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We're just over half-way through the year, and of the 28 pairs of headphones we've had the pleasure of testing so far, there are a number of standout over-ears from both ends of the price spectrum. If you're looking for a new pair of cans, these are the models you should be checking out.
At the affordable end of things we have the Nothing Headphone (a) , which manage to be both way better and much cheaper than their predecessors. We praised their "impactful and well-balanced sound, good active noise cancellation" and "excellent and truly useful app". A little pricier but still affordable are the retro-styled and ridiculously comfortable Marshall Milton ANC , and the clear-sounding JBL Live 780NC , with their never-ending battery life.
For true audiophiles with deep pockets, we've tested two blow-the-budget bangers. The Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 are the only pair of over-ears to earn a perfect five stars, with their "beautifully precise and engaging audio with exhilarating low-end performance" (here are all the five-star buys of the year so far , if you're interested). We were also blown away by the Grado Signature S750 , a pair of handmade, open-back headphones that offer "an exceptional soundstage and excellent clarity", and sound "amazing" on well-produced music.
Scroll down for a comprehensive list of our top-rated over-ear headphones of the year so far — hit the 'View details' button for a summary of the main pros and cons of each one, plus a link to read the full review. Alternatively, head to our general best over-ear headphones list for a run-down of our favorite sets of all time.
Outstanding over-ears
Audio-Technica
ATH-ADX7000
Read our full review
Pros
Beautifully detailed
Exceptional low end
Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
Very expensive
Very high impedance
Apple
AirPods Max 2
Read our full review
Meze Audio
Strada
Read our full review
GRADO
Signature S750
Read our full review
Pros
Very wide soundstage
Excellent positioning and clarity
Amazing on well produced music
Cons
Relatively expensive
May be too bright for some
Divisive fit
Marshall
Milton ANC
Read our full review
Pros
Incredible comfort for on-ears
Clean, spacious sound
Fantastic battery life
Excellent, sustainable design
Cons
Bass is a little overzealous out of the box
ANC is a bit limited
No wear detection
JBL
Live 780NC
Read our full review
Nothing
Headphone (a)
Read our full review
Pros
Great sound that's a big upgrade over Headphone (1)
Fantastic on-ear control options and app
Gigantic battery life
Cons
Still heavy, with a strong clamping force
Some rivals offer better sonic detail
No auto-pause feature or case
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