Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of styles and noise cancellation capabilities. They typically come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears look better, feel sturdier, and are generally more polished. The hinges are stronger and the soft ear cups have been slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C model to connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have dual microphones that are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the way you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate nearly all ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This makes for a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might find the bass response lacking (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with the power button and a pairing button on the left earcup and a USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup features play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or jbl tune510bt: wireless on-ear headphones in white! set alarms. The right ear cup can also be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode, so you can hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or working for a long time. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable, and you'll see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys JBL Tune510BT: Wireless On-Ear Headphones in White! [Suggested Resource site]

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be an elite, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound amazing when used to listen to audiophile music at home too. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys come in a small elegant white box with a fabric finish. It includes all the accessories that you'll need. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of casual listening and include an audio input for wired use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can manage their functions via an app (now called Focal & Naim which is probably in line with their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the dedicated button on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and full.

Using the app allows you to change various settings, including the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than the other ones and their battery duration. You can also select the ANC level and mode as well as set an 'acoustic environments setting to alter the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds more punch, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have higher-end technology like 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's located at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s have a premium cost, but if you can afford it, there are better over the ear wireless headphones available.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks that they would have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is also included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional buy bluetooth headphones online. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the constant drones found in underground and train carriages. The XM5s also excel at separating listeners from the hum of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness also. For instance, the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the blue tooth head phones flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition without flattening everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's turned off. This is more than enough to last a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The only issue is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating on them or taking them out 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 area this could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are ideal for movies and music. They also offer higher fidelity compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and they sit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. 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.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it one three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I missed having an option to turn the headphones off when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ear or placed in their case, and they only wake up when you place them on your head once more.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're going, and then repositions sound to make it seem like they're coming from these locations. This creates a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to the spatial audio.

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 newer model would be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the expense for most people.