Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. They're also a great choice for public transport, at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to use them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with dual microphones that work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast range of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved so you can listen to music and podcasts in your preferred style. The Soundcore app is easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all ambient noise and make for very pleasant listening. They have a natural sounding signature that leans a little on the treble end, which some may feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can easily solve this issue by using the Soundcore app, as there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.

The left earcup features the power button and a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause, and volume up/down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.

The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of a long flight, or a long day at work. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, Premium Wireless Over Ear Headphones with Built-in Mic headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It contains all the accessories that you will need. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of casual listening and include an audio input for wired use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now named Focal & Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or using the dedicated button on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

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

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich profile that adds more warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can be muted, and details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other headphones that feature more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. 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 are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for Sporty Design - Clear Sound: Wireless Bluetooth Earphones the listener, and also automate tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is also included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls hands-free.

As with the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are one of the best at eliminating the constant 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 also excellent. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do have an increased sense of clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is fantastic, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it's off. That's more than enough for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy usage.

The XM5s do not come with water resistant or dust resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for the majority of people however, for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy region, it could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going overboard. They are perfect for music and movies. They also offer superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones have a light Sporty Design - Clear Sound: Wireless Bluetooth Earphones that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in a woven fabric. They are comfortable to wear without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a firm, but not too strong clamping force to ensure that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press the button once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't a power button to switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you place them on your head once more.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sound so that they appear to originate from that location. This creates a cinema-like Experience Immersive Sound with INFURTURE Wireless ANC Headphones for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed 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 better battery life and advanced features.