Best Over the Ear Headphones

wireless headphones uk headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect wires to your audio device. They are also a great choice for public transport, at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of styles and noise cancellation capabilities. They are typically packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are an important upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and are more durable and have a more polished finish. The hinges are tighter, and the soft leather ear cups have been a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they're more polished. 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 come with two built-in mics that worked well during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge selection of EQ presets that can be customized and saved so you can listen to music and podcasts in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all background noise, making for very pleasant listening. 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). It is possible to fix this using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also support the ability to speak, so you can ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to enable ambient modes so that you can hear the world around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is excellent and the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for long flights or working for a long time. They can be quickly recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll be able to see a warning when they're approaching empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a pair of premium high-end headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home too. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and B Uetooth Headphones attractive white fabric-finished retail box with all the accessories you require inside. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the B uetooth headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The battery's 600mAh capacity can last for a full day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to connect wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the button that's on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent' and 'full'.

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

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound dull, while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle market in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you can afford it find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise have 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. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth headfones. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of separating listeners from traffic noises of airports and busy streets as well.

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For example the bass track on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition without flattening the other elements. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver precise and precise bass notes.

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

The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might cause a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spends much of their time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on mids and highs without going too loud. They are great for music and movies. They also offer better sound quality than many rival headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, are comfortable to wear over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a firm but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. It also has a pushable jog dial-like 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. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to have the power button that could shut off the headphones when in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you place them on your head again.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions sounds to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates a theater-like experience with movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside 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 are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be somewhat smug going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.