Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting wires to your audio device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling features. They typically come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These earphones are a significant upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better, feel more durable, and have a more polished finish. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are a bit bigger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and connect them to portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a wide selection of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out nearly all ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble side, which some might be unable to reproduce bass (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). However, you can fix this with the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to allow you to tweak.
The headphones feature a power button and pairing button on the left ear cup and a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or replay 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 earcup with your hand to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is fantastic, too. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a busy day at work. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. over-ear wireless headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their superior sound quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, attractive white box with a textured finish. It comes with all the accessories that you will need. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now named Focal & Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or by pressing the button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and 'full.
The app allows you to adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic' environment which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when worn in a space with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds more punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can 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 higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are costly however, if you are able to, there aren't many better wireless headphones.
The XM5s have features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are both included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.
The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for removing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job of separating listeners from background noise of busy streets and airports also.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s may not be as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and realism, too. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity but without affecting the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.
Battery life is great with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is more than enough to last an entire weekend or a few days' heavy use.
The only real drawback here is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or take them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for the majority of people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy region, it could be a significant issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also have higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, sit comfortably over the ears, do not put pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too strong clamping force that makes sure the ear cups stay in position during listening sessions.
A small button at the the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control, and press it once three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to see the power button that could shut off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only wake up when you slide them over your head again.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound so that they appear to come from that particular location. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery life, making it difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.