Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great for use in public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Q30
These over-ears are a major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and are more durable and have a more polished look. The hinges are stronger and the soft leather cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version to use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you like. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most ambient noise and make for excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that leans a little on the treble side, and some might feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). But, you can rectify this using the Soundcore app, since there is an 8-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.
The left earcup features an power button, a pairing button, and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup has play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode to allow you to hear what's happening around you, without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is excellent, too. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This gives you plenty of time for long flights or a day at the office. 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 are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that provide both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling feature.
The Focal Bathys come in a slim, compact and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories 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 600mAh battery can last 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'll be able to control their functions through an app (now known as Focal & Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or via the dedicated button located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent' and 'full'.
The app allows you to adjust different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including the music profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments' to adjust the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals are not as prominent as you'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is the best of the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are costly however, if you can afford it, there aren't many better wireless headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with features that make life easier for listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Best over ear wireless headphones (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is available as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls hands-free.
As with the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the constant drones found in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are also excellent at separating listeners from the noises of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a greater sense of clarity and openness, too. For instance the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, without reducing everything else. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might be a problem for anyone who spend a lot of time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going too loud. 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 earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, sit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press the button once, twice or thrice to control playback. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I would have liked an option to turn the headphones off when they're not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They will return to life when you put them on your head.
Another great feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery life, making it difficult to justify the expense for most people.