Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the need to connect wires to your audio device. They are an excellent choice for public transport, at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling features. They are usually packed in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also have dual microphones that work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you prefer. This is the thing that sets these cordless headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). This can be fixed easily using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup and an USB-C port to charge. The right ear cup has play/pause, and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for Buy Wireless headphones a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This allows you to enjoy an extended flight or a long day at work. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and buy wireless Headphones you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Buy wireless Headphones

Focal's Bathys Sporty Design - Clear Sound: Wireless Bluetooth Earphones is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a premium high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling point.

The Focal Bathys come 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, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can take you through a full day of listening to music and include an audio input for wired use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now named Focal and Naim which is probably in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or via the dedicated button located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

Using the app allows you to alter various settings such as the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other ones and also their battery duration. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when worn in a room with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with 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 is no exception. It is the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s have a premium price tag, but when you can afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones out there.

The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks that they would 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 allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are one of the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have a greater sense clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity, without affecting the music. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

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

The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a problem for everyone else however, for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid region, it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard on either end of the spectrum. They are perfect for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in a woven fabric. They are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too much clamping force that makes sure the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right ear cup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. There's also a pushable, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press the button once twice or three times to control playback. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I missed having the power button that could switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones are put into standby mode 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.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sound to appear as if they're coming from these locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for films 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 it won't allow you to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel 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 a better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the additional cost for most people.