Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety and noise cancellation capabilities. They are usually packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones look better, feel sturdier and generally feel more polished. The hinges are tighter, and the soft leather ear cups have been a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res and stationary Hi-Fi players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a broad range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart 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 turned on. This makes for a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags a little on treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). However, you can rectify this using the Soundcore application, as there's an eight-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup and an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. beats wireless in ear headphones come with an option to speak to them which allows you to request them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is great as well. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a long day at work. The included USB-C cord lets you quickly recharge the batteries. 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. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the go. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their superior sound is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you need 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.
The 600mAh battery can last a whole day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim likely in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or via the button that's located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and 'full'.
The app lets you adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a space with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds more warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancelation 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 at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s come with a high price tag but, when you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s are loaded with features that simplify the lives of listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is also included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.
Like the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans to block out the constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the traffic noises of busy airports and streets, too.
Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, they have a higher level of clarity and realism also. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to cover the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might prove a stumbling block for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a rainy city.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones equipped 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 overboard on either end of the spectrum. This makes them great for both movies and music. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in a woven 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 hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly strong clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
A small button on the the right ear cup lets you toggle 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 three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however, I would like to have an option to power off or switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They return to life when you place them over your head.
Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sounds to appear as if they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a bit ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery performance, making it hard to justify the extra cost for most people.