Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement of connecting wires to your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling features. They are usually packed in a sleek case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These over-ears are a major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather cups are larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C version to make use of them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests using FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app offers a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all background noise, making for very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound quality is natural, but a little on treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). But, you can rectify this with the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer that can help you tweak.
The headphones feature the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup along with a USB-C port for charging. The right ear cup has play/pause, and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also make use of voice commands to ask for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to activate ambient modes so that you can hear everything around you without having to remove the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is great as well. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than its competitors. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a long day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge them. You'll also get an alert when your battery is getting close to 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. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior audio quality is the primary selling point.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a compact, slim and attractive, white, fabric-finished box that contains all the accessories you require inside. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.
The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions through an app (now called Focal & Naim which is probably in the same line as their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or using the dedicated button on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent' and full.
The app lets you alter various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including a'music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also select the ANC level and mode and set an 'acoustic environments that adjusts the sensitivity to simulate the sound of headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds more warmth and punch to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less noticeable than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other headphones that feature more advanced technology, like 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's located at the top portion of the over-ear headphone market, edging into the 'luxury lifestyle' category where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s are expensive in cost, but if you can afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are all included. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone that can be used for making calls hands-free.
Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are one of the best at cutting down on the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. noise cancelling headphones wireless are great at their job of separating listeners from noise of busy streets and airports, too.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s lack as many details in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however, they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity, without affecting the music. The XM5s also have the ability 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 active and 40 hours if it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.
The XM5s aren't waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you not sweat on them or wear them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal 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 big issue.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They feature 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with neutral audio profiles that emphasizes the mids and highs while not going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also have superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.
The headphones are light and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with a woven fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a strong but not too powerful clamping force, which ensures that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.
A small button located on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. There's also a pushable, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed, however I would have liked to see the power button that could switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode after being removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only wake up when you slide them over your head once more.
Spatial audio is another great feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPads or iPhones to determine where you're moving. Then, it adjusts the sounds to make them seem to be coming from that particular location. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for films and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able to enjoy it with other devices.
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. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery life, making it hard to justify the extra expense for most people.