Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect wires to your audio device. They are also a great choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished look. The hinges are stronger and the soft cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version so that you can connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast variety of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to podcasts and music in the way 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.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This results in a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags a little on the treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we have had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup and a USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can 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 earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes, to allow you to hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. In our tests with ANC turned on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys wireless and bluetooth Headphones

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be an elite headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also are a great choice for audiophile home use as well. They're more expensive than similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and wireless and Bluetooth headphones attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you'll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The 600mAh battery can last for a full day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can make use of wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now called Focal & Naim which is probably in line with their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button on the left ear cup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.

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

The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears that have higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It is at the top end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the 'luxury lifestyle' category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are expensive however, if you are able to get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at cutting down on the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of separating listeners from background noise of airports and busy streets, too.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however, they do have more clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance, the bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition without flattening the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to cover the weekend or a few days of heavy use.

The only drawback is that the XM5s lack any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for those who spend a lot of time at the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphone bluetooth headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them ideal for movies and music. They also have better sound quality than many rival headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and sit comfortably over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a firm, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press the button once, twice or thrice to control playback. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I missed having the power button that could turn the headphones off when they are not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only wake up when you slide them over your head once more.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're going, and then repositions sound to make it seem like they're coming from those places. This gives you a theater-like experience with videos and movies recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery life, making it hard to justify the extra expense for most people.