Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless Headphones With Bluetooth headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. These headphones are ideal to use on public transport, at the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. The hinges are tighter, and the soft ear cups have been slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts and music in the way you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block nearly all ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can rectify this using the Soundcore application, as there is an 8-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.

The left earcup has an power button as well as a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup has play/pause, and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct them to change modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC turned on, the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for an extended flight or an office day. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable, and you'll see a warning when they're approaching 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. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound quality is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you'll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can take you through a full day of casual listening and also have an audio input for wired use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now named Focal and Naim, probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or using the button located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.

The app lets you adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also allows you to choose the ANC mode and wireless Headphones with bluetooth the level, and also set an 'acoustic' environment that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a space with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys come with bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds more energy and warmth to your favorite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and sound muffled, while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are renowned for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It sits at the upper portion of the over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are expensive in cost, but should you be able to afford it, there are more superior wireless bt headphones over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate 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 well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls without hands.

The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation of WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They are among the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the noise of busy airports and streets as well.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s lack as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do have a greater sense clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance the bass track on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging the other elements. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes in 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 an entire weekend or a few days' heavy use.

The only drawback is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating into the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a major issue for most people, but for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy location it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones that feature buy bluetooth headphones online technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going overboard. They are great for music and movies. They also provide better sound quality when compared with other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The earcups are made of memory foam and Wireless headphones with bluetooth covered with 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 have a strong but not too strong clamping force, which ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

A small button on the the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a button that can be pushed, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press the button once, twice or thrice for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I missed having the power button that could turn the headphones off when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only wake up when you place them on your head again.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it repositions the sound to make it appear to originate from the location you are in. This creates a cinema-like experience with videos and movies made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and it won't allow you to enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.