Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless
Cordless Headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, at the office or
Cordless Headphones at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They typically come with a stylish storage 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. The hinges are tighter and the soft ear cups have been a bit larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version so that you can make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also have dual built-in microphones, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and
Cordless Headphones Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to play podcasts and music in the way you like. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.
The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block almost all ambient sound when ANC is enabled. This results in an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on the treble. Some might 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 includes an eight-band Equalizer.
The headphones come with the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup and an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also have the ability to speak that allows you to ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can also be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode, so you can hear what is going on around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This lets you enjoy the long flight, or a full day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge the batteries. You'll also get an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made
where to buy wireless bluetooth headphones be an elite headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but are a great choice for home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes all the accessories that you'll need. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can connect wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now called Focal & Naim in line with English Naim's network-aware products) or the button on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, soft transparent,' and full.
The app allows you to change various settings like the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other ones and also their battery life. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like when used in a room with different acoustics.
The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds more warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle area in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are costly, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless over-ear headphones.
The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio with bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making calls without hands.
The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job isolating listeners from the traffic noises of busy streets and airports, too.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s lack as high a resolution in the low frequency range like the XM4, however they do possess an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For example the bass work on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition without flattening the other elements. The XM5s are also able to provide precise and accurate bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is in use and 40 hours if it's off. This is enough to last for an entire weekend or a few days' heavy use.
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 wear them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for many people, but it might cause a problem for those who spends much of their time at the gym or lives in a rainy city.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear with 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 end of the spectrum. This makes them great for both movies and music. They also provide better sound quality than many other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, and they are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.
A small button on the the right ear cup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes.