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. They are an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of designs and noise cancellation capabilities. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These earphones are an important upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are a bit bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a vast selection of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to podcasts and music in your preferred style. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sounding signature that is a bit on the treble side, and some might find lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). You can fix this easily with the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The headphones come with a power button and pairing button on the left ear cup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup has play/pause, and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also support an option to speak to them, so you can ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to activate ambient modes, to allow you to hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a busy day at work. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is nearing 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. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their superior audio quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that includes everything you'll need in. You can also get a fold-flat carry 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 for a full day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can make use of wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now named Focal and Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or using the button that's on the left ear cup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full.
The app lets you adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including music's profile, which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC level and mode and setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity to mimic the sound of the headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds more punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other headphones that feature higher-end technology, such as 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 is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means that the XM5s have a premium price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are a few more superior wireless over-ear headphones on the market.
The XM5s have features to help listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do 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 that are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.
As with the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s also excel at isolating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s aren't as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, but they have a higher level of clarity and transparency, too. For instance, the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, without reducing everything else. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also very excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough for a weekend getaway or a long period of usage.
The only issue is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating into them or wearing them in the rain. over ear headphones wireless might not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for anyone who spend a lot of time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard on either end of the spectrum. They are great for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with weaved fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force to ensure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
A small button at the the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. You can also utilize 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 one, twice, or three times to playback the controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I would have liked an option to switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They return to life when you put them on your head.
Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sound so that they appear to originate from that location. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and you won't be able enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a bit ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery life, making it difficult to justify the expense for most people.