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We’re big fans of over-ear headphones. Rather than tinny earbuds, these devices engulf your ear with the full spectrum of sound – so we certainly didn’t mind testing the best over-ear headphones under $400.
While true audiophiles can spend $1,000 (or more!) on headphones, for most people, $400 is a good cutoff point. Of course, there are thousands of models out there, so we aggregated millions of customer reviews, and tested the top choices.
Our Top Pick
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80
While these headphones certainly cost more than the standard Apple earbuds – they are well worth it. Offering stellar sound, and extreme comfort – they are easily our top pick.
You can utilize these headphones for studio work, on a plane – or just relaxing at home. With tons of 5-star user reviews, and coming in at well under $400 – it’s very tough to beat the value of these over-ear headphones. Highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
Denon AH-MM400
Want great-looking, studio-quality headphones? Look no further than this pair, made by Denon.
While not cheap, these headphones are well-worth the extra cash. They are engineered to provide a flat EQ response – a crucial tool for work inside the recording studio. A great premium pick.
PSB M4U 8
These wireless over-ear headphones performed excellently in all of our tests, and they also feature active noise cancelling. We wore them on a plane, and were amazed at how well they cancelled out all the exterior sounds.
Even a crying baby didn’t get through, and we were able to zone out (and even fall asleep). The excellent drivers inside these headphones provide a clear frequency response, and made all of our songs sound crystal clear. Another excellent premium option.
Blue Mo-Fi
These headphones provide killer sound, and they also look very cool. Backed by tons of stellar customer reviews, they’re one of the best over-ear headphones we’ve tried (at least under $400).
Rather than a completely flat frequency response, these are slightly “analog” sounding – meaning they have a warm, tube amp type of sound. If you love the sound of 1960s and 1970s records – these are likely the best headphones for you.
Sony WH-1000XM4
We love Sony’s headphones (and own a few pairs). These are near the top of the line for them, and they are well worth your money.
The noise cancelling is excellent, and easily blocked out any sounds we didn’t want to hear. We were equally impressed with the battery, which lasts forever, and charges extremely quickly (only 10 minutes of charging gets you over 4 hours of listening time). Perhaps our favorite pair on the entire list – it’s tough to say.
Audeze LCD-1
Audeze makes some truly great headphones, and this is one of their flagship pairs. The 90mm drivers inside these headphones sound incredible – and are also very loud.
We loved the foldable design, as well as how comfortable this pair was (we didn’t experience any discomfort, even after wearing them for more than 4 hours). The 3 year warranty is also an extremely nice feature, and should give you some additional peace of mind, should you need it.
V-Moda M-200
These headphones not only look stylish, they perform extremely well. If you don’t mind spending a good amount on headphones, these are a solid pair to get.
The quality difference between cheap earbuds and this pair is insane – even non-audiophiles will easily hear the difference. While not as well known as Sennheiser or Sony, V-Moda has made an excellent pair of headphones with the M-200s.
Bose 700
Bose is very well-known for manufacturing high-quality audio products – and this pair of headphones is no exception. The comfort, the sound, the noise cancelling – they are all excellently pulled off here.
Of course, Bose is not known for low prices, so these aren’t the cheapest pair on our list. However, if you care about sound quality, and prefer going with a well-known manufacturer – this might just be the right pair of headphones for you.
Grado SR325e
With tons of great customer reviews, a killer sound, and a cool look – this might just be our personal favorite pair of headphones on the list. Grado is not as well-known as bigger audio brands, but this pair of headphones is simply unbelievable.
The only auditory critique we can give, is that the bass is a touch low, but we barely noticed. Of course, a simple EQ tweak for more bass from your source device will correct this – so this doesn’t detract at all from our recommendation. Definitely a stellar pair of on-ear headphones.
Sennheiser Momentum 3
Sennheiser is very famous in the audio world, and for good reason. This internet-famous pair of headphones is a shining example of exactly why so many consumers love this brand.
This pair of headphones is very comfortable, provides amazing sound, and is not terribly overpriced. While they certainly cost more than standard, poor quality earbuds – the extra upfront investment is more than worth it. Highly recommended.
What Are Over-Ear Headphones?
Over-ear headphones are the largest size of headphones, which go all the way around your ears. You will easily recognize them on a shelf, as they look like giant earmuffs.
This is in direct contrast to earbuds, which are tiny and fit inside your ears. As you might imagine, the sound quality is quite different with over-ear headphones.
These headphones are louder, provide better bass, and usually have much better noise canceling. Of course, they are also far larger – so there is a definite trade-off.
Is It Weird To Wear Over-Ear Headphones?
This is a funny one, and no it’s definitely not weird to wear over-ear headphones. However, you should always be aware of your surroundings, and not socially isolate yourself while wearing them.
Most people probably just assume you’re busy, really like music, or don’t want to be disturbed. Ultimately, you should do whatever makes you feel good, as you can never control what people think of you anyway.
Are Over-Ear Headphones Better Than On-Ear?
Over-ear headphones completely cover your ears, while on-ear headphones do not. These headphones will usually have less bass, but also take up less space.
There is not much difference besides these issues, so ultimately it’s down to personal preference to choose between the two styles. Our preference is over-ear, as the noise cancelling and sound quality are generally stronger with these models.
Should I Buy Headphones Or Earbuds?
Headphones and earbuds are the two most frequently form of portable listening devices. While earbuds have become ubiquitous (largely due to the iPhone) – they don’t always offer the best sound.
In fact, if you want headphones for the recording studio, earbuds will be completely unacceptable. Headphones are great for studio settings, traveling, and high-quality home listening.
However, earbuds are much more portable – and cheaper. This means they’re great for places like the gym, the beach, or while running.
Essentially, earbuds are like an iPhone screen, while headphones are like a home movie theater. They’re both important, but they are appropriate for different things at different times.
How Do You Wear Headphones?
Headphones should feel almost weightless on your ears. Make sure that they are adjusted to rest easily on the top of your head – not too loose, and not too tight.
Since over-ear headphones don’t go inside your ear (like earbuds) they’re generally easier to wear. Just make sure you’re not uncomfortable while wearing them, and ultimately you should be fine.
Can Noise Cancelling Damage Your Ears?
No, noise cancelling cannot damage your ears. However, listening to headphones too loud, for too long – can eventually lead to potential hearing loss.
A good rule of thumb is to always keep the headphone volume low enough so that you can still hear things going on around you. Of course, with noise cancelling headphones, it’s harder to tell what the optimal volume may be.
Which Driver Is Best For Earphones?
There is not one set driver that will deliver optimal performance for earphones. Generally, if you want better bass, opt for a bigger driver size.
Bigger drivers will also result in louder volume. However, bigger drivers sometimes have issues reproducing treble – so there’s still a trade-off.
Does Wearing Headphones Increase Bacteria In The Ear?
Headphones do not really increase the amount of bacteria in your ear. However, if you wear them for long periods of time, the amount of bacteria in your ears may slightly increase.
Ultimately though, this is not something you need to waste your time worrying about. If you’re a frequent headphone wearer, just be sure to clean your chosen pair regularly.
Can You Wear Headphones While Walking?
Yes, you can safely wear your headphones while walking. However, generally you want to keep the volume down to the point of still being able to hear cars approaching.
This will maximize your awareness, as you can never be too careful while walking near traffic. If you’re in the forest or on a path, you won’t need to be as worried about traffic.
However, it’s still generally a good idea to keep the volume at this lower level. This is because long term exposure to loud music in your headphones can cause hearing damage – not something you want.
Is It Bad To Wear Headphones After A Shower?
There’s nothing immediately bad or dangerous about wearing headphones right after a shower. However, you’re certainly not doing yourself (or your headphones) any favors.
Your headphones may degrade if they frequently come into contact with water. Likewise, you may accidentally trap excess water in your ears, if you immediately put your headphones on after a shower.
Does Driver Size Matter In Headphones?
Drivers for headphones generally deliver louder sound – the bigger the driver size, the louder the headphones. However, things are quite this cut and dry.
Bigger drivers can usually deliver better bass, but they sometimes may not replicate higher frequencies as well. Additionally, the quality of the parts that make up the driver are what determines the audio quality – not just the size of the driver itself.
Who Are Over-Ear Headphones Best For?
Ultimately, over-ear headphones are better in any number of situations. First, they are great (and really the only option) for in-studio recording.
That’s because they will be able to provide the full spectrum of sound. You will also get a flat EQ (or frequency response).
Additionally, the sound will be isolated better, resulting in being able to hear even the most minute details. This is crucial for studio recordings, as you need to make sure there are absolutely no errors present.
Over-ear headphones are also great for traveling, as they will block out noises in airports and on planes. This makes them great for focusing as well, which means studying is yet another activity great with over-ear headphones.
What Type Of Sound Quality Can I Expect From Over-Ear Headphones?
Over-ear headphones provide the highest sound quality of any type of headphone. They not only have bigger drivers, but they also isolate your ear from all outside sound sources.
This results in crystal clear sound, which is simply unmatched by other types of headphones. If audio quality (as well as clarity) is your thing, over-ear headphones are really your only choice.
You will hear every bass note, every guitar lick, and every cymbal crash with over-ear headphones. This is why musicians and producers check final mixes with this type of headphone.
The flat frequency response (also known as flat EQ) of over-ear headphones is equally important. This feature allows for an accurate representation of your recording – without any sound coloring from speakers or overly-bassy headphones.
This is why it’s not ideal to mix professional music with earbuds or Beats By Dre. There is simply no flat frequency response possible.
The Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $400
There you have it, our picks for the best over-ear headphones under $400. Earbuds are fine for some situations, but if you want really high-quality audio – you need some pricier over-ear headphones.
Whether you want noise cancelling headphones, ones with a flat frequency response, or a pair with tremendous bass – we’ve got you covered. And if you liked this list, be sure to check out some of our other in-depth product reviews.