Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere without having to run an audio wire to your device. They're also a great choice for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They usually come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide range of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to allow you to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart 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 eliminate most ambient noise, and provide very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some might find the bass response lacking (we got better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can fix this using the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to allow you to tweak.

The left earcup features the power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to activate ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 ran for wireless and bluetooth headphones almost an hour longer than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of a long flight, or a long day at work. They can be charged quickly using the USB-C cable included, and you'll see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless And bluetooth headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a premium headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also sound amazing when used to listen to audiophile music at home too. They're more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the main selling point.

The Focal Bathys come in a small, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you need inside. 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 600mAh capacity can last for a full day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to use wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now called Focal and Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button located on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and 'full'.

The app lets you alter various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds more energy and warmth to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and borders the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as 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 price headphones.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they would be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls hands-free.

As with the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at cutting down on the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the noise of busy streets and airports, too.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and a greater sense of openness. 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 the other elements. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver precise and precise bass notes.

The battery life is fantastic, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is plenty for a weekend trip or a few days of heavy usage.

The only drawback is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it could prove a stumbling block for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time at the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. They are great for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity compared to most rival headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force that makes sure the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, wireless and Bluetooth headphones like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once twice or three times to control playback. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however, I would like to see a power button that would turn off the headphones when in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when removed from your ears or put in their case, and they only wake up when you slide them over your head once more.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it seem to be coming from that location. This creates a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and it won't allow you to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better within a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.