Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for use in public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These earphones are an important improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can also swap out 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 have dual built-in mics that worked well during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a huge variety of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to music or podcasts in your preferred style. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the background noise, making for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but it is a bit treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can solve this issue by using the Soundcore app, as there is an 8-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
The headphones feature the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup features buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This lets you enjoy the long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you'll need in. There's also 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 600mAh battery can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also include an audio input so that you can use wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in the same vein as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or via the button on the left ear cup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and 'full'.
Using the app allows you to change various settings such as the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than the other ones and their battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives more warmth and punch to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can be muted, and certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other headphones that feature 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 headphones are no exception. It is the best of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s come with a high price tag but, when you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones available.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are all included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.
wireless on ear headphones to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s lack as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do have more clarity and a greater sense of openness. For example the bass track on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, without reducing everything else. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce precise and precise bass notes.
The battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last the weekend or a few days' heavy use.
The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a problem for everyone else however, for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid location, it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes highs and mids, but not going too loud. This makes them great for both movies and music. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The earcups are made out of memory foam that is covered in weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide an incredibly firm, yet not too much clamping force to ensure that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button at the top of the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. It also has a pushable jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press the button once twice or three times to control playback. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding 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 when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They come back to life when you place them over your head.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sound to make it appear to originate from the location you are in. 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 for use and it won't allow you to enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better within a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra cost for the majority of people.