Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect wires to your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version so that you can connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two microphones built-in, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all ambient noise, and provide excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that leans slightly to the treble side, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with a power button and pairing button on the left earcup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup has play/pause, and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes so that you can hear the world around you without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be charged quickly with the included USB-C cable, and [Redirect-Meta-0] you'll see a warning when they're approaching empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior sound quality is their main selling point.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes all the accessories you'll require. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and home an audio adapter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening, and include an audio input that can be wired for use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in the same line as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or via the button located on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to change various settings, including the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than the other ones and also their battery life. You can also select the ANC level and mode as well as select an 'acoustic environment' to adjust the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds more punch and warmth to your favorite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are not as prominent as you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and 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 at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s have a premium cost, but when you can afford it, there are few better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s come with features that help listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is available and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great at separating listeners from the noises of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s don't have as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition without flattening the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s ability to create precise and precise bass notes.

The battery life is fantastic, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is in use and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last for the weekend or a few days of heavy use.

The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for anyone who spends much of their time at the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless Wiresless Headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, fit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly robust clamping force that makes sure that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press the button once, twice or thrice to playback control. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I would have liked an option to turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ears or put in their case. They only wake up when you put them on your head phone wireless once more.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions sound to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This gives you a theater-like experience with movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use, and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a bit ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.