Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears look better, feel sturdier and generally feel more polished. The hinges are stronger and the soft cups are a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C version to connect them to stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also have dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
beats studio 3 wireless bluetooth noise cancelling headphones offers a vast range of EQ presets, which can be altered and saved to listen to music and podcasts in the way you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is enabled. This creates an extremely enjoyable listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but a little on the treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). It is possible to fix this using the Soundcore App, which has an eight-band Equalizer.
The left ear cup has an power button and a pairing button and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. The right ear cup can also be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode so that you can hear what's happening around you without taking off the headphones.
These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This allows you to enjoy the long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when your battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a premium high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound amazing when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're a little more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.
The Focal Bathys come in a small, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that contains all the accessories you'll need in. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The 600mAh battery will last for a whole day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to use wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now known as Focal & Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button that's on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and full.
The app lets you adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including music's profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like when worn in a space with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys have bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and can sound veiled while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancelation when contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s come with a high cost, but if you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones available.
The XM5s come with features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in certain 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 included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top in reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job isolating listeners from the noise of airports and busy streets as well.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, they have a higher level of clarity and openness as well. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity but without affecting the rest of the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s ability to create tight and precise bass notes.
Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if off. This is enough to last for the weekend or a few days of heavy use.
The only drawback is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony actually recommends not sweating on the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also offer higher fidelity than most other headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, and sit comfortably over the ears, 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 strong but not too powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button located on the the right earcup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. It also has the jog dial that is a push-button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one three, twice, or times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only wake up when you put them on your head once more.
Another cool feature is spatial audio, which utilizes the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions the sound to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use, and you won't be able to enjoy it with other devices.
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 second-generation model would be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.