Best Over the Ear Headphones

wireless headphones with bluetooth headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement of connecting wires to your audio device. These headphones are ideal to use on public transport, at the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of styles and noise cancellation capabilities. They are usually packed in a stylish case.

Soundcore 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. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather cups are bigger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge variety of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all ambient noise, and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags it is a bit the treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can rectify this using the Soundcore app, as there is an 8-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

The left earcup has an power button and a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause, and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup 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, too. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its competitors. This allows you to enjoy a long flight, or a full day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge them. You'll also get an alert when the battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys Sporty Design - Clear Sound: Wireless Bluetooth Earphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a pair of premium, high-end headphone that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but are a great choice for home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that includes everything you require inside. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The 600mAh battery 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 they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions through an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in line with their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the button located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full.

The app lets you alter various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys come with bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back in the mix and Sporty Design - Clear Sound: Wireless Bluetooth Earphones can sound dull, while details like cymbals and vocals are not as prominent as you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at 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 has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as 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 better over the ear wireless headphones available.

The XM5s come with features to help listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are both included. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're one of the best at reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the hum of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s may not be as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency as well. For example the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging everything else. The XM5s also have the ability to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is plenty for a weekend getaway or a long period of use.

The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony recommends not sweating in the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for most people however, for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy area this could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless bt headphones headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are great for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and sit comfortably over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or sporty design - clear sound: wireless bluetooth Earphones forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in position during listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. It also has 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, twice, or three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, however I would have liked to have a power button that would switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only wake up when you put them on your head once more.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates a theater-like experience with movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and it won't allow you to enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.