Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect a wire to your audio device. They are ideal for public transport, while at work or at home.

JBL Tune510BT: Wireless On-Ear Headphones in White! (via) over-ear headphones may have an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They are usually packed in a stylish case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major JBL Tune510BT: Wireless On-Ear Headphones in White! improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they are more polished. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to make use of them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with two built-in mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide variety of EQ presets that can be altered and saved to listen to music or podcasts in the style you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates an extremely enjoyable 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). This can be fixed easily using the Soundcore App, which comes with an 8-band Equalizer.

The left earcup has the power button as well as a pairing button and jbl tune510bt: wireless on-ear headphones in white! an USB-C charging port. The right ear cup has play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also have a voice command which allows you to request them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup by using your hands to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This allows you to take advantage of the long flight, or a long day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge them. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be an elite high-end headphones that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also sound fantastic when used to listen to audiophile music at home as well. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the primary selling feature.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes all the accessories that you will need. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to connect wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now named Focal and Naim in the same way as English Naim's network-aware products) or the dedicated button located on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft transparent,' and 'full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings like the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other ones and also their battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' that will adjust the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different audio acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation when compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Long-lasting Sony Wireless Bluetooth Headphones – 50 Hours+ WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top of the mainstream over ear headphone market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle market in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. This means the XM5s have a premium price tag but, should you be able to afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones available.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks they would otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are both included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making calls hands-free.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the hum of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, they have a higher level of clarity and transparency also. For instance the bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition without flattening everything else. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active and 40 hours when it's turned off. This is enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The XM5s are not waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for everyone else however, for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid location, it could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with neutral audio profiles that is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud at either end of the spectrum. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also provide higher fidelity than most other headphones.

The headphones are light and feel comfortable on the head. The earcups are made out of memory foam that is covered in a woven fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force to ensure that the ear cups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right earcup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a pushable, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press it once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I was disappointed that there wasn't an option to turn the headphones off when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when they are removed from your ear or placed in their case, and they only wake up when you put them on your head once more.

Spatial audio is a cool feature. It uses the accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPhones and iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sounds to make them appear to originate from that location. This creates a cinema-like experience with movies and videos recorded 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 be somewhat smug 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. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.