Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect a wire to your audio device. These headphones are great for public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling features. They typically come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and feel more durable and have a more polished look. They're still mostly plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are larger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and connect them to portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a wide range of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to listen to music and podcasts in your preferred style. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.
When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble side, and some might find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). This can be fixed easily by using the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The left ear cup has the power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode, so that you can hear what is going on around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is great, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 was able to last for
Bluetooth headphones nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or an office day. They can be easily recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll be able to see warnings when they're about to run empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear
Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed as an elite high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound amazing when used for audiophile home use as well. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It contains all the accessories that you'll require. There's a fold-flat
blue tooth headphone carry case, USB-C to USB-C 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 listening, and have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now named Focal & Naim in keeping with English Naim's network-aware products) or the button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and 'full.
The app lets you alter different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which sounds brighter and neutraler than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like when worn in a room with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. This means that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and borders the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are expensive in price tag, but should you be able to afford it, there are a few more superior wireless over-ear headphones on the market.
The XM5s come with features to make life easier for listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are both included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making hands-free phone calls.
As with the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for removing the constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets also.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness, too. The bass on Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity but without affecting the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s ability to produce tight and precise bass notes.
The battery life is fantastic with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if it's off. This is plenty for a weekend trip or a long period of usage.
The only issue 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 may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might be a problem for anyone who spends much 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 over-ear which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes highs and mids, but not going too loud. They are perfect for music and movies. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, 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 different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a strong, but not too strong clamping force that makes sure the earcups remain in position 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 similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it one, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button.
