Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere without having to run a wire from your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are usually packed in a sleek case.

Soundcore Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable, and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better 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 microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide variety of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This makes for a very pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sounding signature that leans a little on the treble side, which some might find lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). This can be fixed easily with the Soundcore App, which comes with an 8-band bluetooth Headphonea Equalizer.

The headphones feature the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode to allow you to hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones.

The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for bluetooth Headphonea long flights or working for a long time. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys wireless headphnes

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation and bluetooth headphonea - click through the up coming web site, playback. They're made to be a premium headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound fantastic when used for audiophile home use too. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact elegant white box with a fabric finish. It comes with all the accessories you'll require. 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 respectable 600mAh battery that will get you through a full day of casual listening and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now known as Focal and Naim which is probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or using the button on the left ear cup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and full.

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

The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives more warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other b uetooth headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is a top pick in the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.

The XM5s come with features to help listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're one of the best at reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at separating listeners from the hum of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is very good. The XM5s aren't as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency as well. For instance the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition, without reducing the other elements. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.

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. This is more than enough to last a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony actually recommends not sweating into the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might prove a stumbling block for anyone who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going too loud. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also have better sound quality than many competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are constructed 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 an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that makes sure the ear cups remain in position during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, but I would have liked to have the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They will come back to life when you place them on your head.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sound so that they seem to be coming from that particular location. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the additional cost for most people.