Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect wires to your audio device. They are an excellent choice for public transport, at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancellation capabilities. They usually come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, Headphones Shop but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather ear cups are bigger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast variety of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that leans slightly to the treble end, which some may be unable to reproduce bass (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones feature an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup as well as a USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without having to remove the Headphones Shop.

These headphones have a great battery life. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for long flights or working for a long time. They can be easily recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them, and you'll see a warning when they're approaching empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a Premium Foldable Bluetooth Headphones with Mic - Type1 Black, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles too. They're a little more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling feature.

The Focal Bathys come in a small, attractive white box with a cloth finish. It comes with everything you'll need. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a full day of listening, and include an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can control their functions through an app (now known as Focal & Naim, probably in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or via the dedicated button located on the left earcup that scrolls 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 more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery life. It also allows you to choose the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a room with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals be muted, and details like cymbals might be less prominent than other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are well-known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they would be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They are among the best at reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel at isolating the listener from the hum of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. For instance, the bass work 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. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

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

The only drawback is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for many people, but it could be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spends much of their time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going too loud. They are ideal for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they fit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press once twice or three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They will return to life when you place them on your head.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sounds to make them appear to originate from the location you are in. This gives you a theater-like experience with videos and movies recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it, and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.

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