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If you aren’t familiar, on-ear headphones are styles that feature earcups that rest directly on the ear cartilage, rather than over them like over-the-ear headphones or inside the ear canal like in-ear earbuds.
This design is rather niche, as opposed to the other styles mentioned, and are best utilized for commuting, travel and extended use. On-ear headphones offer good audio performance and are meant to ensure an overall more comfortable fit than the other models, though everyone’s ears are different. As you’ll see throughout my review, on-ear headphones are also very portable and provide great call clarity, especially when tested against their in-ear and over-ear counterparts. In short, the style is meant to cater to those looking for specific functions rather than being “better” than other models.
ShopBillboard’s Favorite On-Ear Headphones at a Glance:
Most User-Friendly: Skullcandy Icon ANC $99.99 Most Stylish On-Ear: Marshall Major V $99.99 Best Sound: JLab Go Lux On-Ear Headphones $34.99One major thing to note is that a bunch of on-ear styles lack ANC, or Active Noise Canceling. This is because these headphones sit on top of the ear, as the name suggests, making for poor passive isolation. This makes effective ANC difficult, because ANC benefits from a consistent seal on the ear to block out noise. For this reason, you’ll only see two models on this list with ANC. These specific models have good ANC but aren’t made specifically for noise-canceling functionality.
Here’s what I looked for while on my search for my top five picks. I wanted something lightweight, comfortable and portable ( i.e. foldable or equipped with a carrying case). I wanted something with a balance between good sound quality and environmental awareness. As far as my qualifications go, I love music and great audio, and I have always favored headphones rather than earbuds for comfort and quality sake.
With this in mind, I tested these five headphones out as a commuter in New York, an on-ear model’s natural habitat of sorts, so that I could give our readers the most honest review possible. Through rain and some unseasonal snow flurries, I present to you my favorite on-ear styles that made my 50-minute commute a little more bearable.
BEST SOUND QUALITY
Beats Solo 4 in Cloud Pink
$129.95 $199.95 35% off Buy Now On Amazon
Pros: Inventive colors, Announce Notifications feature, snug fit, sale price, 50-hour battery life, adjustable fit, foldable designCons: No ANC, tricky pairing, snug fit
Beats’ Solo 4 was one of the first on-ear styles I tested and I was pleasantly surprised. For starters, the colors available are extremely stylish, varying from light Cloud Pink hues (my favorite) to complex Slate Blues. I wore these while working and walking around the office and can confidently say these fit snugly and won’t budge.
Of course, you can adjust the fit of your Solo 4 based on the shape of your head and desired tightness. I never felt like they’d slip or falter, even when I was running to catch my train post-work day. That said, the snugness could be a con for some. That’s one of the beauties of on-ear styles. They sit on the user’s ear rather than around it, creating a seal of sorts so there’s less of a chance that your headphones will flatter or slip.
Since the Solo 4 is an on-ear style, more ambient sound was let in, which was great for my commute so I could be more aware of my surroundings in the city. Speaking of, the audio was clear and crisp, especially for calls that I took a lot during my testing period. Again, because the Solo 4 is on-ear, you don’t have Active Noise Cancelling or ANC, so if that’s something you’re looking for in headphones, on-ear models might not be for you.
As far as specs go, I loved the Announce Notifications aspect that reads out notifications, which allowed me to focus on what was around me instead of checking in on who was texting me. Some major wins for the Solo 4 are the battery life of 50 hours and the compact foldable design that fit snugly in the accompanying case for portability.
MOST STYLISH
Marshall Major V
$99.99 $159.99 38% off Buy Now at marshall
Pros: Vintage-inspired design, neutral colors, easy pairing, soft ear cups for a gentle fit, adjustable, 100+ hours of playtime, signature soundCons: Lack of ANC, no IP Rating or water-resistance rating, no carrying case
As far as on-ear models go, Marshall’s Major V is the most stylish of the bunch. As a lover of fashionable tech, this scratched an itch for me with the vintage-inspired design and gold accents. I chose brown, going out of my comfort zone for a headphone colorway I wouldn’t normally choose. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the tone; this espresso brown with contrasting Marshall logo detailing. It’s a sophisticated piece of tech with uncomplicated functionality.
You’ve got an M button on the side that allows users to instantly access Spotify or your default music streaming service, access to your EQ settings (volume, frequency ranges etc) and a voice assistant. I used this feature often if I didn’t want to scroll through my phone to manually play another song or change up the volume. The 100+ hours of playtime isn’t too shabby, especially when compared to the other on-ear models on our list. The Major V was also extremely comfortable, even after hours of wear. This is thanks to the amply padded ear cups that gently sat on my ears rather than smothering them.
As mentioned with the Solo 4, the Major V has no ANC, which is common for lots of on-ear styles, so no biggie there. It also has no rating for water-resistance/ they haven’t been officially rated, meaning these won’t fare well if you’re sweating profusely during a workout or if you’re caught out in heavy rain. That being said, we’re testing these for everyday usage and they hold up perfectly fine.
BEST SOUND
JLab Go Lux On-Ear Headphones
$34.99 $49.99 30% off Buy Now at jLab
Pros: Affordable, Foldable design, clearly label buttons for ANC and “Be Aware” modes, volume and Bluetooth, unique padded headphone cushions with pillow soft comfort, 70 hour battery life without ANC, subdued and unique designCons: Padded headband can feel a little tight after extended wear, would like to see a carrying case
Headphones have become extremely expensive over the years, which is why I wanted to include these JLab Go Lux headphones. Retailing for $34.99, this on-ear style gave me everything I needed both audio and comfort-wise, which is exactly what I wanted out of my on-ear testing. On-ear headphones are supposed to offer good sound quality, which this JLab style has, and provide environmental awareness which these also have.
The connectivity via Bluetooth was flawless, pairing right back up even when I was separated from my phone for an extended time. It was easy to navigate all the special features this JLab model has to offer thanks to an easy to read button with symbols that clearly stated their function. These headphones are very comfortable, especially the headphone cushions which are neatly labeled “right” and “left” for ease of use. The headband could be a tad tight at times but with a little adjusting, I felt almost nothing on my head.
A lot of these headphones come with a carrying case, which I liked to keep in my bag for aesthetics and organization sake. This JLab style did not unfortunately, which is something I’d love to see JLab incorporate for this on-ear model in the future. I will give the lack of carrying case a pass however, because of their affordability.
JBL Live 680NC
$159.95 Buy Now at jbl
Pros: ANC and Awareness/Spatial Audio modes, foldable design, comfortable fit, padded headband, padded headphone cushions, long battery life at 80 hours, two beamforming mics and AI-trained algorithm that filters out extra noise for clear callsCons: Bluetooth button is finicky, touch-sensitive controls can also be tricky for first time users, a little heavy
Right out of the box, I can say with confidence that the JBL Live 680NC are headphones I will reach for again, even after testing. This on-ear model is extremely comfortable thanks to the extra cushy padding throughout, especially on the headphone cushions, which perch nicely on my ears even when I am wearing earrings. The fit is adjustable, like most, if not all, headphones, giving you that tailored feel. These are on the heavier side compared to the others on this list, although that didn’t bother me.
Feel aside, these headphones have ANC and Awareness/Spatial Audio modes, which, as previously mentioned, are not always available for on-ear styles. The ANC is pretty powerful, drowning out the sirens and car horns that seem to be a constant in the backdrop of my already noisy office. With the tap of a button, I was able to switch off ANC, allowing noise in, a dull murmur that allowed me to talk, listen to my coworkers and converse without issue. I tend to listen to
I will note that I am not used to touch-sensitive controls on my headphones, as I prefer the control I get with buttons. For that reason, it was tricky for me to get a handle on where I should be touching, but that should be no problem for most. It’s a high-tech feature I appreciate aesthetically, but when it comes down to preference, I am a button girl all the way.
Speaking of buttons, the Bluetooth connectivity was simple and fast. I also struggled with switching it on since the mechanism is more of a slider. For practicality’s sake, I prefer a button, but once I understood the controls fully, it wasn’t an issue and didn’t hinder my listening experience whatsoever.
MOST USER-FRIENDLY
Skullcandy Icon ANC
Buy Now at skullcandy $99.99 $99.99
Pros: ANC, affordable, sweat/water resistant, 60 hour battery life, stay aware mode, adjustable fit, clear instructions, carrying case, foldable design, colorful accents, easy pairingCons: Limited colors, flat sound out of the box, hair can get caught in the model
Out of all the on-ear styles I’ve tested, the Skullcandy Icon ANC is the most user-friendly model. Upon opening the box, I was greeted with an easy-to-understand control cardstock. In just three steps, I was using these headphones without much effort. I wasn’t fumbling around at any point to get this style going. Powering the model on, connecting it via Bluetooth and turning up the sound was fast and easy, which was a major plus given I had to test out four other headphones in succession over the span of a month.
Speaking of sound, these headphones can be a bit flat out of the box, making audio a little dull. That being said, I was able to make my own sound customization via the tech’s EQ settings and found that with my changes, the bass was nice and punchy and the sound was more colorful and balanced. In short, I encourage users to play around with their settings to get the audio they crave from this style.
Something that seemed mundane upon opening, but really changed the game throughout my usage of this style was the buttons. I specifically loved being able to easily call up my Siri or change the volume up with a joystick-esque control that felt natural and fun to use, rather than a standard click of a button. Plus, these buttons have audio cues that are extremely satisfying to hear accompanying each touch.
This is yet another on-ear model with ANC and stay aware mode. As mentioned, both of these modes, but specifically ANC, aren’t the main focus of on-ear styles. That being said, the ANC is pretty great, quieting my bustling office with the tap of a button. Even with sirens blaring and the noise of the city, things were nice and quiet with my headphones on. As mentioned, I’d point to this style for those looking for user-friendly models that are easy to use and also happen to be really affordable at $99.99.
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