Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. They're an excellent choice for public transport, at work or at home.

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

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. The hinges are stronger and the soft leather ear cups have been slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C version to use them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide selection 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 makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for very pleasant listening. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble end, which some might find lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). This can be fixed easily by using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

The left earcup has a power button as well as a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered with your hands to enable ambient mode, so that you can hear what is going on around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is excellent and the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for an extended flight or working for a long time. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling feature.

The Focal Bathys come in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you need inside. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the b Uetooth Headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

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

The app allows you to alter various settings like the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than other presets and their battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth and Foro.cavifax.com/index.php?action=profile;u=870905 punch to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals can be muted, and details such as cymbals may be less prominent than other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation when contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s are expensive in cost, but when you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s come with features that help listeners and, in some cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is also included and also support for buy bluetooth headphones's LDAC technology. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the top in eliminating the constant drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets, too.

The sound quality is very good. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but, they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. For example the bass track on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging everything else. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s ability to create accurate and precise bass notes.

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

The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for most people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid location it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going overboard. They are great for music and movies. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones have a light construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a firm, but not too much clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in position during listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press it once twice or three times to playback control. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They come back into use when you place them on your head.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're moving in, and then repositions sound to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and it won't allow you to experience it on other devices.

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