Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect wires to your audio device. These headphones are great for use in public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are usually packed in a sleek case.
Soundcore Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 The new over-ears appear better, feel stronger and generally feel more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft leather ear cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to make use of them with mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the way you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all background noise, making for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans a little on the treble end, which some might find lacking in bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this using the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The headphones feature an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also have the ability to speak that allows you to ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without removing the headphones.
These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or a day at the office. They can be quickly recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll be able to see a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small elegant white box with a textured finish. It includes everything you'll need. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can make use of wired. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now called Focal and Naim in keeping with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft 'transparent,' and 'full.
The app allows you to modify different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like when worn in a space with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals be muted, while other details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other headphones that feature more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is at the top of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and borders the 'luxury' lifestyle market in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you are able to get them, you won't find a better wireless over-ear headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with features that simplify the lives of 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 near hi-res) is included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. best wireless headphones allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones to block out the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the background noise of airports and busy streets, too.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and realism also. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys strength and clarity but without affecting the rest of the music. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create tight and precise bass notes.
Battery life is excellent and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if it's off. That's more than enough for a weekend trip or a long period of use.
The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. Sony actually recommends not sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it could cause a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of time at the gym or lives in a city with rain.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral audio profile that focuses on mids and highs without going too loud. They are great for movies and music. They also have superior fidelity compared to most other headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, are comfortable to wear over the ear, do not put pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button at the the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button like 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. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are simple to use and are well-placed, however, I would like to have the power button that could switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears, or when placed in their case. They only come back into use when you place them over your head.
Another great feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes in 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 locations. This creates a theater-like experience with movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel somewhat smug walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.