Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect wires to your audio device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They usually come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears 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 bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to play podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate the majority of ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This results in an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags a little on the treble. Some might find the bass response lacking (we have had better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). However, you can fix this with the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.
The left earcup has a power button and a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode, so you can be aware of what is happening around you without removing the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a long day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is nearing empty.
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. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior sound quality is their main selling point.
The Focal Bathys come in a compact, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box with all the accessories you'll need in. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that can take you through a full day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they're connected via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now named Focal and Naim in line with English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or the button on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft 'transparent,' and 'full.
Using the app allows you to alter various settings, including the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than the other ones and their battery duration. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a space with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. As a result, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound not as prominent as you'd expect on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation when contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are well-known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means the XM5s come with a high cost, but when you can afford it, there are few better over the ear wireless headphones out there.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is also included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.
The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. These headphones are one of the best at reducing the constant drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets.
Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess an increased sense of clarity and openness. For example, the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver precise and precise bass notes.
Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or take them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for the majority of people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid location, it could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with an audio profile that is neutral and concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud at either end of the spectrum. This makes them ideal for both movies and music. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones are light and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ears 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 strong clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button located on the top of the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are simple to use and are well-placed, however, I would like to see the power button that could switch off beats studio3 wireless noise cancelling over ear headphones the headphones when in use. The headphones are put into standby when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They will come back to life when you place them on 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 the direction you're going, and then repositions sounds to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use, and you won't be able experience it on other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be a bit ripped off walking into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery life, making it difficult to justify the additional cost for the majority of people.