Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the necessity of running an audio cable from your device. They are an excellent choice for public transport, Blutooth headphones while at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of designs and noise cancelling features. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are an important improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished look. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather ear cups are bigger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C model to use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast selection of EQ presets that can be customized and saved to listen to music and podcasts in the way you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise, and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it is a bit treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). It is possible to fix this with the Soundcore App, which comes with an 8-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup as well as an USB-C port to charge. The right earcup has play/pause, and Blutooth Headphones volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also support the ability to speak that allows you to request to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than the other headphones. This gives you plenty of time for a long flight or working for a long time. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys wireless bluetooth headphone is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offer active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the move. They're a little more expensive than similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact attractive white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories that you'll require. The headphone carry case folds flat, and comes with a case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that can take you through a whole day of listening, and have an audio input that can be wired for use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now called Focal & Naim, probably in the same vein as their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and 'full'.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings, including the LED brightness and EQ presets, including a "music' profile that sounds brighter and more neutral than the other ones and also their battery duration. You can also choose the ANC mode and level as well as setting an 'acoustic settings' to adjust the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth and punch to your most loved tracks. The result is that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other headphones that feature more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means that the XM5s have a premium cost, but when you can afford it, there are a few better over the ear wireless Blutooth Headphones on the market.

The XM5s come with features that help listeners and, in some instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is included and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.

The XM5 headphones are no different than the previous generation WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for cutting out constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job isolating listeners from the traffic noises of airports and busy streets, too.

The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s aren't as detailed in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a greater sense of clarity and openness also. For example, the bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, while not sagging the other elements. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last for an entire weekend or a few days' heavy use.

The only issue is that the XM5s lack 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 be a problem for anyone considering the XM5s who spend a lot of time at the gym or lives in a rainy city.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with neutral audio profiles that emphasizes the mids and highs while not going overboard at either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also offer better sound quality than many other headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in weaved fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too much clamping force that makes sure the ear cups remain in position during listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once twice or three times to control playback. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are placed well and simple to use, however I would have liked a power button to turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ears or placed in their case, and they only come back on when you place them on your head again.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which utilizes the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're going, and then repositions the sound to make it seem like they're coming from those locations. This gives you a theater-like experience with movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and you won't be able enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be slightly smug about going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.