What are the best over-ear, active noise-cancelling headphones with Bluetooth capability which have the option of plugging in the headphones and work once battery runs out?

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What are the best over-ear, active noise-cancelling headphones with Bluetooth capability which have the option of plugging in the headphones and work once battery runs out?

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Oct 1, 2018

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Here’s the Deal

The Best 2 of 11 OptionsWhy?

Best over-ear, active noise-cancelling headphones with Bluetooth capability which have the option of plugging in the headphones and work once battery runs out?	Price	Connectivity	Weight
91 Sennheiser PXC 550	$299.99	Bluetooth 4.2	227g
91 Sony WH-1000XM2	$348	Bluetooth 4.1, 3.5mm Wired	275 g
88 Bose QuietComfort 35 II	$349	Bluetooth 4.1 / 3.5mm Wired	234 g
-- Parrot Zik 3	$249.99	Bluetooth, 3.5mm Wired	275 g
-- Sennheiser 4.50 BTNC	$199.95	Bluetooh / Wired (3.5mm )	Bluetooh / Wired (3.5mm )

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Sony WH-1000XM2

Top Pro

Fun-sounding with good details to the audio

The bass has good punch and control which works really well with most genres of music. The mids are slightly forward at just the right levels, which ensures that vocals can be clearly heard. The highs are emphasized and sound great with a lot of clarity and detail, especially on the upper registers. See More

Top Con

Highs can be too piercing

The boosted highs add a lot of detail to the sound that these headphones produce. This also makes it too harsh for some. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooth 4.1, 3.5mm Wired

Weight:275 g

Battery Life:30 Hours (Playback, Wireless, Noise Cancelling Activated)

Frequency Response:4 Hz - 40,000 Hz

See All Specs

Top Pro

Right ear cup functions as touchpad remote

Swiping or tapping on the right ear cup's surface can pause or play track, go to the next track or go back to the previous one and can control volume levels as well. Also, the right ear cup has more of a textured surface compared to the old MDR1000x model's smooth, leather-like surface. This makes gesture control much more accurate on the WH-1000XM2. See More

Top Pro

Quick Attention mode allows easy conversations

If you need to talk while using these, all you need to do is to cover the right ear cup with the palm of your hand. This activates Quick Attention mode which cuts off the music and amplifies voice for easy conversation. To get back to listening to music, all you need to do is to remove the palm from the ear cup. See More

Top Pro

4 noise cancelling modes to choose from

Aside from just turning noise cancelling on or off, users can set it to Ambient Sound which offers 2 further options.Normal Mode allows some outside noise through, while Voice Mode allows voice frequencies through the noise cancelling. See More

Top Pro

Mobile app grants extra functionality and easy tweaking of the headphones

The WH1000XM2 comes with a companion mobile app that allows you to easily tweak the various settings of the headphones including EQ and noise cancelling levels. The app can also take advantage of the accelerometers in your smartphone as you move, adjusting noise cancelling and audio settings on the fly to give you the optimal listening experience. See More

Top Pro

Good noise isolation

These have great noise isolating properties and can block out a good amount of sound even with the noise cancelling off. The ear cups are closed back, while the ear pads go over the ear and seal well, awhich effectively minimizes sound leakage to and from the headphones. See More

Top Pro

Can fold down to a more compact size

The ear cups can be folded into the headband. This reduces the headphones' size so that it can easily fit inside bags. See More

Top Pro

Active noise cancelling is very good

The WH-1000XM2's active noise cancelling is one of the best in the market today. With the mode activated, a significant amount of outside noise is blocked, allowing you to really enjoy your music with minimal distractions. The Bose QC 35 II slightly edges out the Sony in this aspect though. See More

Top Pro

Built in mic makes taking calls very easy

There is a built in microphone which negates the need to remove the headphones to answer a call. See More

Top Pro

Can be used wired or wireless

You can use these headphones wired using the detachable 3.5mm cable or you can go wireless with Bluetooth. See More

Top Pro

Very long battery life

The internal battery can last up to 30 hours of listening to music in wireless mode with noise cancelling on. This number goes up to 40 hours in wired mode with noise cancelling activated. See More

Top Pro

Carrying case allows for easy and secure transport

This comes with a carrying case that is made from high quality materials. It should provide extra protection to the headphones against scratches and minor impacts, which are quite common when taking these while traveling. See More

See All

9 Other Options Considered

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Top Pro

Great sound performance, effective noise cancelling, long battery life and Google Assistant smart features in a compact package

