Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect a wire to your audio device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and outstanding 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 appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. The hinges are tighter and the soft ear cups are slightly larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C version to make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also feature dual microphones that perform well in our tests for 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 way you like. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the background noise, making for excellent listening. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The left ear cup has an power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, so you can be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This leaves plenty of time for an extended flight or an office day. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when your battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a compact attractive white box with a fabric finish. It comes with all the accessories that you will need. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of listening, and include an audio input for wired use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you can manage their functions via an app (now called Focal & Naim, probably in line with their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the dedicated button on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.
The app allows you to alter 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 gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' environment that will adjust the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like if it were placed in a room with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth and punch to your favourite tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can be muted, while other certain elements like cymbals could be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it, there aren't many better wireless headphones for over-ear use.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks they would otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at reducing the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess more clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity without affecting the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is more than enough to last for the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them in the rain. This may not be a big deal for everyone else however, for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a rainy location, it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids without going too loud. They are ideal for movies and music. They also offer higher fidelity than most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The earcups are made from memory foam covered in a woven fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups 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 remain in place throughout listening sessions.
Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, 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 three times to control playback. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I would have liked the power button that could turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when beats studio3 wireless over ear headphones they are removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you slide them over your head again.
Another cool feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions sound to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a bit ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better within a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have better battery life and advanced features.