Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones are more attractive, feel more durable and generally feel more polished. The hinges are stronger and the soft leather cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual built-in microphones, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts or music in the style you like. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise, and provide excellent listening. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can rectify this using the Soundcore app, for running as there's an eight-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.

The left ear cup has an power button and a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup has play/pause, volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode so you can be aware of what is happening around you without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for long flights or working for a long time. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be an elite high-end headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact, attractive white box with a fabric finish. It includes everything you'll need. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can make use of wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now known as Focal & Naim, probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the dedicated button on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and 'full'.

The app lets you modify various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode and set an 'acoustic environments' to adjust the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth and punch to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals can be muted, while other 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 with higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is at the top of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and borders the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s come with a high price tag, but if you can afford it, there are few more superior wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s are loaded with features to help listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are both included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used For Running making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different than the previous generation headphones from WH, for running in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets, too.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a greater sense of clarity and realism also. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys' power and definition, without affecting the rest the music. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if off. That's more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy use.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating into them or wearing them in the rain. This may 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 at the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on highs and mids without going overboard. This makes them great for both movies and music. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most rival headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made out of memory foam that is covered in weaved fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

A small button on the the right earcup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a button that can be pushed, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't a power button to switch off the headphones when they're not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears, or if they are placed in their case. They only return 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 alters the position of the sound to make it seem to be coming from that location. This creates a cinema-like experience with movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better within a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it hard to justify the extra cost for the majority of people.