Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and audiophiles music without the need to connect wires to your audio device. They are ideal for public transportation, at work, or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling features. They typically come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are a significant improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and feel more durable and have a more polished look. The hinges are tighter and the soft ear cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and make use of them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also come with two built-in mics that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast selection of EQ presets, which can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to music and podcasts in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all background noise, making for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sounding signature that leans a little on the treble end, which some might find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). However, you can easily rectify this with the Soundcore app, since there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.

The left earcup features an power button as well as a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also have the ability to speak which allows you to request to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can also be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode, so that you can be aware of what is happening around you, without removing the bluetooh headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is excellent, too. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was turned on than its competitors. This allows you to enjoy an extended flight or a full day at work. They can be quickly recharged using the USB-C cable included and you'll get warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys wireless bluetooth

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a premium headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but are a great choice for home use by audiophiles as well. They're more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling feature.

The Focal Bathys come in a small elegant white box with a cloth finish. It contains everything you'll need. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can get you through a full day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now called Focal & Naim likely in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or via the button that's located on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent' and full.

The app allows you to adjust different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including the 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, and also set an 'acoustic' setting that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like when used in a room with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. As a result, 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'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s are expensive in price tag, but when you can afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s come with features that simplify the lives of listeners and, in a few cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different than the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s aren't as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, they have a higher level of clarity and openness also. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s also have the ability to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.

The XM5s do not come with water resistant or dust resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might prove a stumbling block for those who spends much of their time at the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that is focused on the mids and highs without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also provide better sound quality than many other headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a firm but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

A small button located on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. It also has an earphone-style jog dial with a push button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it once three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I would have liked the power button that could switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only come back on when you put them on your head again.

Another great feature 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 the sound to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for videos and movies that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it and you won't be able to enjoy 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 that they'd be outdone in a year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.