Best Over the Ear Headphones Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for use in public transport, at the office or at home. Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They are typically packaged in a sleek case. Soundcore Q30 A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable, and are generally more polished. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C model to connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res 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 comes with a wide range of EQ presets that can be customized and saved to allow you to listen to music and podcasts in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart. When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively eliminate most background noise, making for very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound quality is natural, however it lags a little on the treble. best over ear wireless headset may find the bass response lacking (we got better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer. The left ear cup has an power button, a pairing button, and an USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause, and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. 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. These headphones have a great battery life. In our tests with ANC turned on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or working for a long time. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get warnings when they're about to run empty. 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. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're slightly more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior sound quality is the main selling point. The Focal Bathys come in a compact elegant white box with a cloth finish. It contains everything you'll require. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter. They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of listening, and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able to control their functions through an app (now named Focal and Naim which is probably in line with their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or via the button that's located on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' 'transparent' and full. The app allows you to alter various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also allows you to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like when used in a room with different audio acoustics. The Focal Bathys come with bass-rich, rich sound profiles that adds extra punch, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are not as prominent as you'd expect from other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max. Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it, there aren't many better wireless headphones for over-ear use. 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 to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are all included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making hands-free phone calls. Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans to block out the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at separating listeners from the noises of busy airports and streets. The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. 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. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce precise and precise bass notes. Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of audio with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is plenty to last for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy usage. The only drawback is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it could prove a stumbling block for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of time at the gym or lives in a city that is rainy. Apple AirPods Max The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are ideal for music and movies. They also provide better sound quality when compared with other headphones. The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric and sit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in position during listening sessions. A small button on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. You can also utilize 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 once three, twice, or even three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, but 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 go into standby mode when they are removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only wake up when you put them on your head once more. Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it repositions the sounds to make them appear to come from that location. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able to experience it on other devices. The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer superior battery life and more advanced features.
best over ear wireless headset
