Best Over the Ear cordless headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere without having to run an audio wire to your device. They are an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety and noise cancellation capabilities. They are usually packed in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears look better, feel sturdier, and are generally more polished. They're still mostly plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version to 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 perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide range of EQ presets, which can be altered and saved to listen to music and podcasts in your preferred style. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively eliminate most ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sounding signature that is a bit on the treble end, which some may be unable to reproduce bass (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can solve this issue by using the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.

The left earcup features the power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right earcup has buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. They also have an option to speak to them which allows you to request to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its competitors. This allows you to enjoy an extended flight or a full day at work. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll be able to see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the main selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you require inside. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last a whole day of casual listening. 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 control their functions using an app (now known as Focal and Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and 'full'.

The app lets you modify different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings' to adjust the sensitivity to mimic the sound of the headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, Bluetooth and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is available, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for removing the constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also excellent in separating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and realism as well. For Bluetooth example, the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, without reducing the other elements. The XM5s also have the ability to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is great with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.

The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for the majority of people however, for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy location this could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on mids and highs without going overboard. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The earcups are made of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and they sit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a firm but not overly strong clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right ear cup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. You can also utilize a pushable jog dial-like button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it once, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed however, I would like to see an option to power off or switch off the headphones when in use. The headphones are put into standby when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They only return to life when you put them on your head.

Spatial audio is a cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sound so that they seem to be coming from that particular location. This creates a cinema-like experience when watching movies and videos that were recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a bit ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.