Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These earphones are a significant improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better, feel more durable, and have a more polished finish. They're still mostly plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit larger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have dual built-in microphones, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and makes these headphones stand out.
When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the background noise, making for excellent listening. They have a natural sounding signature that is a bit on the treble end, which some may find lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). This can be fixed easily with the Soundcore App, which comes with an 8-band Equalizer.
The left earcup features an power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also support the ability to speak, so you can request to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cable included allows you to quickly charge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed as an elite, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home too. They're more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact elegant white box with a textured finish. It comes with all the accessories you'll require. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening, and have an audio input that can be wired for use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now called 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 ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent', and full.
The app allows you to alter different settings such as the LED brightness and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than the others and also their battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic' setting that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. This means that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less prominent than other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears 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 the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and is in the luxury lifestyle segment where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are expensive however, if you are able to, there aren't many better wireless headphones.
The XM5s have features to simplify the lives of listeners and, in certain instances, automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is also included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.
The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. These headphones are among the top in eliminating the continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the background noise of airports and busy streets, too.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do have an increased sense of clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys power and clarity, without affecting the rest the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is also very excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is plenty to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for the majority of people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy region this could be a significant issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with neutral audio profiles that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them ideal for both music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The wireless noise cancelling headphones earcups are made from memory foam covered in a woven fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups stay in place throughout listening sessions.
Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. You can also utilize an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it one three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. The buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I would have liked the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They will come back into use when you place 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 sound to make it seem to be coming from the location you are in. This creates a cinema-like experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.