Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

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

Soundcore Q30

These over-ears are a major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished finish. The hinges are tighter, and the soft ear cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version so that you can use them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with dual microphones that are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast range of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved to allow you to listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can easily solve this issue with the Soundcore application, as there's an eight-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

The left ear cup has the power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also have an option to speak to them, so you can ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode to allow you to hear what is going on around you without taking off the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or an office day. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear bluetooth headphones wireless headphones headphones that offer active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're more expensive than other similar headphones wireless bluetooth (https://lolipop-pandahouse.ssl-lolipop.jp:443/G5/bbs/board.php?bo_table=aaa&wr_id=864778) but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you require inside. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening, and also have an audio input for wired use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can manage their functions via an app (now called Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the button that's on the left earcup that 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, the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic environment' which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a room with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals be muted, and certain elements like cymbals could be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears with higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It's located at the top end of the mainstream headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, headphones wireless bluetooth Apple and Montblanc hang out. This means that the XM5s have a premium cost, but if you can afford it, there are a few more superior wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they would have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. These headphones are among the best at cutting down on the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but, they do have more clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys' power and definition without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is also excellent, offering 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 trip or a few days of heavy use.

The only issue is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a major issue for everyone else however, 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 wireless headphones that fit over the ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with an audio profile that is neutral and emphasizes the mids and highs while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. They are ideal for music and movies. They also have better sound quality than many rival headphones.

The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in a woven fabric. They sit 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 spring-loaded hinges provide a strong, but not too much clamping force that makes sure the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to turn off the headphones when they're not in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears, or when placed in their case. They will come back into use when you place them over your head.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from these locations. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use, and it won't allow you to enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better within a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, so it's difficult to justify the additional cost for the majority of people.