Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere without having to run an audio cable from your device. These headphones are great for public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They usually come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable, and are generally more polished. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather ear 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 mics built in that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to play podcasts and music in the style you like. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.
The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block nearly all ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This makes for an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we got better results using the Bass Booster EQ). However, you can easily rectify this by using the Soundcore app, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.
The headphones come with a power button and pairing button on the left earcup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup features play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, so you can be aware of what is happening around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC enabled the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or a day at the office. The USB-C cord included in the kit 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 is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the go. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive white fabric-finished retail box with all the accessories you need inside. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last a whole 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 via an app (now called Focal & Naim in keeping with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft 'transparent,' and 'full.
Using the app allows you to alter various settings such as the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like if it were placed in a room with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich profile that adds more warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can be muted, while other details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. This means that the XM5s have a premium price tag but, should you be able to afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they'd 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 both included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones are no different than the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for removing the constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets also.
The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but, they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity without affecting the music. In best wireless over ear headset , Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.
Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if it's off. This is plenty for a weekend trip or a few days of heavy use.
The only issue is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for some people, but it could prove a stumbling block for anyone 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 headphones over-ear which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also have superior fidelity compared to most other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press once twice or three times to control playback. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are simple to use and are well-placed, but I would have liked to have an option to power off or switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode after being removed from your ear or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you put them on your head again.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound so that they appear to come from the location you are in. This gives you a theater-like experience with movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.