Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless Blutooth Headphones over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable and are generally more polished. The hinges are stronger and the soft leather cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can also switch 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 come with two mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to play podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out the majority of ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it is a bit the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer). However, you can rectify this using the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.

The left earcup has the power button as well as a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also have a voice command, so you can request them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode, to allow you to hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This leaves plenty of time for a long flight or a day at the office. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them 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 are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior sound is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small elegant white box with a cloth finish. It contains all the accessories that you will need. 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.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can get you through a full day of casual listening and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions through an app (now named Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the button that's on the left ear cup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and full.

The app allows you to adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears that have higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are renowned for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is 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 hang out. This means the XM5s have a Premium P47 Over-Ear Headphones: Wireless - Noise-Canceling - Black price tag but, when you can afford it, there are better over the ear wireless headphones on the market.

The XM5s have features to make life easier for listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) and 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 for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They are one of the best at cutting down on the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are also excellent in separating the listener from the hum of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s lack as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess a greater sense clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to last an entire weekend or wireless blutooth Headphones a few days of heavy use.

The XM5s aren't water resistant or dust resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a major issue for the majority of people, but for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid area, it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. They are ideal for movies and music. They also provide superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ear, do not put pressure on the sides or the forehead. Ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different blue tooth head phones shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly strong 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. You can also utilize a pushable jog dial-like 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. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I missed having the power button that could turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby mode when removed from your ears or when placed in their case. They return to life when you place them on your head.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're moving in, and then repositions the sound to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better within a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.