Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio cable from your device. They are ideal for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Life 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 stronger, and the soft leather cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is enabled. This makes for an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble side, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can rectify this with the Soundcore app, as there is an 8-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

The headphones come with the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup as well as a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, wireless headphone bluetooth volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with a voice command, so you can request to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for an extended flight or a day at the office. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also get a warning when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless headphone Bluetooth are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a pair of premium, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles as well. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling point.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive white fabric-finished retail box with all the accessories you need inside. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening to music and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now named Focal and 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.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings, including the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than other presets and also their battery duration. You can also select the ANC level and mode as well as select an 'acoustic environment setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds more energy and warmth to your favourite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and can sound dull, while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s have a premium price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones out there.

The XM5s have features that simplify the lives of listeners and, in a few cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are included. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.

The XM5 headphones are no different than the previous generation headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for removing the constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel at separating listeners from the hum of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For example the bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the blue tooth head phones flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, without reducing the other elements. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. That's more than enough for a weekend getaway or a long period of use.

The XM5s are not waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or take them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for many people, but it might be a problem for those who spend a lot of their time at the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids, but not going overboard. They are great for wireless Headphone bluetooth music and movies. They also offer higher fidelity than most other headphones.

The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam and covered with a woven fabric. They are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too much clamping force to ensure that the ear cups remain in position during listening sessions.

A small button at the top of the right ear cup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume, and press it once three, twice, or times to playback the 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 see the power button that could shut 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 only come back to life when you place them over your head.

Spatial audio is a cool feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sound to make it appear to come from the location you are in. This gives you a theater-like experience with videos and movies that were recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and you won't be able to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it difficult to justify the expense for most people.