Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear headphones may have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They usually come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. The hinges are tighter, and the soft cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to connect them to portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the way you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise, and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but a little on treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster EQ). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which has an 8-band Equalizer.

The headphones feature a power button and pairing button on the left earcup as well as a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC enabled the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This leaves plenty of time for long flights or an office day. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys wireless headphones with bluetooth

Focal's Bathys wireless and bluetooth headphones are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the go. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, bluetooth headphones wireless attractive white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories that you'll require. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The 600mAh battery can last a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can make use of wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions through an app (now named Focal & Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button that's on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full.

The app allows you to alter different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like when worn in a space with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other headphones that feature higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper 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 however, if you can afford it, there aren't many better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s are loaded with features that simplify the lives of listeners and, in some cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) as well as bluetooth headphones wireless's LDAC Technology are included. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones to block out the constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the noise of busy streets and airports, too.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s don't have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do have a greater sense 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 power and definition, without reducing everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver accurate and precise bass notes.

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

The only drawback is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for most people however for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid region it could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes highs and mids, but not going too loud. They are perfect for music and movies. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones.

The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in weaved fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too much clamping force to ensure that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button on the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once, twice or thrice to control playback. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to turn the headphones off when they're not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ears or put in their case, and they only wake up when you slide them over your head again.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it appear to originate from the location you are in. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or bluetooth Headphones Wireless Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd 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 however they offer more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.