Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, at the office or at home.

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

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones look better, feel sturdier, and are generally more polished. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather ear cups are larger. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have two microphones built-in, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the style you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for Wireless music headphones an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound profile that is a bit on the treble side, which some might be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). But, you can solve this issue with the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.

The left earcup features the power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with an option to speak to them which allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great, too. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a full day at work. They can be quickly recharged using the USB-C cable included and you'll get warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys wireless bluetooth headphone is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling feature.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a compact attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes everything you will need. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim, probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.

The app lets you alter various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile that sounds more neutral and Wireless music Headphones brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of bluetooh headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are well-known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It's located at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, edging into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means the XM5s have a premium price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are few better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s have features that simplify the lives of listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are all included. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for removing the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have more clarity and openness. For instance, the bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition without flattening the other elements. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to cover the weekend or a few days of heavy use.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s don't have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating on them or wearing them in the rain. This may not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear Wireless Music Headphones headphones equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that emphasizes the mids and highs while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. They are perfect for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and fit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which ensures that the earcups stay in place during listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press it once, twice or thrice to control playback. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only wake up when you slide them over your head again.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sounds to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed when I spend $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, so it's difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.