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 ideal to use on public transport, at the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They are usually packed in a sleek case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones are more attractive, feel more durable, and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure, and the soft ear cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and connect them to portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags a little on the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with the power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup features play/pause, and volume up/down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with the ability to speak which allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic, too. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This allows you to take advantage of a long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys wireless headphone

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a premium headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior sound quality is their main selling feature.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box with all the accessories you'll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, Blue Tooth USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to 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, probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the button that's on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent' and full.

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

The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives more warmth and punch to your most loved tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation when contrasted to other headphones with higher-end 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 is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and borders the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you can afford it find them, there's not a better pair of wireless bluetooth headphones headphones.

The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls without hands.

The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH, in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the best at reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the noise of airports and busy streets also.

The sound quality is very good. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range like the XM4, however they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys strength and clarity but without affecting the music. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if it's off. This is enough to last a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The only drawback is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating on the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might prove a stumbling block for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear 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 overboard. They are perfect for movies and music. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones have a light design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ear, do not put pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a strong but not too powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. There's also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once twice or three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed, however I would have liked to see the power button that could shut off the headphones when in use. The headphones are put into standby when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They only come back into use when you place them on your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the accelerometers, Blue Tooth gyroscopes, 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 movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able to 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 Blue tooth spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.