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 to use on public transport, Blutooth headphones in the office or at home.

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

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are an important improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished look. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also feature dual built-in microphones, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out nearly all ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble end, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster EQ preset). However, you can solve this issue using the Soundcore application, as there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.

The left ear cup has a power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. They also come with an option to speak to them which allows you to request them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its competitors. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be quickly recharged using the USB-C cable included and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

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

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small, attractive white box with a textured finish. It comes with all the accessories that you'll need. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of listening, and have an audio input for wired use. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now called Focal and Naim in keeping with English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like 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 which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a space with different audio acoustics.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth and punch to your most loved tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix and can sound dull, while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced 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 hang out. This means the XM5s have a premium price tag, but when you can afford it, there are few better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s have features to make life easier for listeners and, in a few cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is available as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality music to be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls without hands.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They are among the top in eliminating the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets as well.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and openness. For example, the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.

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

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s lack any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a big deal for the majority of people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy area, it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless bt headphones blutooth headphones (click the next internet site) that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on mids and highs without going too loud. This makes them ideal for both movies and music. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, sit comfortably over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. Ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that makes sure the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press the button once twice or three times to playback control. Siri can be activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however I would have liked to have a power button that would shut off the headphones when in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears, or if they are placed in their case. They come back into use when you place them over your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it appear to originate from that location. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra cost for the majority of people.