Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. They are ideal for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless rechargeable headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They are usually packed in a stylish case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable and generally feel more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft cups are slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C model to connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also have dual built-in microphones, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad range of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the way you like. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

When ANC is turned on the Q30’s 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise, and provide very pleasant listening. The Q30’s sound signature is natural, however it lags it’s a bit harsh on the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer). This can be fixed easily using the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones feature a power button and pairing button on the left earcup as well as the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also have an option to speak to them, so you can ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes, to allow you to hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or working for a long time. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable and you’ll get a warning when they’re approaching empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal’s Bathys Wireless Headphones Price are a set of premium over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They’re designed as an elite, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also are a great choice for audiophile home use too. They’re slightly more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, attractive white box with a textured finish. It contains everything you’ll need. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery’s 600mAh capacity can last for a full day of casual listening. 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 with an app (now named Focal and Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or the dedicated button on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, soft transparent,’ and full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings, including the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a’music’ profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than other presets and also their battery life. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an ‘acoustic’ setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like when used in a room with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals can be muted, while other certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other headphones that feature more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, edging into the ‘luxury lifestyle’ sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you are able to, there aren’t many better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony’s DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth’s LDAC Technology are all included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They are among the top in eliminating the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel at separating listeners from the noises of busy airports and streets.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren’t as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, but they have a higher level of clarity and realism, too. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys’ power and definition without affecting the music. Similarly, Massive Attack’s brooding Angel shows off the XM5s’ ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

The battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it’s off. That’s more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy use.

The only drawback is that the XM5s do not have any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might be a problem for those who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that come with 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. This makes them ideal for Wireless Headphones price both movies and music. They also have higher fidelity than most rival headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the head. The earcups are made from memory foam covered in a woven fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force to ensure that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. It also has the jog dial that is a push-button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I would have liked the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you place them on your head once more.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you’re moving in, and then repositions sounds to appear as if they’re coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I’d feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better within a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.