Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling capabilities. They are typically packaged in a sleek 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. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to make use of them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi 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 has a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to play podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and makes these headphones stand out.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This results in a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The left earcup features a power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also come with an option to speak to them which allows you to ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can also be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, to allow you to be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC turned on,
buy the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for long flights or a day at the office. The USB-C cord included in the kit 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 powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and
buy bluetooth headphones online playback. They're designed to be an elite headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound amazing when used for audiophile home use as well. They're more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is their main selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box with all the accessories you require inside. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can get you through a full day of listening, and include an audio input for
wiki.evil-admin.com wired use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now named Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or via the dedicated button 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 like the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like when used in a space with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds extra energy and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back in the mix and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancelation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are known for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are costly however, if you can afford it find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones for over-ear use.
The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener and automate tasks that they would have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls without hands.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the top in reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets, too.
The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness, too. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if off. This is enough to last for the weekend or a few days of heavy use.
The only drawback is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for most people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid region it could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going overboard. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ears, do not put pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a strong, but not too much clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in position during listening sessions.
A small button at the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. You can also utilize a pushable jog dial-like button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch.