Most full-sized, wireless over the ear headphones are quite heavy and bulky. The QC 35 IIs on the other hand are relatively compact and light, yet still deliver great performance, battery life and top notch noise cancelling. The integration of Google Assistant is also a first in headphones, and gives you a host of smart features like notification reading, quick music searches and call making using voice commands and many more. See More

Top Con

Noise cancelling may cause ear discomfort

Some experience a feeling of extra pressure into the ears when noise cancelling is on. Many find this to be unpleasant. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooth 4.1 / 3.5mm Wired

Weight:234 g

Battery Life:20 Hours (Playback, Wireless, Noise Cancelling Activated) 40 Hours ( Wired, Noise Cancelling Activated)

Type:Over-Ear, Closed-Back

Top Pro

Great active noise cancelling

Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music by virtually eliminating outside noise. See More

Top Pro

Fairly balanced sound signature with slight boosts to the mids and highs

Bass is full and punchy. While the sub-bass is not pronounced, there is good and fast bass extension, and this is what gives the music punch and a sense of tightness. The mids are full and slightly forward so vocals and guitars can be clearly heard. The highs are clear and do not distort at high volumes. There is a peak on the upper treble which helps to add more detail and clarity to the music, but some may also find the high frequencies to be quite harsh at times. See More

Top Pro

Very good Google Assistant integration

These headphones are much more convenient to use and functional thanks to the Google Assistant upgrade. Press the long, flat button on the left ear cup to activate the feature, and you’ll be able to make voice commands to search for music, start calls, set reminders, get weather updates and many other features. This addition makes the QC 35 II one of the best travelling headphones you can get today. See More

Top Pro

Has wired and Bluetooth connectivity

Aside from Bluetooth connection, you can also connect the QuietComfort 35 II to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This makes the headphones usable even with the battery depleted. See More

Top Pro

Ear cup buttons allow easy control

You can easily control playlist functions using the buttons on the right ear cup. These functions include volume control as well as the play, pause, next track and previous track commands. The on/off switch for the headphones is also on this ear cup. See More

Top Pro

Very good battery life

The QC35 IIs can play music continuously for up to 20 hours. This should cover most of your trips' duration before needing to recharge. See More

Top Pro

Mic produces great voice quality

Multiple microphones are strategically located on both ear cups, allowing for great voice quality when taking calls. The noise cancelling also helps to clean up the voice quality that goes into the headphones. See More

Top Pro

Built in mic allows hands-free calls

You can simply press a button on the right ear-cup to answer a call. This reduces the hassle of having to remove the headphones to take a call. See More

Top Pro

Not straining on the head/neck

Despite having internal batteries, these headphones are still fairly lightweight, coming in at under 300 grams. This makes the headphones really easy to wear for extended periods, even when you are on the go. See More

Top Pro

Feels soft and comfortable

The QC 35 II's ear cups and headband feature quality memory foam material which are soft and supportive so they do not pinch on your ears or apply too much pressure to the top of the head. These contact points are also covered with a quality leather material which feels nice and smooth on the skin. See More

Top Pro

Great for on the go use as they are wireless

With these, you won't have to deal with long and dangling cables that can be difficult to manage. See More

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Parrot Zik 3

Top Pro

Very good build quality

The Zik 3 features a solid build. The headband is made out of metal and can flex a good bit without breaking. Headband adjustment is quite stiff, which ensures that your adjustments stay in place. The ear cup surfaces are covered with leather which makes the headphones look and feel premium. See More

Top Con

Can be a hassle to take on the go

The industrial design of the Parrot Zik 3 looks amazing, but also comes at the cost of the portability. The ear cups cannot be folded into the headband. You will need to account for its size when travelling. An alternative will be for you to hang these off your neck while on the go, which may not always be comfortable. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooth, 3.5mm Wired

Weight:275 g

Battery Life:7 - 8 Hours ( Playback, Wireless, Noise Cancelling Activated )

Frequency Response:5 Hz - 22,000 Hz

See All Specs

Top Pro

Interchangeable battery

You can remove the right ear cup cover to gain access to the headphones’ battery. You can replace the battery if the performance is diminishing, or you can bring a spare, charged battery to swap in with the depleted one for longer playback use. See More

Top Con

Presence Sensor can be too sensitive

At times, even slight unintentional movement of the head can trip off the Presence Sensor, pausing the music. This can get very annoying if it happens frequently. See More

