Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for use in public transport, in the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These earphones are an important upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished look. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather cups are bigger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts and music in the way you like. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block almost all ambient sound when ANC is enabled. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that is a bit on the treble end, which some may find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can solve this issue using the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to allow you to tweak.
The left earcup has the power button and 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 repeat previous ones. They also support a voice command, so you can request to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a busy day at work. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is nearing empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a pair of premium headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home too. They're more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you require inside. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can connect wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you can manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal and Naim which is probably in line with their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the button that's located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and 'full'.
The app allows you to modify different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including music's profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no 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 costly, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.
The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is available, as is 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 good wireless over ear headphones microphone for making calls hands-free.
As with the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They are one of the best at cutting down on the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s also excel at separating listeners from the hum of airports and busy streets.
The sound quality is also great. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, they do have more clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power and clarity but without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s also have the ability to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
The battery life is fantastic with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is more than enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.
The XM5s are not dust or water resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or wearing them in the rain. This may not be a major issue for the majority of people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid region this could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with an audio profile that is neutral and is focused on the mids and highs while not going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are great for movies and music. They also provide higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. It also has 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 thrice to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however, I would like to have the power button that could shut 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 only return to life when you put them on your head.
Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions sounds to appear as if they're coming from those places. This gives you a theater-like experience with videos and movies that were recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able experience it on other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed 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, so it's difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.