Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect a wire to your audio device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, in the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling features. They typically come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are an important upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, blue Tooth and have a more polished look. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather ear cups are bigger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built in that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge range of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to music and podcasts in the way you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively eliminate most ambient noise, blue Tooth and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble end, which some may be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can easily fix this using the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to allow you to tweak.

The left ear cup has the power button, a pairing button, and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC enabled the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or a day at the office. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable, and you'll see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

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

The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that contains all the accessories you need inside. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the 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 take you through a whole day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal & Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or using the dedicated button on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and full.

The app allows you to modify various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including music's profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level as well as select an 'acoustic environment setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can be muted, and certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancelation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is at the top of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means that the XM5s have a premium price tag, but if you can afford it, there are few better over the ear DOQAUS Wireless Over Ear Headphones: Enhanced Bluetooth 5.3 headphones on the market.

The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks that they would need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making hands-free calls.

The XM5 headphones are no different than the previous generation headphones from WH, in regards to noise cancellation. They are among the best at reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s may not be as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a greater sense of clarity and realism as well. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the rest of the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is excellent and can last up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if it's off. This is enough to last for an entire weekend or a few days' heavy use.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s lack any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might cause a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with an audio profile that is neutral and concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard on either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight construction that is 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 putting pressure on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also use the jog dial that is a push-button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it once three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, however I would have liked to have the power button that could shut off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby mode when removed from your ears, or if they are placed in their case. They will return to life when you place them over your head.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, so it's difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.