Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running a wire from your audio device. These headphones are great for public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore 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 appearance. They're still mostly made of plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to use them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with dual built-in microphones, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a vast selection of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to listen to podcasts and music in your preferred style. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out the majority of ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This makes for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble end, which some may find lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can rectify this using the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer that can help you tweak.
The left earcup has an power button as well as a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes, to allow you to hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This leaves plenty of time for long flights or a day at the office. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. 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 and Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding sound is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, attractive white box with a cloth finish. It comes with all the accessories 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 battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now known as Focal & Naim likely in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the button that's located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent' and full.
Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings such as the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than other presets and also their battery duration. It also allows you to choose the ANC mode and its level, and also set an 'acoustic environment' which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a space with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys come with bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds more punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other headphones that feature more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It's located at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc hang out. This means the XM5s come with a high price tag but, if you can afford it, there are a few better wireless over-ear headphones out there.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they would have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are all included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls without hands.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s aren't quite as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and realism as well. 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 everything else. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is excellent and can last up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if off. That's more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or a long period of usage.
The only issue is that the XM5s don't have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or take them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for the majority of people, but for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid location this could be a big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. They are ideal for music and movies. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The earcups, which are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, and are comfortable to wear 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 spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also use 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 once three, twice, or even three times to playback the controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed however I would have liked to see an option to power off or turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only wake up when you slide them over your head once more.
Spatial audio is a cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it alters the position of the sounds to make them seem to be coming from that location. This creates a cinema-like experience with videos and movies made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. 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 black beats wireless headphones smug about entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it difficult to justify the expense for most people.