Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. They're an excellent choice for public transport, Bluetooth headphone at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones look better, feel sturdier and are generally more polished. The hinges are tighter, and the soft leather cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to make use of them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

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

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This makes for a very pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans a little on the treble side, which some may be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster EQ preset). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.

The left ear cup has the power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or working for a long time. They can be charged quickly with the included USB-C cable and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a premium high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound fantastic when used for audiophile home use as well. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their superior sound is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact elegant white box with a textured finish. It comes with everything you will need. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can make use of wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the dedicated button on the left ear cup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to change various settings like the LED brightness and EQ presets, including a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and also their battery duration. You can also choose the ANC mode and level and select an 'acoustic environment setting to alter the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth and punch to Unleash Your Audio Bliss with 52 Hr Playtime! most loved tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less prominent than other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are well-known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is at the top end of the'mainstream' headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where can i buy wireless bluetooth headphones brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s come with a high cost, but if you can afford it, there are more superior wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks they would otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is also included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls without hands.

The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They are among the best at eliminating the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the hum of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s don't have as high a resolution in the low frequency range like 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 the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's turned off. That's more than enough for a weekend trip or a long period of usage.

The only real drawback here is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating into them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for anyone who spend a lot of time at the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that feature bluetooth headphone technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a an audio profile that is neutral and is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud on either ends of the spectrum. They are perfect for movies and music. They also have higher fidelity than most rival headphones.

The headphones have a light construction that is comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too much clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in position during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. It also has the jog dial that is 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 holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however, I would like to have a power button that would shut off the headphones when in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or when placed in their case. They come back to life when you place them on your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it appear to come from that particular location. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for videos and movies recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and you won't be able to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be a bit ripped off entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it hard to justify the extra expense for most people.