Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio wire to your device. They are also a great choice for public transport, at work or at home.

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

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones are more attractive, feel more durable and generally feel more polished. The hinges are tighter, and the soft leather cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also feature dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to play podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate the majority of ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags it is a bit the treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). This can be fixed easily by using the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

These headphones have the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also have an option to speak to them, so you can ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can be covered by 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 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This leaves plenty of time for a long flight or working for a long time. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys Buy wireless headphones

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 premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior sound quality is their main selling feature.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes everything you'll need. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can take you through a whole day of listening, and include an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now named Focal and Naim in keeping with English Naim's network-aware products) or the dedicated button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft transparent,' and full.

The app allows you to adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including music's profile, which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment which adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like when worn in a space with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds extra punch, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are expensive in price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones out there.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of headphones from WH, in regards to noise cancellation. They are one of the best at eliminating the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the background noise of busy airports and streets as well.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't quite as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and Buy Wireless headphones realism, too. The bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power and clarity without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is fantastic and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if it's off. This is more than enough to last the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.

The only issue is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating on the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for everyone else, but for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy location this could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones with bluetooth wireless headphones technology and noise cancelling. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with neutral audio profiles that is focused on the mids and highs while not going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them great for movies and music. They also provide higher fidelity compared to other headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay 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 like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume, and press it once three, twice, or times for playback controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are simple to use and are well-placed, however, I would like to see an option to power off or switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode after being removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only wake up when you slide them over your head again.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sounds to make them seem to be coming from that location. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies 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 are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be a bit ripped off walking into an Apple Store and buy Wireless Headphones spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have better battery life and advanced features.