Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio cable from your device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, at the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are an important upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and feel more durable and have a more polished look. The hinges are more secure and the soft cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, but they are more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to connect them to portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad range of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you prefer. 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 a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but it's a bit harsh on the treble. Some might find the bass response lacking (we had better results with the Bass Booster EQ). This can be fixed easily using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup 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 these controls lets you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. The right ear cup can also be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode so you can hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This allows you to take advantage of a long flight, wireless Bluetooth headphones or Wireless Bluetooth headphones a busy day at work. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when the battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. They're a little more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the primary selling point.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact attractive white box with a fabric finish. It includes all the accessories you will 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.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can take you through a whole day of casual listening and have an audio input for wired use. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now called Focal and Naim in keeping with English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or by pressing the button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, soft transparent,' and full.

The app lets you modify various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and 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 level and mode and setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth and punch to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream over-ear headphone bluetooth market, but it is also dipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s come with a high price tag but, when you can afford it, there are few more superior wireless bluetooth headphones (just click the following web page) over-ear wirless headphones out there.

The XM5s have features to help listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality music to be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.

The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also excellent in separating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.

The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power 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 excellent, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if off. That's more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.

The XM5s are not waterproof or dust-proof. 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 considering the XM5s who spends much of their time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphone b uetooth headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going overboard on either end of the spectrum. They are ideal for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The wirless headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force that makes sure the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. It also has an earphone-style jog dial with a push button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it once three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I missed having an option to turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They will return to life when you place them over your head.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions sound to make it seem like they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to audio in spatial format.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery life, making it difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.