Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones look better, feel sturdier and generally feel more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with two built-in mics that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast range of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved so you can listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

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, but it is a bit the treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can fix this with the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to allow you to tweak.

The left earcup features a power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for long flights or an office day. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys studio wireless headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear bluetooth Stereo headphones headphones that offers both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. They're more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling factor.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that includes everything you require inside. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the 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 get you through a whole day of casual listening and have 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 & Naim in line with English Naim's network-aware products) or the dedicated button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and full.

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

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra energy and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals be muted, and details like cymbals might be less prominent than other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other headphones that feature more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is the best of the mainstream over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. This means that the XM5s come with a high price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are few better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s have features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are all included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. These headphones are among the top in cutting down on the continuous drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are also excellent at isolating the listener from the hum of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have more clarity and openness. For example the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, without reducing the other elements. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also very good, Bluetooth Stereo headphones with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is more than enough to cover the weekend or a few days' heavy use.

The only drawback is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating into them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also have higher fidelity than most rival headphones.

The headphones are light in build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed out of memory foam that is covered in a woven fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in position during listening sessions.

A small button at the top of the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. You can also utilize the jog dial that is a push-button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it once, twice, or three times to playback the controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I missed having the power button that could turn the headphones off when not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They only come back to life when you put them on your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sound to make it appear to originate from that particular location. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos that were recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be a bit ripped off walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer superior battery life and more advanced features.