Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the necessity of running a wire from your audio device. These headphones are ideal to use on public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packed in a stylish 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 mostly plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather cups are bigger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built in that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate the majority of ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sounding signature that is a bit on the treble side, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can rectify this by using the Soundcore app, since there is an 8-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
These headphones have the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup and the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is excellent and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for long flights or an office day. over-ear wireless headphones -C cable included lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is nearing empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling point.
The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that contains all the accessories you'll need in. 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 decent 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of listening to music and include an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now known as Focal and Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the button located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and 'full'.
The app allows you to adjust various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including the music profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments' to adjust the sensitivity to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals and vocals are not as prominent as you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is the best of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are costly however, if you can afford it, there aren't many better wireless headphones.
The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks that they'd otherwise be required 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 audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.
Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones to block out the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also excellent at isolating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s may not be as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and realism, too. The bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys strength and clarity but without affecting the music. The XM5s also have the ability to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active 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 don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might prove a stumbling block for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time at the gym or lives in a city with rain.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on mids and highs without going too loud. They are perfect for movies and music. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too much clamping force that makes sure the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button on the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press once, twice or thrice for playback controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't a power button to turn the headphones off when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ear or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you slide them over your head once more.
Spatial audio is another cool feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sound so that they appear to come from that location. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.