Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. They are also a great choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.

wireless bluethooth headphone over-ear cans are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling capabilities. They typically come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished look. The hinges are stronger, and the soft ear cups have been slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C model to connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide selection of EQ presets that can be customized and saved to listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from 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 creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble end, which some might find lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can rectify this using the Soundcore application, as there's an eight-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup as well as an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode, so that you can be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 was able to last for Bluetooth headphones uk a full hour in our tests when ANC was turned on than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a busy day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation and bluetooth Headphones uk - levesque-weiss.technetbloggers.de - playback. They are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small attractive white box with a textured finish. It contains all the accessories you will need. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the wirelss headphones and a USB-C cable 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 full day of listening to music and also have an audio input for wired use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim, probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the button that's on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.

The app lets you modify various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including music's profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like when used in a room with different audio acoustics.

The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less prominent than other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancelation when contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is the best of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can, there aren't many better wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in a few cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are all included. This lets high-quality music to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than 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 in noise cancellation. They are among the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the noise of busy streets and airports, too.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s don't have as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do have more 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 but without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if it's off. This is plenty for a weekend trip or several days of heavy use.

The XM5s do not come with water resistant or dust resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it could cause a problem for anyone who spend a lot of their time at the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going overboard. They are great for music and movies. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press once twice or three times to control playback. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I missed having a power button to turn the headphones off when they're not in use. The headphones are put into standby when removed from your ears, or when placed in their case. They only come back into use when you place them over your head.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sound to make it appear to originate from that particular location. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos made 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 going into an Apple Store and Bluetooth Headphones Uk spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have better battery life and advanced features.