/2021 - 09:48

    XM4
    Been using them for over a year, commutes, phone calls and WFH.
    I had people complain about my voice not being clear when I'm using the headphones occasionally.
    Love the touch interface on the side panel.

  • Spennyrich on 16/07/2021 - 08:49

    Can anyone recommend a pair for $~150

  • seerious on 16/08/2021 - 19:04
    +1

    AKG N700NCM2

  • Yapapi on 10/09/2021 - 13:08
    Suggested Yamaha YH-E700A

    Not sure if the Yamaha YH-E700A qualifies as RRP is $499, but is regularly available from JB-Hifi for sub-$300 and is superb headphones at that price.

  • glashalful on 13/10/2021 - 13:40

    Bose QC45 is on the horizon. May be better worth holding back a little. As it's supposed to replace QC35 ii.

  • cactusjuice on 02/11/2021 - 17:08
    Suggested Sennheiser Momentum 3

    RRP is over $400, but regularly available below. No ANC, but isolation is great and the sound is class leading.

  • toecutter69 on 03/11/2021 - 21:24

    What’s the best pair with a good mic? Focus would be for WFH calls via clients like Microsoft Teams. I’ve been on calls with several people who have over-ear Bluetooth headphones but the mic often is poor performance.

  • daven1985 on 04/11/2021 - 19:07

    I love my XM3's. And if I could justify the cost I would upgrade them to XM4s.

  • petergriffinoz on 23/11/2021 - 15:35

    I recently bought the XM4s from etrade eBay and have been having connection issues, both with my Mac Pro and S21.
    It's also not stopping playback when I remove the headphones (the sensor is clean, no obstructions).
    On the 5th day, I raised a request to return the item and the seller raised the request to let eBay take the decision for it.
    eBay denied it and since the item is not covered by money back guarantee, I'm stuck with a faulty device.
    Does anybody have any advice to get help with this?

  • UsernameChecksIn on 24/11/2021 - 07:10
    Suggested Bose QuietComfort 45

    just under $400 ($399 on deal prices)

    In the same vein as Bose QuietComfort 35 and Bose QuietComfort 35 II

  • grem323 on 02/12/2021 - 13:05

    What about the Xbox Wireless Headset? It’s comfy..got a stellar mic as well

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