Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect a wire to your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transport, at work or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They usually come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
These earphones are an important upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better, feel more durable, and have a more polished look. The hinges are tighter and the soft cups are slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and
local Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all ambient noise, and provide very pleasant listening. They have a natural sound profile that is a bit on the treble end, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.
The headphones feature a power button and pairing button on the left ear cup and an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with the ability to speak that allows you to request to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear everything around you without removing the headphones.
These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was turned on than the other models. This allows you to take advantage of a long flight, or a long day at work. They can be quickly recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and
cordless bluetooth headphones playback. They're designed to be a premium headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but are a great choice to listen to audiophile music at home as well. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, attractive white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories that you'll need. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim which is probably in the same line as their English sister brand
local Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full.
The app allows you to change various settings like the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment which adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like when used in a room with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich sound that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and sound muffled, while other details such as cymbals sound not as prominent as you'd expect from other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have 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 at the top of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. This means that the XM5s come with a high cost, but if you can afford it, there are a few better over the ear wireless headphones out there.
The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they would be required to do 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 allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.
Like the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for removing the constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the noise of airports and busy streets also.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess a greater sense clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.
The XM5s aren't waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a big deal for everyone else, but for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy area it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with an audio profile that is neutral and is focused on the mids and highs while not going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. They are ideal for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The earcups are made of memory foam and covered with weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups stay in place throughout listening sessions.
A small button located on the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes.