Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement of connecting a wire to your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones are more attractive, feel more durable and generally feel more polished. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also feature dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a huge range of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all ambient noise, and provide excellent listening. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). However, you can easily solve this issue using the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
The left ear cup has an power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. 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 replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to enable ambient mode, so that you can hear what's happening around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC enabled the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time for a long flight or working for a long time. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as an elite, high-end headphone that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also sound amazing when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that contains all the accessories you need inside. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that can get you through a full day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now named Focal and Naim in line with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or the button on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft 'transparent,' and 'full.
The app allows you to alter different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including music's profile, which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level and setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different acoustic room.
The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds more warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. As a result, vocals and instruments are nudged back in the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They're also not as effective at 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 headphones are renowned for their quality and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.
The XM5s come with features to help listeners and, in some 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 included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.
Like the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of separating listeners from traffic noises of busy airports and streets, too.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range like the XM4, however, they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the rest the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.
Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is plenty to last for a weekend getaway or a long period of use.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s 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 that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, sit comfortably over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a strong, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in position during listening sessions.
A small button on the top of the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. It also has 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 for playback controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are simple to use and are well-placed, however, I would like to see an option to power off or turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go into standby mode when removed from your ears, or if they are placed in their case. They come back into use when you put them on your head.
Spatial audio is another great feature. It makes use of accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sounds to make them appear to originate from the location you are in. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it, and you won't be able experience it on other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have superior battery life and more advanced features.