Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Premium Wireless Over Ear Headphones with Built-in Mic over-ear cans are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They usually come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are larger. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality 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, headphones wireless bluetooth which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all background noise, making for very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). However, you can solve this issue using the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.

The left earcup has a 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 controls allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. They also come with the ability to speak which allows you to ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or a day at the office. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when your battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, Premium P47 Over-Ear Headphones: Wireless - Noise-Canceling - Black headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're a little more expensive than other similar Headphones Wireless Bluetooth but their superior sound quality is their main selling point.

The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that includes everything you require inside. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now called Focal & Naim likely in line with their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the button that's on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

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

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich profile that adds additional warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and sound muffled, while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears that have higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are costly, but if you can, there aren't many better wireless headphones.

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

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are among the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job isolating listeners from the background noise of busy streets and airports also.

The sound quality is very good. The XM5s aren't quite as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency, too. The bass in Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

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

The XM5s aren't water resistant or dust resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it could prove a stumbling block 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 over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with an audio profile that is neutral and is focused on the mids and highs without going overboard on either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also offer 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 weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without pressing on the sides of the face. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too much clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

A small button at the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with 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 invokes Siri. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't the power button that could switch 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 return to life when you place them on your head.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sound to make it seem to be coming from that location. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel somewhat smug going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone in a year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.