15 Gifts For The Over The Ear Headphones Wireless Lover In Your Life

Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect wires to your audio device. These headphones are great to use on public transport, introduction Of Bluetooth technology in the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have an elegant design and outstanding noise cancellation. They usually come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018 These earphones appear better, feel stronger, and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather ear cups are larger. You can even swap the 3.5mm cable for a premium USB-C model to make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also feature two microphones built-in, which are great in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide variety of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags a little on the treble. Some might not be a fan of the bass response (we got better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). But, you can rectify this with the Soundcore application, as there's an eight-band equalizer to help you tinker.

The left ear cup has a power button as well as a pairing button and an USB-C charging port. The right earcup has buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also support a voice command, so you can request to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes, to allow you to hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. The Q30 was able to last for a full hour in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or an office day. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when your battery is about to run out.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of premium over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a pair of premium high-end headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but sound amazing when used for audiophile home use too. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their superior audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a compact, attractive white box with a textured finish. It comes with everything you'll require. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The 600mAh battery will last for a whole day introduction Of Bluetooth technology casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via bluetooth headphones quality and you can manage their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in line with their English Naim brand's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the dedicated button on the left ear cup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and 'full'.

The app allows you to change various settings like the LED brightness and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that sounds more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery duration. You can also select the ANC mode and level and select an 'acoustic environment setting to alter the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds more energy, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments can sound muted, while details such as cymbals may be less prominent than on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears with more advanced technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is not an exception. It sits at the upper end of the'mainstream' headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s can be expensive, but if you can get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they'd otherwise need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are both included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone to allow making hands-free calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of airports and busy streets also.

The sound quality is also great. The XM5s lack as many details in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do possess more clarity and a greater sense of openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power and clarity, without affecting the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great, with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is more than enough to last for the weekend or a few days' heavy use.

The XM5s do not come with dust or water resistant. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or wear them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for the majority of people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy region this could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones over-ear with bluetooth headphone technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going overboard. They are ideal for music and movies. They also offer better sound quality than many other headphones.

The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they are comfortable to wear without pressing on the sides of the face. Ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a strong but not too strong clamping force, which makes sure that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

A small button located on the top of the right earcup lets you toggle noise cancelling modes. You can also utilize a pushable jog dial-like button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can twist it for volume control and press it one, twice, or three times to playback the controls. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I would have liked a power button to turn off the headphones when they're not in use. The headphones go into standby mode when removed from your ears, or when placed in their case. They only 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 those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for videos and movies recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only drawback 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 are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel slightly smug about entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it difficult to justify the additional cost for most people.