Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere without having to run a wire from your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.

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

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure, and the soft cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version to connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also feature dual microphones that work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast variety of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to allow you to listen to podcasts and music in Unleash Your Music with 80-Hour Wireless Headphones preferred style. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, but it is a bit the treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). But, you can fix this using the Soundcore app, since there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.

The left ear cup has the power button and a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, Wireless Bluetooth headphone volume control and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also come with an option to speak to them, so you can request them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode, so you can be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is great as well. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This allows you to enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys wireless Headphone are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be an elite, high-end headphone that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box with all the accessories you require inside. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, http://xilubbs.xclub.tw/ which can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions through an app (now called Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the dedicated button on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and 'full'.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter various settings, including the LED brightness and EQ presets, including a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and also their battery duration. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a space with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can be muted, and certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears with higher-end technology, like 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's located at the top end of the mainstream headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s have a premium cost, but should you be able to afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones out there.

The XM5s are loaded with features to make life easier for listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional portable foldable bluetooth headphones with mic and fm. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different than the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. These headphones are among the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance, the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, without reducing the other elements. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also very excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to last a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for everyone else however, for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy region, 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 cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. They are perfect for movies and music. They also have higher fidelity than most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones have a light design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly powerful clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press the button once, twice or thrice to control playback. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you put them on your head again.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions the sound to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be a bit ripped off walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.