Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure 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 feature dual built-in microphones, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide range of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.

When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sounding signature that is a bit on the treble side, which some may find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can fix this by using the Soundcore app, as there is an 8-band equalizer to help you tinker.

The left earcup features the power button, a pairing button, Bt headphone and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with the ability to speak that allows you to ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than its competitors. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be quickly recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.

Focal Bathys wireless blutooth headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're a little more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is their main selling feature.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you require inside. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB cable, Bt Headphone 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last a whole day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to connect wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim, probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and full.

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

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. This means that instruments and vocals can sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancelation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear Bt Headphone market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive in price tag, but when you can afford it, there are few more superior wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s have features that help listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than bluetooth headphones. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for cutting out constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at separating listeners from the hum of busy streets and airports.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range like the XM4, however, they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. For instance, the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition without flattening everything else. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.

The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a major issue for the majority of people, but for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy location this could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going too loud. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also have higher fidelity than most competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, are comfortable to wear over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a firm but not overly powerful clamping force, which ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button on 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 to control the volume and press it once three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I missed having an option to turn off the headphones when they're 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 over your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sounds to make them appear to originate from the location you are in. This creates a cinema-like experience for movies 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 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 in a year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.