Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere without having to run a wire from your audio device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, in the office 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 Q30

These earphones are a significant improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version so that you can use 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 offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to play podcasts and music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate the majority of ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This makes for an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). However, you can solve this issue by using the Soundcore application, as there is an 8-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

These headphones have a power button and pairing button on the left ear cup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup has play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is excellent as well. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than the other models. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for long flights or an office day. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a premium, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, blue tooth headphones but sound amazing when used for wireless Head Phones home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that includes everything you require inside. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal & Naim in keeping with English Naim's network-aware products) or the dedicated button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and blue Tooth headphones 'full.

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

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound somewhat less prominent than you'd expect from 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 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine 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 market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do 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 allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.

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 also excel in separating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't quite as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency also. 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 everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is excellent with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if it's off. This is enough to last a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.

The only drawback is that the XM5s lack any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for the majority of people however, for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy area this could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on mids and highs without going too loud. They are ideal for music and movies. They also have higher fidelity than most other headphones.

The headphones wireless have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made out of memory foam that is covered in a woven fabric. They are comfortable to wear without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too much clamping force that makes sure the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button on the top of the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. There's also a pushable, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press once twice or three times for playback controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I missed having the power button that could turn the headphones off when not in use. The Blue Tooth Headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ears or put in their case, and they only come back on when you place them on your head once more.

Spatial audio is a cool feature. It makes use of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sounds to make them seem to be coming from the location you are in. This gives you a theater-like experience with videos and movies made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have better battery life and advanced features.