Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety and noise cancellation capabilities. They typically come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C version to make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also have dual microphones that work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the way you like. The Soundcore app is simple to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the background noise, making for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans a little on the treble side, and some might find lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). This can be fixed easily by using the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.

These headphones have 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. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also have the ability to speak, so you can ask to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is excellent and immerse in sound with jbl tune510bt wireless headphones the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer Immerse In Sound With JBL Tune510BT Wireless Headphones our tests when ANC was turned on than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a long day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge them. You'll also get an alert when your battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a pair of Premium Wireless Over Ear Headphones with Built-in Mic headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but are a great choice to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're more expensive than similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you require inside. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and immerse in sound with jbl tune510bt wireless headphones an audio adapter.

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

The app allows you to alter different settings like the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that is brighter and more neutral than other presets and also their battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when worn in a space with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds more energy and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less prominent than on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have higher-end 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 no exception. It is at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are expensive in price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are few better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are all included. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls hands-free.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for removing the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the noises of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s lack as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition, without affecting the rest the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if off. This is more than enough to last the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.

The only drawback is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating into them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for some people, but it could be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spends much of their time at the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a neutral audio profiles that is focused on the mids and highs without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are perfect for music and movies. They also have higher fidelity than most other headphones.

The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The earcups are made out of memory foam that is covered in a woven fabric. They are comfortable to wear without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a strong but not too strong clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button at the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between 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 twist it for volume control and press it once three, twice, or times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed however I would have liked to have the power button that could turn off the headphones when in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when removed from your ears or when placed in their case. They only come back into use when you place them over your head.

Another feature that is quite cool 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 moving in, and then repositions sound to make it seem like they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and it won't allow you to enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have superior battery life and more advanced features.