Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, in the office or at home.

rydohi wireless bluetooth headphones review over-ear cans are available in a variety and noise cancellation capabilities. They typically come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These over-ears are a major bluetooth Headphones Range improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are bigger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast selection of EQ presets, which 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 most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but a little on treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster EQ). However, you can rectify this using the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to allow you to tweak.

The left earcup features the power button, a pairing button, and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for a change in mode or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, to allow you to be aware of what is happening around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or an office day. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also get an alert when your battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys new wireless bluetooth headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their superior sound quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you'll need in. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that can take you through a full day of listening to music and include an audio input for wired use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now known as Focal and Naim which is probably in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or via the button on the left ear cup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and full.

The app allows you to adjust various settings, such as 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. You can also choose the ANC mode and level as well as set an 'acoustic environments' to adjust the sensitivity to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys come with bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy and Bluetooth Headphones Range warmth to your favourite tracks. As a result, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other headphones that feature higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are well-known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle area in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive however, if you are able to find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would 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 music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls without hands.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the top in cutting down on the continuous drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are also excellent in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s may not be as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness as well. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is great with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The only drawback is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating into them or wearing them in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might be a problem for anyone who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth headphones range technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going too loud. This makes them ideal for movies and music. They also provide better sound quality than many competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they fit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a firm but not overly powerful clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. You can also use the jog dial that is a push-button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I would have liked an option to switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears, or if they are placed in their case. They will return to life when you place them over your head.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which uses the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions the sound to appear as if they're coming from these locations. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and it won't allow you to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.