Best Over the Ear Headphones

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

Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish 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 made of plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C model to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have two microphones built-in, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you prefer. This is the thing that 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 creates a very pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans a little on the treble side, and some may be unable to reproduce bass (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can easily rectify this using the Soundcore app, as there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.

The left ear cup has an power button and a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup with your fingers to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without removing the headphones Blutooth.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a full day at work. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable, and you'll see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys wireless blutooth headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be an elite, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but are a great choice to listen to audiophile music at home as well. The headphones are a little more expensive than other headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a small elegant white box with a fabric finish. It comes with everything you will need. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can take you through a full day of casual listening and also have an audio input for wired use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or via the dedicated button on the left ear cup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

The app lets you alter different settings, like 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. You can also choose the ANC level and Headphones Blutooth mode and setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys come with 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 in the mix and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation when contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its blutooth headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is the best of the mainstream over ear headphone market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s have a premium cost, but if you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks they would otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is available as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation of WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing 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 airports and streets.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and realism as well. 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 the other elements. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if off. This is enough to last an entire weekend or a few days' heavy use.

The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might prove a stumbling block for those 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 come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going overboard on either end of the spectrum. They are ideal for music and movies. They also provide higher fidelity than most rival headphones.

The headphones are light and comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and sit comfortably over the ears, do not put pressure on the sides or forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various 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.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press it once, twice or thrice to control playback. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to turn the headphones off when they're not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ears or put in their case, and they only come back on when you slide them over your head again.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones and iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sound so that they seem to be coming from the location you are in. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and you won't be able to enjoy it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a bit ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better within a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have superior battery life and more advanced features.