Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music or Wifi headphones podcasts anywhere without having to run an audio cable from your device. These headphones are great for public transport, in the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling features. They are typically 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. The hinges are more secure and the soft cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version to make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two microphones built-in, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide variety of EQ presets that can be adjusted and saved to listen to music or podcasts in your preferred style. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate nearly all ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This makes for a very pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sounding signature that is a bit on the treble end, which some may feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, Wifi Headphones which has an eight-band Equalizer.

The left earcup features an power button as well as a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for long flights or working for a long time. They can be easily recharged using the USB-C cable included 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 offer active noise cancellation, as well as bluetooth headphones quality playback. They're designed to be an elite headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you need inside. You can also get 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 have an audio input to make use of wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal & Naim in the same way as English Naim's network-aware products) or the button located on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and 'full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter various settings such as the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and their battery life. You can also choose the ANC mode and level as well as set an 'acoustic environments setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of Wifi headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich profile that adds additional warmth and punch to your most loved tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It's located at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are expensive however, if you are able to get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s are loaded with features that make life easier for listeners and, in certain instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are included. This lets high-quality audio 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 aren't different from the previous generation of headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top in reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the noise of busy airports and streets also.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, but there's a greater sense of clarity and openness also. The bass in Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power and clarity, without affecting the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

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

The only issue is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for the majority of people however for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid area it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that emphasizes the mids and highs while not going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones are light and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed out of memory foam that is covered in a woven fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a solid but not overly strong 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. It also has a pushable like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once, twice or thrice to control playback. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I missed having the power button that could switch off the headphones when they're not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ear or placed in their case, and they only wake up when you slide them over your head once more.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions sounds to appear as if they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it, and you won't be able experience it on other devices.

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 newer model would be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery life, making it difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.