Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio cable from your device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling features. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and are more durable and have a more polished look. The hinges are stronger, and the soft cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version so that you can use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also feature dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers 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 makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but it is a bit the treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.
The left earcup features the power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with a voice command which allows you to ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to enable ambient modes so that you can hear the world around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than the other models. This allows you to enjoy an extended flight or a long day at work. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is nearing 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 playback. They're designed to be an elite, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home too. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive fabric-finished white 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.
The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim which is probably in line with their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the button that's located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.
The app lets you adjust various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level as well as set an 'acoustic environments that adjusts the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth and punch to your most loved tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can be muted, and details like cymbals might be less prominent than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. This means that the XM5s have a premium cost, but should you be able to afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener and automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is also included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. 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.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job isolating listeners from the background noise of busy streets and airports as well.
The sound quality is also great. The XM5s don't have as high a resolution in the low frequency range like the XM4, however, they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of 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 reducing the other elements. The XM5s also have the ability to provide precise and accurate bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
wireless over the head headphones is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.
The XM5s do not come with 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 problem for a lot of people, but it might prove a stumbling block for those 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 with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids without going too loud. They are perfect for music and movies. They also provide better sound quality than many other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they sit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force that ensures 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. You can also use the jog dial that is a push-button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it once, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I missed having an option to turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when removed from your ears, or if they are placed in their case. They come back into use when you place them over your head.
Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which makes use of the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from these locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for movies and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and it won't allow you to enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra cost for most people.