Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. They are an excellent choice for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They usually come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better, feel more durable, and have a more polished finish. The hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can even swap 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 have dual built-in microphones, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad range of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to play podcasts and music in the way you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the background noise, making for excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that is a bit on the treble side, and some may feel is lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup features 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 the ability to speak which allows you to ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great, too. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This lets you enjoy the long flight, or a full day at work. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable, and you'll see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact, attractive white box with a textured finish. It includes everything you will need. There's also 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 battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can make use of wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via bluetooth stereo headphones and you can manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal and Naim likely in line with their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

The app allows you to adjust various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC level and mode and select an 'acoustic environment that adjusts the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have higher-end 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 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s come with a high price tag but, should you be able to afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s are loaded with features that make life easier for listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making hands-free calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for cutting out constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the noises of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition, without affecting the rest the music. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.

The battery life is fantastic with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if off. This is enough to last an entire weekend or a few days of heavy usage.

The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a major issue for most people however for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid location this could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with an audio profile that is neutral and emphasizes the mids and Bluetooth Stereo Headphones highs while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. This makes them ideal for both movies and music. 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 covered with weaved fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in position during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation 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 it once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri can be activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed however, I would like to have a power button that would shut off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode after being removed from your ears or put in their case. They only come back on when you slide them over your head once more.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sound so that they appear to originate from that location. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos that were 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 bluetooth wireless, but I'd be somewhat smug walking into an Apple Store and bluetooth stereo Headphones spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it difficult to justify the cost for most people.