Best Over the Ear Headphones Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run a wire from your audio device. They are ideal for public transportation, at work, or at home. Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case. Soundcore Life Q30 A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears appear better, feel stronger and generally feel more polished. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather cups are bigger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls. The Soundcore app has a wide range of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to play podcasts and music in the style you like. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart. The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively eliminate almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This creates a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, but a little on the treble. Some might be disappointed by the bass response (we have had better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which includes an 8-band Equalizer. The headphones come with a power button and pairing button on the left ear cup as well as an USB-C port to charge. The right ear cup features play/pause and the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or play previous ones. They also support the ability to speak, so you can ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can be covered with your hand to activate ambient mode, so that you can hear what is going on around you, without removing the headphones. The battery life of these headphones is fantastic as well. In our tests with ANC enabled the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. They can be easily recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them and you'll get a warning when they're approaching empty. Focal Bathys Wireless Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made 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 their main selling point. The Focal Bathys come in a compact attractive white box with a cloth finish. It includes all the accessories you'll need. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter. The battery's 600mAh capacity can last for a full day of listening to music casually. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim in keeping with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or by pressing the button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and full. The app allows you to alter different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including music's profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode as well as setting an 'acoustic settings setting to alter the sensitivity to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different acoustic room. The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich profile that adds more warmth and punch to your favourite 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 when compared with other headphones that feature more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max. Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony headphones are renowned for their quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It is at the top end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, but it is also dipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you are able to get them, you won't find a better wireless over-ear headphones. The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This lets high-quality audio be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls. The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the hum of busy airports and streets. Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s don't have as high a resolution in the low frequency range like the XM4, however they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For example the bass track on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real force and definition, without reducing everything else. The XM5s are also able to deliver precise and tight bass notes on Massive Attack's Angel. Battery life is great and can last up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if off. This is enough to last for an entire weekend or a few days of heavy usage. The XM5s aren't water resistant or dust resistant. Sony actually advises against sweating in them or wearing them in the rain. This might not be a problem for most people, but for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy location this could be a significant issue. Apple AirPods Max The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud at either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also have better sound quality when compared with other headphones. The headphones have a light build that feels comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in weaved fabric. They fit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly robust clamping force that makes sure that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions. Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press the button once, twice or thrice for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed however, I would like to see the power button that could shut off the headphones when not in use. The headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They come back to life when you put them on your head. Another cool feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out where you're moving, then repositions sound to appear as if they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used, and it won't allow you to experience it on other devices. The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd be a bit disappointed if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better in the next year. beats wireless in ear headphones are more expensive however they offer better battery life and advanced features.
beats wireless in ear headphones
