Best Over the Ear Headphones

wireless bluetooth headphone headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. They are an excellent choice for public transport, at work or at home.

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

Soundcore Life Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished look. The hinges are tighter, and the soft ear cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C model to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have dual microphones that work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags a little on treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). However, you can easily solve this issue by using the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.

The left earcup has the power button as well as a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode so you can be aware of what is happening around you, without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for a long flight or a day at the office. They can be quickly 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 provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound quality is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you need inside. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can take you through a full day of casual listening and have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now called Focal & Naim in the same way as English Naim's network-aware products) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft 'transparent,' and 'full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to change various settings, including the LED brightness, EQ presets including a'music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than other presets and their battery duration. You can also choose the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds more punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals be muted, and certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology, like 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 is at the top 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 are a common sight. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.

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

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s don't have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess 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. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if it's off. That's more than enough for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating into them or wearing them in the rain. This might not be a problem for most people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid region, it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also provide better sound quality than many rival headphones.

The bluethooth headphones (cadplm.Co.kr) are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force that makes sure the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to switch off the headphones when they're not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ears or put in their case. They only come back on when you put them on your head once more.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're going, and then repositions sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for videos and movies made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used 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 second-generation model would be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.