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 ideal for use in public transport,
wireless blutooth headphones in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling features. They typically come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and feel more durable and have a more polished appearance. The hinges are tighter and the soft leather cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a wide variety of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.
When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively eliminate most ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but a little on the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). You can fix this easily by using the Soundcore App, which has an 8-band Equalizer.
The left ear cup has an power button and a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause, volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct them to switch modes or set alarms. The right ear cup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode so that you can hear what is going on around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is great as well. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This lets you enjoy an extended flight or a long day at work. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll be able to see a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the primary selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you'll need in. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions using an app (now called Focal & Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and 'full'.
The app allows you to adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including a'music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. 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 will sound like when worn in a room with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears that have higher-end 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 headphones are no exception. It is at the top end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means the XM5s are expensive in price tag but, when you can afford it, there are a few more superior wireless over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s come with features to make life easier for listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is included, as is support for
bluetooth wireless headphones's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They are among the top in cutting down on the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job of separating listeners from traffic noises of busy airports and
wireless Blutooth headphones streets also.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s do not have as much detail 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, without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to last for 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 a lot of people, but it could prove a stumbling block for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of
wireless Blutooth Headphones headphones that fit over the ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on highs and mids without going too loud. They are ideal for music and movies. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The earcups are made out of memory foam that is covered in woven fabric, and they sit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.
A small button located on the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. It also has a pushable jog dial-like button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button.