Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running a wire from your audio device. They are ideal for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancelling features. They are usually packed 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 are generally more polished. The hinges are stronger, and the soft ear cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the background noise, making for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, but it is a bit the treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we have had better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer.
The left earcup has an power button, a pairing button, and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode so you can hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This allows you to enjoy an extended flight or a full day at work. The USB-C cable included allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when the battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a premium high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound amazing when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.
The Focal Bathys come in a small, slim and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that includes everything you require inside. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also include an audio input so that you can connect wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now called Focal & Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and 'full.
Utilizing the app, you are able to alter various settings such as the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the others and their battery duration. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like when used in a room with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich sound that delivers extra energy and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while details like cymbals might be less prominent than on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation when contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and borders the luxury lifestyle segment where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. This means that the XM5s come with a high cost, but when you can afford it, there are better over the ear wireless headphones available.
The XM5s are loaded with features that help listeners and, in certain instances, automate tasks that 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 allows for streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.
As with the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for cutting out constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job of separating listeners from traffic noises of airports and busy streets also.
The sound quality is also great. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. For instance, the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, without reducing the other elements. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is great 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 several days of heavy use.
The XM5s do not come with water resistant or dust resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating on the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for the majority of people, but for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy area, it could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also offer better sound quality than many competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with weaved fabric. They are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a strong, but not too strong clamping force that ensures 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. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. best wireless over ear headset can twist it for volume control and press it one three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to turn off the headphones when they are 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 will come back into use when you place them on your head.
Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're going, and then repositions sounds to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and you won't be able to enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra cost for most people.