Best Over the Ear Headphones

wireless bluetooth headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. They are ideal for public transportation, at work, or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and are more durable and have a more polished look. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and Bluetooth Headphone the soft leather ear cups are bigger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad variety of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for very pleasant listening. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble side, and some might find lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which has an 8-band Equalizer.

The headphones feature the power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup features play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a long 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

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be an elite, high-end headphone 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 higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding sound is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a small, attractive white box with a fabric finish. It contains everything you will need. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can take you through a whole day of casual listening and also have an audio input for wired use. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim in the same way as English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or the dedicated button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft 'transparent,' and 'full.

The app allows you to change various settings, including the LED brightness and EQ presets, including a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and their battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a room with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are not as prominent as you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other headphones that feature higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an 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 in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are costly however, if you can afford it, there aren't many better wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in some cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) as well as Bluetooth headphone's LDAC Technology, are both included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls without hands.

The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for cutting out constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of separating listeners from traffic noises of airports and busy streets also.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For example, the bass track on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging the other elements. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

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

The only issue is that the XM5s don't have 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 problem for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time at the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. They are great for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press the button once twice or three times to control playback. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't the power button that could turn off the headphones when they're not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ear or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you slide them over your head again.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're going, and then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates a theater-like experience with movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and it won't allow you to enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the cost for most people.