Top Pro

Punchy bass with good clarity

The bass reproduction is full and punchy, yet does not get overpowering. Bass hits sound tight, fast and have fairly good depth. The mids sound natural while the highs are clear, yet a bit rolled-off. This allows the Zik 3 to deliver fairly clear sound without getting harsh. The punchy bass makes these heapdhones work well with popular modern genres like EDM, hip-hop and the like yet can still work well with pop, jazz, classical and similar music genres. See More

Top Pro

Good at blocking ambient noise

The noise cancelling is fairly effective. While it does not cancel out all ambient noise, the feature reduces a good chunk of it, so it does not interfere too much with your music. See More

Top Pro

Gesture controls on right ear cup

You can swipe left or right for previous or next track, tap to play or pause as well as answer calls with the headphones on. This can be very convenient, as you do not need to deal with small and difficult to press buttons. See More

Top Pro

Wired and wireless connectivity

The Parrot Zik 3 features Bluetooth as well as NFC connectivity for wireless use, which is great for modern smartphones or devices. If your music player does not have wireless connectivity, a 3.5mm jack can be used. See More

Top Pro

Music automatically pauses when taking these off

When you take the headphones from your head or put it back on, the music can automatically pause or resume. The Zik 3's Presence Sensor detects such motions, negating the need to manually pause/play the music. See More

Top Pro

Decent battery life

From a full charge with all of the audio features on, you can get around 7 hours of listening time. However, if you choose to run these in airplane mode (wired connection with noise cancellation) you can get around 16 to 18 hours of use. See More

See All

Sennheiser 4.50 BTNC

Top Pro

Great mids and bass

The mids of the 4.50 BTNC sounds natural and clear. Music with a lot of vocals and guitars will definitely sound great with these headphones. The bass is not very powerful, but still provides a satisfying thump to the music. Overall, these headphones sound warm and laid back, great for casual music listening. See More

Top Con

Muddy treble

You may find the sound to be too laid back or lacking in detail. The high frequencies are slightly rolled off, so these may not be the best option if you love to hear the fine details of your music. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooh / Wired (3.5mm )

Battery Life:Around 20 Hours ( Playback,ANC On )

Frequency Response:18 Hz - 22,000 Hz

Impedance:18 Ohms

Top Pro

Good battery life

The headphones can last around 19 hours from a full charge on wireless mode with noise cancelling on. When on wired mode, it can last 25 hours with noise cancelling which is pretty decent for its class. See More

Top Con

Strong clamping force

You may feel some discomfort on your head when wearing these headphones for extended periods. The clamping force is quite strong, and may give a pinching sensation on your head. See More

Top Pro

Can fold to a compact size

These headphones can easily fit inside a bag or purse, and should be easy to carry. The ear cups can fold up to the headband, reducing the headphones’ overall size. See More

Top Pro

Decent noise cancelling

The active noise cancelling feature can reduce a good amount of ambient noise that may mix in with your music, though it doesn’t completely eliminate both high and low-pitched noise if they're loud enough. See More

Top Pro

Wired/wireless connectivity

You can connect the 4.50 BTNC to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This is useful when there is a lot of interference to the Bluetooth connection or if the battery runs out. See More

See All

Bose QuietComfort 35

Top Pro

Has wired and Bluetooth connectivity

Aside from Bluetooth connection, you can also connect the QuietComfort 35 to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This makes the headphones usable even with the battery depleted. See More

Top Con

Noise cancelling may cause ear discomfort

Some experience a feeling of extra pressure into the ears when noise cancelling is on. Many find this to be unpleasant See More

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooth 4.1

Weight:235 g

Battery Life:20 Hours

Top Pro

Fairly balanced sound signature with slight boosts to the mids and highs

Bass is full and punchy. While the sub-bass is not pronounced, there is good and fast bass extension, and this is what gives the music punch and a sense of tightness. The mids are full and slightly forward so vocals and guitars can be clearly heard. The highs are clear and do not distort at high volumes. There is a peak on the upper treble which helps to add more detail and clarity to the music, but some may also find the high frequencies to be quite harsh at times. See More

Top Pro

Great active noise cancelling

Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music with little to virtually no outside noise interfering. See More

Top Pro

Great for on the go use as they are wireless

With these, you won't have to deal with long and dangling cables that can be difficult to manage. See More

Top Pro

Feels soft and comfortable

The QC 35's ear cups and headband feature quality memory foam material which are soft and supportive so they do not pinch on your ears or apply too much pressure to the top of the head. These contact points are also covered with a quality leather material which feels nice and smooth on the skin. See More

