Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect a wire to your audio device. These headphones are great for public transport, in the office or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They usually come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable and are generally more polished. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the way you like. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the ambient noise and wifi headphones make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble side, and some might feel is lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can rectify this with the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.

The headphones come with a power button and pairing button on the left earcup and the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has 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 come with a voice command which allows you to request to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode, Wifi Headphones so that you can hear what's happening around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic, too. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its competitors. This lets you enjoy an extended flight or a busy day at work. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also get an alert when your battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small attractive white box with a textured finish. It contains all the accessories that 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 take you through a full day of casual listening and include an audio input for wired use. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim in line with English Naim's network-aware products) or the dedicated button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft transparent,' and 'full.

The app lets you modify various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a room with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds extra punch and warmth to your favorite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 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 the best of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s come with a high price tag but, if you can afford it, there are few better over the ear wireless wifi headphones available.

The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is also included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation of headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s don't have as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the blue tooth head phones flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, without reducing the other elements. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is fantastic and can last up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.

The only issue is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a major issue for most people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy area it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on mids and highs without going too loud. They are perfect for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to 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 and sit comfortably over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can also be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to have an option to power off or turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ears or put in their case. They only wake up when you put them on your head once more.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're going, and then repositions sounds to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use, 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 slightly smug about going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra expense for most people.