Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the requirement to connect an audio wire to your device. wireless over ear headphones 're an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They usually come with a sleek storage case.
Soundcore Q30
These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished look. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to make use of them with mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual microphones that work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app comes with a broad range of EQ presets that can be saved and tweaked to listen to podcasts or music in the way you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for excellent listening. They have a natural sound signature that leans slightly to the treble end, which some may feel is lacking in bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). But, you can fix this by using the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer that can help you tweak.
The left earcup has a power button and a pairing button and 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 the ability to speak that allows you to ask to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup 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 great, too. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time for an extended flight or a day at the office. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll be able to see an alert when they're getting empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're a little more expensive than similar headphones but their superior sound quality is the main selling feature.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that includes everything you'll need in. 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 600mAh battery can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also include an audio input so that you can make use of wired. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now known as Focal & Naim likely in the same line as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the button on the left ear cup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent transparent' and full.
Utilizing the app, you are able to alter various settings such as the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other ones and their battery duration. You can also choose the ANC mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments' to adjust the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth and punch to your favourite tracks. In the end, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are well-known for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle area in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s have a premium price tag but, if you can afford it, there are few better over the ear wireless headphones available.
The XM5s have features to help listeners and, in some cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to close to high-res) is also included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of headphones from WH in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the top in reducing the continuous drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of separating listeners from traffic noises of busy airports and streets as well.
The sound quality is also great. The XM5s do not have as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, however they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. The bass in Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys strength and clarity but without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is plenty for a weekend trip or a long period of usage.
The XM5s do not come with water resistant or dust resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for the majority of people, but for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy region it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going overboard on either ends of the spectrum. They are great for movies and music. They also provide higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The earcups are made of memory foam and covered with a woven fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a firm but not overly powerful clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press once twice or three times to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and holding the button. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I missed having a power button to switch off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They will come back to life when you place them on your head.
Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're going, and then repositions sound to appear as if they're coming from these locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a little ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better after a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery performance, so it's hard to justify the extra cost for the majority of people.