Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting an audio wire to your device. They're ideal for public transportation, at work, or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They usually come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. The hinges are stronger, and the soft ear cups have been a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also come with dual built-in microphones, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge variety of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to listen to music or podcasts in your preferred style. This is what sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

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

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right ear cup features play/pause, and the volume up and down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also support an option to speak to them that allows you to ask to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode so you can hear what's happening around you, without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a long day at work. They can be quickly recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a pair of premium headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound fantastic when used for home use by audiophiles as well. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys come in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes all the accessories you will 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 decent 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you can 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 by pressing the button that's on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and 'full'.

Using the app allows you to alter different settings like the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than other presets and their battery duration. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like when worn in a space with different audio acoustics.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds more warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. This means that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less prominent than 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 has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is a top pick in the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it get them, you won't find a better wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with features that simplify the lives of 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 included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality music to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than bluetooth headphones range. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at eliminating the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also excellent at separating listeners from the hum of airports and busy streets.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do have a greater sense clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys' power and definition, without affecting the music. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is excellent and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to cover the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.

The only drawback 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 might not be a problem for the majority of people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid area, it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on mids and highs without going overboard. They are ideal for Wireless Bluetooth Headphones movies and music. They also have better sound quality than many other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide an incredibly firm, yet not too much clamping force that makes sure the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also use the jog dial that is a push-button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it one three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't a power button to switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They only come back into use when you place them over your Head phone Wireless.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it seem to be coming from that location. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.