Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. They're ideal for public transport, at work or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones may have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. The hinges are more secure, and the soft ear cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C model to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary 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 vast range of EQ presets, which can be adjusted and saved to listen to music and podcasts in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.
The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is enabled. This results in a very pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble side, which some may be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). But, you can solve this issue using the Soundcore app, since there's an equalizer with 8 bands that can help you tweak.
The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to enable ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is excellent, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This allows you to enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be easily recharged using the USB-C cable included, and you'll see a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be an elite, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior sound quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box with all the accessories you require inside. 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 battery's 600mAh capacity can last a whole day of listening to music casually. They also have an audio input to use wired. 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 Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or via the button that's on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and 'full'.
Utilizing the app, you are able to change various settings, including the brightness of the LED, EQ presets including a'music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic environment' that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like if it were placed in a room with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives more warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is a top pick in the'mainstream' over ear headphone market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you are able to get them, you won't find a better wireless over-ear headphones.
The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for removing the constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job isolating listeners from the noise of busy airports and streets, too.
The sound quality is very good. The XM5s may not be as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, but they have a higher level of clarity and realism also. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.
The battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to last for the weekend or a few days of heavy usage.
The only real drawback here is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it might prove a stumbling block for those 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 feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. This makes them ideal for both movies and music. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
best gym headphones wireless have a lightweight build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric, and are comfortable to wear over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.
A small button on the the right earcup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. It also has an earphone-style jog dial with a push button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume and press it one three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button will activate Siri. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I missed having an option to turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They only return to life when you put them on your head.
Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which makes use of 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 sound to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices can be used to listen to spatial audio.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel somewhat smug entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.