Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great for public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They usually come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a wide selection of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to music and podcasts in the way you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate nearly all ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound profile that leans slightly to the treble end, which some might find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can easily solve this issue by using the Soundcore app, as there's an eight-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
The headphones come with a power button and
blue tooth headphones pairing button on the left earcup as well as the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.
The battery life on these
blue tooth headphones is great, too. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a long day at work. They can be charged quickly using the USB-C cable included, and you'll see a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys
wireless headphoneFocal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a pair of premium, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also are a great choice for audiophile home use as well. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior sound is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packed in a small, attractive white box with a textured finish. It includes everything you'll need. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening to music and include an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal and Naim which is probably in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button that's located on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and full.
Using the app allows you to alter different settings such as the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and also their battery duration. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic' environment which adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a room with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancelation when compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 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 category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.
The XM5s have features that make life easier for listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional
bluetooth headphones uk. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.
The XM5 headphones are no different than the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They are one of the best at reducing the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are also excellent at isolating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.
Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s don't have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do have more clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power and clarity without affecting the rest the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create accurate and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to last an entire weekend or a few days of heavy usage.
The only issue is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for everyone else however, for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid location it could be a significant issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. This makes them ideal for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a light construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, fit comfortably over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. Ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too powerful clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button at the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes.