Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great for use in public transport, in the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of styles and noise cancellation capabilities. They usually come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather ear cups are a bit bigger. 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 dual built-in mics that worked well during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad range of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate nearly all ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This makes for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound profile that is a bit on the treble side, which some may be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can rectify this with the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.

The left earcup has an power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features 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. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode so you can be aware of what is happening around you, without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these bt headphones is great as well. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This leaves plenty of time for a long flight or working for a long time. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll be able to see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys new wireless bluetooth headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small attractive white box with a textured finish. It includes all the accessories you'll require. 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 capacity is 600mAh, which will last for 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 and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now called Focal & Naim which is probably in line with their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button that's on the left ear cup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and full.

Using the app allows you to change various settings, including the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that is brighter and more neutral than other presets and their battery life. You can also select the ANC level and mode as well as select an 'acoustic environment that adjusts the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds more punch and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation contrasted to other headphones with higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are costly however, if you are able to find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

As with the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They are among the top in cutting down on the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the hum of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s lack as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however, they do have 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. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also very good, providing up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy use.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating on them or taking 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 location, it could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphone uk - Recommended Online site, headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud at either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also offer better sound quality than many rival headphones.

The headphones are light in build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, and fit comfortably over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

A small button at the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a pushable, 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 three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't the power button that could turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby mode when removed from your ears or when placed in their case. They only come back to life when you place them on your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of accelerometers, wireless Headphone uk gyroscopes and iPhones or iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sound to make it seem to be coming from that particular location. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and Wireless Headphone Uk a better battery life, making it difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.