Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting a wire to your audio device. They are ideal for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are offered in a variety of styles and noise cancelling features. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.
Soundcore Life Q30
A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger and generally feel more polished. The hinges are more secure, and the soft ear cups are a bit larger. They are still largely made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C version to connect them to portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also have dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts and music in the style you like. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.
When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the ambient noise, and provide an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it is a bit treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer). But, you can rectify this using the Soundcore app, since there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.
The left ear cup has the power button, a pairing button, and a USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also support a voice command that allows you to ask to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right ear cup can be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode, so you can be aware of what is happening around you without taking off the headphones.
The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC switched on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time for long flights or a day at the office. They can be charged quickly by using the USB-C cable that comes with them, and you'll see warnings when they're about to run empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're designed to be a premium, high-end headphone that are ideal for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also are a great choice to listen to audiophile music at home as well. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their superior audio quality is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories 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.
They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of casual listening and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now known as Focal & Naim, probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or by pressing the dedicated button on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and full.
The app lets you alter various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including music's profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC level and mode and select an 'acoustic environment that adjusts the sensitivity to mimic the sound of the headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds more punch and warmth to your favorite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back in the mix and can sound dull, while details like cymbals and vocals are not as prominent as you'd expect from other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation when compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony headphones are well-known for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is a top pick in the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands such as Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s are costly, but if you can find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones.
The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks that they would be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation headphones from WH in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for removing the constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s do a great job isolating listeners from the noise of busy airports and streets as well.
The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s aren't quite as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency also. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the rest the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver accurate and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to last for the weekend or a few days of heavy use.
The XM5s aren't water resistant or dust resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or taking 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 spends much of their time at the gym or lives in a city with rain.
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 dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that is focused on the mids and highs while not going too loud at either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also provide better sound quality when compared with other headphones.
The headphones have a light build that feels 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 tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer an incredibly firm, yet not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.
best budget over ear headphones wireless on noise cancellation by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. It also has the jog dial that is a push-button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it around to control volume, and press it once three, twice, or times to playback the controls. Siri is invoked by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed but I would have liked to see the power button that could shut off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ears or put in their case. They only come back on when you slide them over your head once more.
Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones or iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sound so that they appear to come from that particular location. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it, and you won't be able to experience it on other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better within a year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, so it's difficult to justify the additional expense for most people.