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’re ideal for public transport, while at work or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety of designs and noise cancellation capabilities. They usually come with a stylish storage case.
Soundcore Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They look better, feel more durable, and have a more polished finish. They’re still mostly plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are larger. You can switch the 3.5mm cord with a high quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also have dual built-in microphones, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, wiki.evil-admin.com and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts or music in the way you like. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is on the Q30’s 40mm drivers eliminate most ambient noise, and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound profile that is a bit on the treble end, which some might be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster EQ preset). However, you can rectify this by using the Soundcore app, since there’s an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.
The left earcup features the power button, a pairing button, and a USB-C charging port. The right ear cup features play/pause, and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. They also support a voice command, so you can request 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 the world around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life on these wireles headphones is great as well. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than its rivals. This leaves plenty of time for long flights or working for a long time. They can be charged quickly using the USB-C cable included, and you’ll see a warning when they’re approaching 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. These headphones are designed to be premium, high-end headphones that can be used at home or on the go. They’re more expensive than other similar headphones, but their exceptional audio quality is the primary selling factor.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that includes everything you’ll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C-to-USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The battery’s capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can make use of wired. When they’re wirelessly connected, they’re connected via Bluetooth and you’ll be able to manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim which is probably in the same line as their English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or via the button on the left ear cup that scrolls between ANC profiles like’silent’,’soft’ transparent’ and ‘full’.
Utilizing the app, you are able to alter various settings like the LED brightness, EQ presets including a’music profile’ that is brighter and more neutral than other presets and also their battery duration. It also lets you to select the ANC mode and the level, and also set an ‘acoustic’ setting that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate how it would sound like when worn in a room with different soundproofing.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. This means that instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound dull, while other details such as cymbals sound slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They’re not as efficient in active noise cancellation when contrasted to other headphones with higher-end technology like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a stellar reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are 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 where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can find them, there’s not a better pair of wireless over-ear headphones.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony’s DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available as well as 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 calls without hands.
Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They are among the best at reducing the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.
Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren’t as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there’s a more pronounced sense of clarity and transparency also. For instance, the bass track 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. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack’s Angel.
Battery life is excellent with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it’s off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.
The only issue is that the XM5s lack any dust or water resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for most people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid region, it could be a significant issue.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones equipped with bluetooth head phones technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going overboard. This makes them great for both music and movies. They also provide higher fidelity compared to other headphones.
The headphones are light and feel comfortable on your head. The earcups, which are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric, sit comfortably over the ear, do not put pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a strong, but not too strong clamping force to ensure that the ear cups stay in position during listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There’s also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press it once twice or three times for playback controls. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I was disappointed that there wasn’t the power button that could turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when removed from your ears, or when placed in their case. They will come back into use when you place them on your head.
Another cool feature 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 create the illusion that they’re coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and you won’t be able to enjoy it with other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I’d feel a little ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have better battery life and advanced features.