Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal to use on public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These over-ears are a major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. The hinges are tighter, and the soft leather cups are slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C version so that you can connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with two mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the style you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively eliminate most ambient noise, and provide excellent listening. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but a little on treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we have had better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). However, you can solve this issue by using the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.
The left ear cup has a power button as well as a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with the ability to speak, so you can ask to change the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can also be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode so that you can be aware of what is happening around you, without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is fantastic and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for an extended flight or working for a long time. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also get a warning when the battery is nearing empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a premium high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound fantastic when used for home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a little more expensive than other headphones, but their exceptional sound is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you'll need in. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The 600mAh battery can last a whole day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now known as Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button that's on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.
Utilizing the app, you are able to change various settings like the LED brightness, EQ presets including a'music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and their battery life. It also allows you to choose the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting 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 a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals be muted, while other details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is at the top end of the'mainstream' headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.
The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks that they would need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is also included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making hands-free calls.
The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the background noise of busy streets and airports as well.
The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s aren't quite as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and openness, too. For example, the bass work best budget over ear wireless headphones on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition without flattening the other elements. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.
The only drawback is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating into the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for most people, but for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy region, it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also have better sound quality than many other headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and fit comfortably over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a strong but not too powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also utilize the jog dial that is a push-button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it once three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears, or when they are put in their case. They come back to life when you put them on your head.
Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're going, and then repositions sounds to make it seem like they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and it won't allow you to enjoy it with other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed 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 performance, so it's hard to justify the extra cost for most people.