Hey there! So, some of you may have watched my roundup of the best true wireless earbuds of 2024, but this video is all about the best *over*-ear wireless headphones of the year. And frankly, the list is a little shorter than it

typically is because there just weren't that many great new wireless headphones released this year. Still, there were some good ones, so let's jump right into my picks. Now, it'll be clear: to be eligible for this best-of-2024 list, the headphone has to have been released in 2024, so

while headphones like Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra headphones are certainly among the best headphones right now, they aren't eligible. I'll start with the most expensive model: the Sonos Ace. It lists for $449 and is a direct competitor to

Apple's AirPods Max, which unfortunately weren't upgraded this year except for going from Lightning to USB-C charging. So that's not really a new product. I was a little disappointed that Sonos's first headphones didn't offer Wi-Fi streaming on my Sonos network at home, but

otherwise, this is a very comfortable Bluetooth headphone that sounds excellent, has top-notch noise cancelling, as well as very good voice-calling performance. Sonos users can link the Ace with various Sonos soundbars and swap your TV's audio from the soundbar to the

headphones for late-night TV viewing. But like I said, the Ace doesn't appear on your Sonos network as a speaker, which is what a lot of people were hoping for. At number two, I have a bit of a wildcard: the NVM One headphones, which have a

Funky open design, it still managed to deliver surprisingly good sound, and that sound barely leaks out, so you don't have to worry about disturbing people around you, which has always been the knock against open-back headphones. The one big strike against these headphones is they just cost a little too much at

$299, and no, they aren't noise-canceling headphones, but they are the first open headphones I've worn that don't steam up your ears on hot days, and that makes them special in my book. On to my third pick, it's the Sony...

...the Sony WH-XB910N headphones, which were in Sony's extra bass line and well-liked by folks who appreciated bass-forward headphones. The WH-XB910N list for $200 but have been discounted to $150 and may go lower during the holiday buying season. With the WH-XB910N, you get

a lot of what's in Sony's flagship WH-1000XM5s for a lot less money, and I'd argue the WH-XB910N is basically a cross between the XB910N and the XM5. The XM5 is equipped not only with Sony's

V1 chip but the QN1 chip, so they do have slightly better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance. However, when I was using the WH-XB910N, I did notice an upgrade in both noise-canceling and voice-calling performance from the XB910N. It's still a bit pricey, but if you

can't afford the step-up XM5, the WH-XB910N is a very good mid-range headphone. In the fourth slot, I have another $200 model, the Soundcore by Anker Space A1 Pro. This is a headphone that didn't totally impress me out of the gate but has grown

Over time, Anker touts how it folds up into a compact package, which is kind of cool, but it's more important that the headphones are comfortable to wear, sound quite good, and have good noise-canceling and voice-calling performance, along with strong battery life.

Not only is the design an upgrade over Anker's standard Space A1 headphones, but they have upgraded drivers that augment the sound quality. For my last pick, I'm going with a more affordable budget model, the Edifier W830NB, which costs a little less than $70 on

Amazon. I liked last year's W820NB, and this new, for 2024, model has been slightly improved all around with a slightly more premium-looking design and a tad better performance. It doesn't come with a carrying case or have an option for

connecting a 3.5mm headphone cable that you can plug into an in-flight entertainment system, but it does have USB-C audio if you want to get a wired connection with your USB-C enabled iPhone, Android device, or computer. The sound quality and noise canceling don't quite

measure up to what you get with more premium headphones, but what you get for the price is impressive. That's it; that's my list of best wireless headphones for this year. I've got more extensive write-ups of all these models on cnet.com, including full reviews of the Sonos Ace

and Sony WH-1000XM5.  Check out my video of the NW-WM1Z if you want to hear more about that model. As always, feel free to let me know what you think about my picks and tell me what should have been on this list, as I'm sure I missed some.

Good headphones, particularly in the budget category, where we did see a lot of new releases. I'm David Connor for CNET.com. Thanks for watching.

Best Headphones of 2024

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Introduction and Eligibility Criteria for Best Over-Ear Wireless Headphones of 2024

The video focuses on the best over-ear wireless headphones released in 2024, unlike a previous video about true wireless earbuds.

Only headphones released in 2024 are eligible for the list.

Popular headphones like Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra are excluded due to their release date.

The Sonos Ace is the most expensive model, a competitor to Apple's AirPods Max, lacking Wi-Fi streaming on Sonos network.

The NVM One headphones have a unique open design, offering surprisingly good sound with minimal leakage.

NVM One's high price and lack of noise cancellation are drawbacks.

The Sony WH-XB910N offers features similar to the flagship WH-1000XM5 at a lower price point.

WH-XB910N shows improvements in noise-canceling and voice-calling compared to its predecessor.

The Soundcore by Anker Space A1 Pro, another $200 model, offers comfort, good sound, noise-canceling, and strong battery life.

The Edifier W830NB is a budget-friendly option with improved design and performance compared to its predecessor.

More detailed reviews are available on cnet.com.

Viewers are encouraged to share their opinions and suggestions.

The presenter, David Connor from CNET.com, thanks the viewers.

Best Headphones of 2024

Best Headphones of 2024

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