Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

wireless bluetooth over-ear cans are available in a variety and noise cancelling features. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears look better, feel sturdier and generally feel more polished. They're still mostly plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and use them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also feature dual built-in microphones, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you like. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate nearly all ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags a little on treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can fix this by using the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.

The left earcup has an power button as well as a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, to allow you to be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.

The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time for long flights or a day at the office. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and bluetooth headpones playback. They're made to be an elite high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but are a great choice for home use by audiophiles too. They're more expensive than other similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a compact, attractive white box with a textured finish. It contains everything you'll require. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the Edge headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The 600mAh battery will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim, probably in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or via the dedicated button on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

The app lets you alter various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like when worn in a space with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds more punch, edge headphones impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at 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 headphones are renowned for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s are expensive in price tag but, when you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. These headphones are among the top in reducing the constant drones that can be heard in train and Edge Headphones underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of separating listeners from background noise of busy airports and streets as well.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s aren't quite as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and realism, too. For instance, the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition without flattening the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if it's off. This is plenty to last for a weekend getaway or a long period of usage.

The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. Sony actually advises against sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a major issue for most people, but for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid location, it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. They are great for music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most other headphones.

The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a firm but not overly strong clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on 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 around to control volume, and press it once, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, however, I would like to see a power button that would turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or when placed in their case. They only come back to life when you place them over your head.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're moving in, and then repositions the sound to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience when watching movies and videos that were recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it and it won't allow you to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.