Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. beats studio 3 headphones wireless are also a great choice for public transport, at work or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of styles and noise cancelling features. They typically come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version so that you can connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two microphones built-in, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise, and provide very pleasant listening. They have a natural sounding signature that leans a little on the treble end, which some may feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster EQ preset). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The left earcup features a power button, a pairing button, and an USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to enable ambient modes so that you can hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.
These headphones have a fantastic battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was on than the other models. This gives you plenty of time for a long flight or working for a long time. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also get an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you require inside. 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 good 600mAh battery that can take you through a whole day of casual listening and have an audio input that can be wired for use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you can control their functions through an app (now known as Focal and Naim likely in line with their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or using the button that's on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and full.
The app lets you alter various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including the music profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode and set an 'acoustic environments that adjusts the sensitivity to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives additional warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears with higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It's located at the top portion of the headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. This means the XM5s have a premium price tag, but if you can afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s come with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in some cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is also included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio 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 aren't different than the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the noise of busy streets and airports also.
The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s aren't quite as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness as well. For example, the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, without reducing the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver accurate and precise bass notes.
Battery life is excellent and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy use.
The XM5s do not come with dust or water resistant. Sony recommends not sweating into the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for some people, but it might be a problem for those who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids without going overboard. This makes them ideal for both music and movies. They also have higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a light design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and fit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
A small button located on the top of the right earcup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. You can also use an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control, and press it once, twice, or three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I missed having an option to turn the headphones off when not in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears, or when they are put in their case. They come back to life when you place them over your head.
Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions sound to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies that were recorded 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 be a bit disappointed if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.