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 to use on public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancellation capabilities. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.
Soundcore Q30
These earphones are a significant improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather cups are larger. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C model to use them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with dual built-in microphones, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to play podcasts and music in the style you like. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively eliminate most ambient noise, and provide very pleasant listening. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble side, which some might find lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). You can fix this easily by using the Soundcore App, which has an 8-band Equalizer.
The headphones feature an power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup and the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause, and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct them to switch modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered with your hand to enable ambient mode, so that 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 turned on than the other models. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or working for a long time. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll get warnings when they're about to run empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be an elite high-end headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also are a great choice for audiophile home use as well. The headphones are a little more expensive than other headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packed in a small elegant white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories that you will need. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones as well as a USB-C 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 come with an audio input that you can make use of wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now named Focal and Naim in keeping with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or the dedicated button on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and full.
The app lets you adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like when used in a room with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are not as prominent as you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is the best of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones.
The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are both included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.
Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are among the top in eliminating the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of separating listeners from traffic noises of busy streets and airports as well.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s may not be as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency, too. For example, the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create tight and precise bass notes.
The battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to cover the weekend or a few days of heavy use.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony recommends not sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of time at the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.
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. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are perfect for music and movies. They also offer higher fidelity than most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly robust clamping force that makes sure that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button on the the right earcup allows you to switch between noise cancelling 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 thrice for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, but I would have liked to have a power button that would shut 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 come back to life when Best over ear wireless headphones you place them over your head.
Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones or iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it appear to come from the location you are in. This creates a theater-like experience with movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it, and you won't be able to enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be a bit ripped off entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.