Best Over the Ear
headphones wireless bluetooth priceWireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running a wire from your audio device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished look. The hinges are more secure, and the soft ear cups have been slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and use them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the way you like. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all background noise, making for very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can easily fix this by using the Soundcore app, since there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.
The headphones feature an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup and 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. They also have the ability to speak, so you can ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can also be covered with your hand
Headphones Wireless Bluetooth Price to activate ambient mode, to allow you to hear what's happening around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This leaves plenty of time for long flights or working for a long time. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a premium high-end headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound fantastic when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you'll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that can get you through a full day of casual listening and have an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and full.
The app allows you to modify different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode and setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of headphones in a different acoustic room.
The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back in the mix and can sound veiled while details like cymbals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony
cordless headphones are known for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is at the top of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are costly however, if you are able to find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.
The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and transparency, too. For example, the bass track on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, without reducing everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to cover the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.
The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. Sony actually recommends not sweating into them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for the majority of people however, for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid location, it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of
wireless headphones with bluetooth headphones that fit over the ear equipped with Bluetooth 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 movies and music. They also have higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, are comfortable to wear over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a firm but not overly strong clamping force, which ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.
Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup.