Top Pro

Built in mic allows hands-free calls

You can simply press a button on the right ear-cup to answer a call. This reduces the hassle of having to remove the headphones to take a call. See More

Top Pro

Light and easy to wear

Despite having internal batteries, these headphones are still fairly lightweight, coming in at 235 grams. This makes the QC35 really easy to wear for extended periods and even while traveling. See More

Top Pro

Mic produces great voice quality

Multiple microphones are strategically located on both ear cups, allowing for great voice quality when taking calls. The noise cancelling also helps to clean up the voice quality that goes into the headphones. See More

Top Pro

Very good battery life

The QC35s can play music continuously for up to 20 hours. This should cover most of your trips' duration before needing to recharge. See More

Top Pro

Ear cup buttons allow easy control

You can easily control playlist functions using the buttons on the right ear cup. These functions include volume control as well as the play, pause, next track and previous track commands. The on/off switch for the headphones is also on this ear cup. See More

See All

V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless

Top Pro

Great battery life

You’ll get long hours of wireless music listening off these headphones. The Crossfade 2 can deliver around 13 to 14 hours of music playback from a full charge. Should the battery run out, these headphones can also function wired, so you can go on with your music listening. See More

Top Con

Heavy

The Crossfade Wireless 2 tips the scales at a little over 300 grams which may cause strain on the head and/or neck. See More

Top Pro

On-ear cup buttons

You can easily control your music using the buttons on the left ear cup. You get a pause/play/skip/digital assistant button, as well as volume adjustment functionality. See More

Top Pro

Clamshell case is included

These headphones can get adequate protection from scratches and bumps if you use the included case. It is a hard shell plastic case with a felt inner lining and is durable enough to withstand minor impact. The case is compact (modeled after the headphones when folded) so you can easily fit the case in your bag. See More

Top Pro

Folds down to a compact size

These headphones can be easy to travel with. You can fold the ear cups and yokes up to the headband, reducing the overall footprint. You can easily chuck these headphones into a bag or large purse with ease. See More

Top Pro

Boosted treble and highs

The Crossfade 2 Wireless produces detailed audio with a good level of oomph. The highs are boosted, so you’ll be able to hear a lot of detail from your music. However, the high frequencies do not get harsh, so these are quite easy to listen to for extended periods. The bass is powerful, as with most of V-Moda’s headphones. However, the bass does not sound bloated, so overall clarity of the audio is still very good, and the punchy bass helps make music sound more exciting. See More

Top Pro

Well-built

These headphones feel high quality, and give the impression that they will last long. The headband is made out of metal which is very resistant to damage, yet also is quite flexible. The ear cups are made of thick plastic and not feel brittle, while the aluminum shields add a satisfying heft and premium feel to the headphones. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable

These headphones won’t have a pinching effect on your head. The ear cups as well as the headband feature really thick cushioning, so these headphones will feel very soft on the head. See More

See All

Parrot Zik 2.0

Top Con

Its design and questionable ergonomics is not for everybody

Top Pro

Great at blocking ambient noise

The noise cancelling is very effective, allowing you to truly enjoy your music with little interference from ambient sound. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Wired / Bluetooth 3.0 / NFC

Weight:270g

Frequency Response:20Hz – 22kHz

Cable:Mini-jack cable: 1,30 m

See All Specs

Top Con

Charging can be slow

You may need to remember to charge these headphones on a frequent basis. It takes around two and a half hours to charge this battery from empty to full, which may be too long, especially if you are always on the go. See More

Top Pro

Detailed highs and punchy bass

The highs are the highlight of the Parrot Zik 2.0's sound signature. They are very clear and crisp without adding any harshness to the sound. The bass is also very good as the headphones can produce a very satisfying rumble and punch in the low end. The mids are slightly recessed, so instruments like guitars and the vocals are not too prominent, but are still clear. See More

Top Con

Can be a hassle to take on the go

The industrial design of the Parrot Zik 2.0 looks amazing, but also comes at the cost of the portability. The ear cups cannot be folded into the headband. You will need to account for its size when travelling. An alternative will be for you to hang these off your neck while on the go, which may not always be comfortable. See More

Top Pro

Wired and wireless connectivity

The Parrot Zik 2.0 features Bluetooth as well as NFC connectivity for wireless use, which is great for modern smartphones or devices. If your music player does not have wireless connectivity, a 3.5mm jack can be used. See More

Top Con

Presence Sensor can be too sensitive

At times, even slight unintentional movement of the head can trip off the Presence Sensor, pausing the music. This can get very annoying if it happens frequently. See More

Top Pro

A number of color variants available

Aside from the sleek looking design, the Zik 2.0 also comes in a number of colors including black, white. blue, red and many more. These options are great if you have a specific color preference. See More

Top Pro

Companion app offers lots of customizability

There are iOS and Android companion apps for advanced settings. These allow for equalization, virtualization, turning noise-cancellation on and off, changing output frequencies and sound stage among other things. These settings can be applied on an artist/album/song basis and shared with other owners of Zik headphones. See More

Top Pro

Music automatically pauses when taking these off

When you take the headphones from your head or put it back on, the music can automatically pause or resume. The Zik 2.0's Presence Sensor detects such motions, negating the need to manually pause/play the music. See More

Top Pro

Decent battery life

From a full charge with all of the audio features on, you can get anywhere from 5 to 7 hours of listening time. However, if you choose to run these in airplane mode (wired connection with noise cancellation) you can get around 16 to 18 hours of use. See More

Top Pro

Right ear cup accommodates gesture controls

You can swipe left or right for previous or next track, tap to play or pause as well as answer calls with the headphones on. This can be very convenient, as you do not need to deal with small and difficult to press buttons. See More

See All

V-MODA Crossfade Wireless

Top Pro

Fun sound signature with boosted bass as well as highs

The bass is quite boosted, and results in a lot of power from bass drum hits and other low frequency sounds. Bass lovers will find these headphones to be quite pleasing. Also, the highs have a lot of sparkle and detail, though this can get quite fatiguing when there are a lot of cymbal hits and high frequency sounds in the songs. The mids have good clarity, but are slightly recessed. See More

Top Con

Can be a hassle to bring on the go as the ear cups do not fold up

Unlike the Crossfade M-100s, these wireless Crossfade's ear cups do not fold up to reduce the headphones' size. This can make the headphones a little more difficult to bring on the go. See More

Specs

Connectivity:Wired (3.5mm) / Bluetooth

Weight:292 grams

Frequency Response:5 Hz - 30,000 Hz

Impedance:30 Ohms

See All Specs

Top Pro

Solid construction

These headphones have a solid, high quality feel to them, and you can tell that they will last you a long time. The ear cups are made of high quality plastic, while the headphones' yokes and headband are made of metal. The headband has a generous give yet does not feel flimsy at all. You can even twist the headband quite a bit yet it still won't feel like it will break. See More

Top Pro

Decent battery life

These headphones can last up to 12 hours of music playback off of a full charge. See More

Top Pro

Good noise isolation

The closed back ear cups, combined with their over-ear design effectively blocks out sound from mixing in with the music. Sound leakage from the headphones is minimized as well. See More

Top Pro

Has an optional cord

If you don't want to charge it all the time then you can use an AUX cord or USB. See More

Top Pro

Supports up to two Bluetooth devices

It can connect and stay connected to two different Bluetooth devices which makes it easy to switch from screen to screen. See More

See All

Samsung Level Over

Top Pro

Touch controls

The right part of this device is equipped with touch controls that let users adjust settings by sliding a finger up, down, back, or forwards. The entire touch panel is not visible. See More

Top Con

Inline controls lack compatibility

Non samsung devices can only be controlled via bluetooth, not wired connection. Additionally, inline mic controls do not with with iOS devices (play/pause does). See More

Specs

Weight::350 grams

Impedance::31 ohm

Inline mic::Yes

Sensitivity::Not given

See All Specs

Top Pro

Auto-off

If the headphones go unused for a while, the bluetooth and active noise canceling are turned off in order to preserve battery life. See More

Top Con

Bad mid range

These headphones have thumpy bass and sharp highs, but the midrange is lacking. See More

See All

Sony MDR1RBT

Top Pro

Outstanding design

From functionality to aesthetic appeal - these are great to look at, and it is evident that a lot of thought and consideration was given to perfecting the appearance and ease of use. See More

Top Con

Little documentation available

In order to get information or help regarding these earphones, it can be very difficult due to the lack of information published about them. This applies even to the weak help-manual. See More

Specs

Top Pro

Not too tight, not too loose

These headphones are a great fit for most heads. They're neither too tight nor too loose, are lightweight and have well-padded earcups. Can be worn comfortably for extended periods of time. See More

Top Con

Pads are likely to get sweaty

The leathery pads tend to build up heat and accumulate moisture when it's warm. See More

See All

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