Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting wires to your audio device. These headphones are great for public transport, in the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They usually come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are an important improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished appearance. The hinges are more secure, and the soft ear cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, headphones Wireless Bluetooth but they are more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C model to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with two built-in mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge range of EQ presets that can be customized and saved to allow you to listen to music or podcasts in the way you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for excellent listening. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer). However, you can solve this issue with the Soundcore app, since there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.

The headphones come with 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, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic and the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for an extended flight or a day at the office. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a 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. The headphones are a little more expensive than other headphones, but their outstanding sound is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small elegant white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories that you'll require. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of listening, and have an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via buy bluetooth headphones and you can manage their functions via an app (now named Focal and Naim which is probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button on the left ear cup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and full.

Using the app allows you to alter different settings like the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other ones and their battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like when used in a room with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can be muted, while other certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears that have more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is a top pick in the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with features that help 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) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making hands-free phone calls.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. These headphones are among the best at eliminating the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the background noise of busy airports and streets also.

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 a greater sense clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s also have the ability to provide precise and accurate bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. That's more than enough for a weekend getaway or a long period of use.

The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for everyone else, but for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy region, it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless b uetooth headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going too loud. This makes them ideal for both music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in weaved fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without pressing 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 strong clamping force that makes sure the earcups remain in position during listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press once, twice or thrice to control playback. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, however, I would like to see a power button that would turn off the headphones when in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only wake up when you place them on your head again.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sounds to appear as if they're coming from these locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be slightly smug about walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the Headphones Wireless Bluetooth if I knew that they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.