Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal to use on public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of styles and noise cancellation capabilities. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft ear cups are slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can switch the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with two mics built in that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a vast selection of EQ presets that can be adjusted and saved to listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on the treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster EQ). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
headphones wireless has an power button and a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also support the ability to speak which allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can also be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode, so that you can be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than the other models. This lets you enjoy the long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cable included allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a little more expensive than other headphones, but their outstanding sound is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a compact, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you require inside. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim which is probably in line with their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or via the button on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and full.
The app allows you to alter various settings like the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the others and their battery life. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like when used in a space with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra energy and warmth to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less prominent than on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation when contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It's located at the top end of the mainstream headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are costly however, if you are able to get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks that they would be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates that 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 in noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets also.
The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and openness as well. For example, 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 are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is plenty for a weekend getaway or a long period of use.
The only real drawback here is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a major issue for everyone else however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy area this could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going overboard. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The earcups are made out of memory foam that is covered in woven fabric, and they fit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.
Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume, and press it once three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however, I would like to have the power button that could turn off the headphones when in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you place them on your head again.
Another great feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sound to create the illusion that they're coming from these locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.