Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. They're also a great choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packed in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual built-in microphones, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a huge range of EQ presets that can be adjusted and saved so you can listen to music or podcasts in your preferred style. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out nearly all ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound profile that leans a little on the treble side, and some may find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). But, you can fix this with the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
The headphones feature a power button and pairing button on the left earcup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup has play/pause, volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes, so that you can hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of a long flight, or a full day at work. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be an elite headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. The headphones are a little more expensive than other headphones, but their outstanding sound quality is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you'll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying 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 include an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal and Naim in line with English 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.
The app allows you to alter various settings like the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and also their battery duration. You can also select the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds more energy, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals are somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or 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 mainstream over ear headphone market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle area where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s come with a high cost, but when you can afford it, there are few better over the ear wireless headphones on the market.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do 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 music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls.
The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for removing the constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job isolating listeners from the traffic noises of airports and busy streets also.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but they have a higher level of clarity and realism also. For example the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition without flattening the other elements. In beats studio 3 headphones wireless , Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s ability to produce precise and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of audio 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 only issue is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for many people, but it could cause a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them ideal for both music and movies. They also offer superior fidelity compared to most other headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ears, do not put pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a firm but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button located on the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with a push button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it once three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't a power button to turn the headphones off when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ears or put in their case. They only come back on when you slide them over your head again.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It makes use of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it repositions the sounds to make them appear to come from that particular location. This creates a theater-like experience with videos and movies recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.