Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the necessity of running a wire from your audio device. These headphones are great for public transport, at the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of styles and noise cancelling features. They usually come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and generally feel more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C model to use them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with two mics built in that worked well during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge selection of EQ presets, which can be altered and saved so you can listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that leans slightly to the treble side, which some may feel is lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup and an USB-C port to charge. The right ear cup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also come with the ability to speak which allows you to ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, so that you can be aware of what is happening around you, without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a full day at work. They can be easily recharged using the USB-C cable included and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that provide both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a Premium Wireless Over Ear Headphones - Noise Cancelling TFUFR Wireless Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones - https://www.headphonesshop.Uk/products/tfufr-wireless-bluetooth-over-ear-headphones, headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound fantastic when used for home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you need inside. You can also get 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.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also include an audio input so 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 known as Focal and Naim which is probably in line with their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button that's on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and full.

The app allows you to adjust various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including the music profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like when worn in a space with different acoustics.

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

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It sits at the upper portion of the headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. This means that the XM5s are expensive in price tag but, should you be able to afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are both included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.

As with the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel at isolating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s aren't quite as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and transparency, Premium TFUFR Wireless Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones too. For instance, the bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging everything else. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is excellent with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough for a weekend trip or a few days of heavy use.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s lack any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for everyone else, but for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy area it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going overboard. They are ideal for music and movies. They also offer superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

A small button located on the 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 twist it for volume control, and press it once three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to see the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you place them on your head once more.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It utilizes gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPads or Premium TFUFR Wireless Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sound to make it appear to come from the location you are in. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and you won't be able enjoy 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 the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.