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 to use on public transport, in the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of styles and noise cancellation capabilities. They typically come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and are more durable and have a more polished appearance. The hinges are more secure and the soft leather ear cups have been slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built in that worked well during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide selection of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved to listen to music or podcasts in your preferred style. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out nearly all ambient noise when ANC is turned on. This creates a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but a little on treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). This can be fixed easily with the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

The left earcup 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 on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also come with a voice command that allows you to request them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can also be covered with your hands 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 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was on than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or a day at the office. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and Headphones Shop you'll get a warning when they're approaching empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the go. The headphones are a bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their exceptional sound quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, attractive white box with a textured finish. It comes with everything you will need. You can also get 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 make use of wired. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim in line with English Naim's network-aware products) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft transparent,' and full.

The app lets you alter various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including the music profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments that adjusts the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys feature an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives extra warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can be muted, and details like cymbals might be less noticeable than on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It's located at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. The XM5s are expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s are loaded with features that simplify the lives of listeners and, in a few cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job of shielding listeners from the noise of airports and busy streets, too.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't quite as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and openness as well. For instance, the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition without flattening the other elements. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

The battery life is also good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to last the weekend or a few days of heavy use.

The XM5s do not come with waterproof or dust-proof. Sony actually recommends not sweating into them or wearing them in the rain. This might not be a problem for many people, but it might prove a stumbling block for those who spend a lot of their time in the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones bluetooth headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud on either ends of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most other headphones.

The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ears they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly robust clamping force that makes sure that the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I missed having a power button to turn the Headphones Shop off when they're not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears, or when they are put in their case. They only come back to life when you put them on your head.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sounds to make them appear to originate from the location you are in. This gives you a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to spatial audio.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra expense for most people.