Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major upgrade 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 tighter, and the soft leather ear cups have been slightly larger. They're still 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 have dual built-in microphones, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a wide variety of EQ presets, which can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to podcasts and music in your preferred style. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for excellent listening. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but a little on treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we have had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can easily solve this issue with the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.
The left ear cup has a power button and a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. 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 hands to activate ambient mode so that you can hear what's happening around you without removing the headphones.
These headphones have a fantastic 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 leaves plenty of time for an extended flight or working for a long time. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll get a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a pair of premium headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that contains all the accessories you require inside. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The 600mAh battery can last a whole day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal & Naim in keeping with English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or the button located on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft 'transparent,' and 'full.
The app allows you to alter various settings, including the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than other presets and also their battery duration. You can also select the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other headphones that feature more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
on ear wireless headphones -1000XM5
Sony headphones are known for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper portion of the over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s have a premium price tag, but if you can afford it, there are few more superior wireless over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s are loaded with a number 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 to near-high-resolution), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls without hands.
The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top in cutting down on the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s also excel at separating listeners from the noises of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s lack as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess an increased sense of clarity and openness. For example, the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition without flattening the other elements. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create accurate and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's turned off. That's more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.
The XM5s do not come with dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for a lot of 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 with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on mids and highs without going overboard. They are perfect for music and movies. They also provide higher fidelity than most rival headphones.
The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and they are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups 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 an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume, and press it once three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed but I would have liked to see a power button that would turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears, or when placed in their case. They only return to life when you place them over your head.
Another cool feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates a theater-like experience with movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a little ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.