Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They usually come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished look. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version so that you can use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the way you like. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that is a bit on the treble side, which some might be unable to reproduce bass (we had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can fix this by using the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.

These headphones have the power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered with your hand to enable ambient mode, to allow you to hear what's happening around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or working for a long time. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable, and you'll see a warning when they're approaching empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, Premium Wireless Over Ear Headphones with Built-in Mic headphones that can be used at home or on the go. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their superior sound is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact elegant white box with a cloth finish. It includes everything you'll need. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying 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 a whole day of listening to music casually. They also include an audio input so that you can connect wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English Naim brand's products for Premium Wireless Over Ear Headphones with Built-in Mic audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and full.

The app lets you adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including music's profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC mode and level as well as setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less prominent than on other headphones. The b uetooth headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are well-known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It's located at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s have features that help listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included, premium Wireless over ear headphones with built-in mic as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making hands-free phone calls.

The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation of WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They are among the top in eliminating the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the traffic noises of busy streets and airports as well.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s lack as many details in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance 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 deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is plenty for a weekend trip or a few days of heavy usage.

The XM5s do not come with dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or take them out in the rain. This might 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

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, sit comfortably over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which ensures that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press the button once twice or three times to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed but I would have liked to have a power button that would turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears or when placed in their case. They come back to life when you place them over your head.

Spatial audio is a cool feature. It utilizes gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sounds to make them appear to originate 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 for use and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.