Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packed in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable, and are generally more polished. The hinges are stronger, and the soft ear cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual built-in microphones, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you prefer. This is what makes these
Blootooth headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out the majority of ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans a little on the treble side, and some may be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can easily rectify this by using the Soundcore application, as there is an 8-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup features buttons for play/pause,
Blootooth headphones volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode so you can hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC turned on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This leaves plenty of time for an extended flight or a day at the office. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly charge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as an elite headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packed in a small, attractive white box with a fabric finish. It comes with all the accessories that you'll require. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now named Focal & Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or the button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft transparent,' and full.
Utilizing the app, you are able to change various settings like the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the others and also their battery duration. You can also choose the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you'd expect from other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation 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 no exception. It's located at the top end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, edging into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with features that make life easier for listeners and, in certain instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res), as well as
bluetooth headphones wireless headphones's LDAC Technology, are both included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional
buy bluetooth headphones online. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making hands-free calls.
Like the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They are among the top in eliminating the constant drones that are heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job of separating listeners from background noise of airports and busy streets, too.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s aren't quite as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness also. For example the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging everything else. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
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 more than enough to last for the weekend or a few days' heavy use.
The only issue is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for the majority of people however, for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid location this could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made out of memory foam that is covered in a woven fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once, twice or thrice to playback control. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri.
