Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting an audio wire to your device. They're ideal for public transport, while at work or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling capabilities. They usually come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears look better, feel sturdier and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather ear cups are a bit bigger. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version so that you can make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res 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 variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to play podcasts and music in the way you like. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out the majority of ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, but it is a bit the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which has an 8-band Equalizer.
The headphones feature the power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also support an option to speak to them that allows you to ask to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is great, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for long flights or working for a long time. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys
wireless headphones with bluetoothFocal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a pair of premium high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail 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 will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also include an audio input so that you can use wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or via the button that's located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full.
The app allows you to modify various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select 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 space with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at 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 headphones are known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is at the top of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it get them, you won't find a better
wireless headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is available and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.
Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for cutting out constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job isolating listeners from the noise of busy airports and streets as well.
The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't quite as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency also. For
wireless headphones instance the bass track on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging everything else. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.
The battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. That's more than enough for a weekend getaway or a long period of usage.
The only drawback is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a problem for most people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid region this could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with
bluetooth wireless headphones technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a neutral audio profiles that emphasizes the mids and highs while not going overboard on either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones have a light construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can also be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too much clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in position during listening sessions.
A small button at the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes.
