Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect wires to your audio device. These headphones are ideal for use in public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety and noise cancelling capabilities. They usually come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure, and the soft leather ear cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. on-ear headphones wireless can switch the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a vast variety of EQ presets that can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to podcasts and music in your preferred style. This is what sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block the majority of ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). You can fix this easily by using the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The left earcup features an power button as well as a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also have the ability to speak that allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode to allow you to hear what is going on around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time for long flights or a day at the office. They can be easily recharged using the USB-C cable included and you'll get a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that contains all the accessories you require inside. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The 600mAh battery will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now named Focal and Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and 'full.
The app lets you modify different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which sounds brighter and neutraler than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like when worn in a room with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys come with bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds more energy, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals be muted, and details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s have a premium price tag but, should you be able to afford it, there are better over the ear wireless headphones on the market.
The XM5s have features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for cutting out constant drones found in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great at separating listeners from the hum of busy streets and airports.
Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s don't have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. For instance the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, without reducing everything else. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
The battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough for a weekend trip or a long period of use.
The XM5s do not come with dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for a lot of people, but it could cause a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spends much of their time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with an audio profile that is neutral and is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also provide higher fidelity than most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones have a light design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and are comfortable to wear over the ears, do not put pressure on the sides or the forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a firm but not overly strong clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.
A small button at the top of the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. There's also a pushable, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri can be activated by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I missed having a power button to turn the headphones off when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ears or put in their case. They only wake up when you place them on your head once more.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it alters the position of the sounds to make them appear to come from the location you are in. This creates a cinema-like experience with movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery life, making it difficult to justify the additional cost for the majority of people.