Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere without having to run an audio wire to your device. They are also a great choice for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These over-ears are a major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which work well 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 altered to play podcasts and music in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). But, you can rectify this by using the Soundcore app, as there is an 8-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

These blootooth headphones, go directly to gissel-strauss.hubstack.net, have a power button and pairing button on the left ear cup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup features play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also support a voice command, so you can ask to switch 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 the world around you without removing the headphones.

The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be charged quickly with the included USB-C cable and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a pair of premium headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also sound amazing when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is their main selling point.

The Focal Bathys come in a small, slim and attractive white fabric-finished retail box with all the accessories you'll need in. 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 600mAh battery will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can use wired. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, Blootooth Headphones soft 'transparent,' and 'full.

The app allows you to modify various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like when worn in a space with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals are not as prominent as you might expect on some other headphones. They're also not as effective at 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 has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is the best of the mainstream over ear headphone market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle area in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks that they'd otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is available, as is support for bluetooth headphone wireless's LDAC technology. This allows for 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.

The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for cutting out constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the hum of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess a greater sense clarity and openness. For example the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging everything else. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.

The XM5s do not come with dust or water resistant. Sony actually recommends not sweating into them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a major issue for the majority of people, but for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid area it could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also provide better sound quality when compared with other headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a firm, but not too strong clamping force that makes sure the ear cups remain in position during listening sessions.

A small button on the top of the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. There's also a pushable, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press the button once twice or three times to control playback. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I missed having an option to switch off the headphones when they're not in use. The bt headphones wireless go into standby when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They return to life when you place them over your head.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sound so that they seem to be coming from the location you are in. This gives you a theater-like experience with videos and movies made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone in a year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery life, making it hard to justify the extra expense for most people.