Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect a wire to your audio device. These headphones are great for use in public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a wide selection of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved to listen to music and podcasts in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and makes these headphones stand out.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out nearly all ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but it is a bit the treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can fix this by using the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.
headphones wireless features an power button and a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. 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 replay previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for a change in mode or set alarms. The right ear cup can also 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.
These headphones have a fantastic battery life. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for long flights or a day at the office. They can be charged quickly using the USB-C cable included and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact attractive white box with a fabric finish. It includes everything you will need. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of casual listening and include an audio input for wired use. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal & Naim in the same way as English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, soft transparent,' and 'full.
The app allows you to modify various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic environment' that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a space with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound not as prominent as you'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other headphones that feature higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are expensive however, if you are able to find them, there's not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with features that make life easier for listeners and, in certain instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is also included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates which 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 in noise cancellation. They are one of the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the background noise of airports and busy streets also.
The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, but they do have more clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough for a weekend trip or several days of heavy use.
The only real drawback here is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually advises against sweating in the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for most people, but for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy region it could be a significant issue.
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 measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going overboard. They are perfect for music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.
Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with a push button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it one three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I would have liked an option to turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones are put into standby when removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They come back into use when you place them on your head.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It utilizes gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sounds to make them appear to originate from that particular location. This creates a cinema-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and you won't be able enjoy it with other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.