Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great for public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore Q30
A major
Wireless blutooth Headphones improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones are more attractive, feel more durable and generally feel more polished. They're still largely plastic however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with 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, which can be customized and saved to listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble side, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which comes with an 8-band Equalizer.
These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup as well as the USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also come with an option to speak to them which allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is great, too. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than the other models. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a busy day at work. They can be easily recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll be able to 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 offers both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior sound quality is their main selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact elegant white box with a cloth finish. It contains everything you will need. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now named Focal and Naim in the same way as English Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft transparent,' and 'full.
Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings like the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than the other ones and also their battery duration. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich profile that adds additional warmth and punch to your favourite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It's located at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s are expensive in price tag, but when you can afford it, there are few more superior
wireless Blutooth headphones over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.
Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are one of the best at eliminating the constant drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s also excel at isolating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, but they do have more clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to last the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.
The only issue is that the XM5s don't have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating in the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for the majority of people however, for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid region it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear
wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids without going overboard. This makes them ideal for both movies and music. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed out of memory foam that is covered in weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups stay in place throughout listening sessions.
A small button located on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. There's also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press once, twice or thrice to playback control.