Our top over-ear headphones of 2026 so far: every pair of cans that blew us away in our tests

Date:
Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:23:43 +0000

Description:
We've tested some seriously good over-ear headphones this year browse the pairs that impressed us the most.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter 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 very.co.uk 179 Shop Now View Details 5% OFF Sonos Ace Ultra Sevenoaks Sound and Vision 379 399 Shop Now View Details Coupons Nothing Headphone (a) Amazon 139.25 Shop Now View Details 13% OFF Coupons Apple AirPods Max 2 Laptops Direct 434.97 499 Shop Now View Details Coupons JBL Live 780NC Amazon 140.97 Shop Now View Details HEDD HEDDphone D1 Sevenoaks Sound and Vision 589 Shop Now View Details Austrian Audio The Arranger Scan 840 Shop Now View Details Coupons Noble FoKus Artemis Peter Tyson 799 Shop Now View Details 13% OFF Coupons Meze Audio Strada Amazon 699 799 Shop Now View Details Coupons Grado Signature S750 Peter Tyson 1,695 Shop Now View Details 4 stars Sony WH-CH730N EE 99 Shop Now View Details 15% OFF Coupons EarFun Wave Pro X Amazon 101.98 119.99 Shop Now View Details Nothing Headphone (1) Pro very.co.uk 349 Shop
Now View Details Coupons Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) Amazon 299.95 Shop Now View Details 8% OFF Coupons JBL Live 680 NC Amazon 119 129.99 Shop Now View Details 6% OFF Coupons Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Amazon 309.92 329.90 Shop Now View Details 15% OFF Sony 1000X The Collexion Sevenoaks Sound and Vision 469 549 Shop Now View Details 16% OFF Coupons Anker Soundcore
Space 2 Amazon 109 129.99 Shop Now View Details Coupons Sivga Robin SV021 Pro Amazon 179 Shop Now View Details Coupons Soundpeats Cove Pro Amazon 55.99
Shop Now View Details Coupons OneOdio Focus A1 Pro Amazon 39.99 Shop Now View Details Final Audio DX3000CL AV.com 549 Shop Now View Details Follow
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/headphones/our-top-over-ear-headphones-of-2026 -so-far


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