Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. They're also a great choice for public transport, at work or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are usually packed in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These earphones are a significant upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished appearance. The hinges are more secure and the soft ear cups have been a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also feature dual microphones that are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most ambient noise, and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some might find the bass response lacking (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). This can be fixed easily by using the Soundcore App, which has an 8-band Equalizer.
The left earcup has an power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup has buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also have an option to speak to them that allows you to ask to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode, to allow you to hear what is going on around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is excellent as well. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than the other models. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be quickly recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a pair of premium headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small attractive white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories that 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.
The battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can make use of wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in line with their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.
The app allows you to change various settings such as the LED brightness, EQ presets including a'music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than the others and their battery duration. It also allows you to choose the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a room with different audio acoustics.
on ear wireless headphones have a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back into 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 with higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is at the top 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 can be expensive, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones for over-ear use.
The XM5s are loaded with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is also included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.
As with the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. These headphones are among the top in reducing the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the background noise of busy airports and streets also.
The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't quite as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and transparency as well. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.
The XM5s are not 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 could be a problem for anyone who spends much of their time in 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 equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also have higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and are comfortable to wear over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
A small button on the top of the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. It also has an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it once three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are simple to use and are well-placed, however, I would like to have an option to power off or turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you put them on your head once more.
Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions the sound to make it seem like they're coming from those places. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery life, making it difficult to justify the cost for most people.