The Next Big Thing In Over The Ear Headphones Wireless

Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the requirement of connecting a wire to your audio device. These headphones are ideal for public transport, at the office or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They are usually packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Q30

A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears look better, feel sturdier, and are generally more polished. They're still mostly made of plastic, but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather cups are larger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C model to use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also have dual built-in mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Bluetooth headphones wireless Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a vast range of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved to allow you to listen to music or podcasts in the way you prefer. This is the thing that sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is very easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block the majority of ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This makes for a very pleasant listening experience. 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). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

The left ear cup has a power button, a pairing button, and an USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for a change in mode or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes so that you can hear the world around you without having to remove the wifi headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than the other models. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for long flights or a day at the office. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive a warning when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys wireless headphone uk are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a little more expensive than other 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 need inside. There's also a fold-flat carry case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, bluetooth Headphones wireless 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

The 600mAh battery can last a whole day of casual listening. They also include an audio input so that you can use wired. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now named Focal & Naim in line with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or the button located on the left earcup which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and 'full.

The app allows you to change various settings such as the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery life. It also gives you the ability to choose the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a room with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra energy and warmth to your favourite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix and sound muffled, while other details such as cymbals sound somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation, compared to other headphones that feature higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and also falls within the luxury lifestyle segment in which brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s are expensive however, if you can afford it get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some 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 both included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than bluetooth Headphones wireless. There's even a built-in microphone to allow 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 top-performing headphones for removing the constant drones heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of separating listeners from traffic noises of busy airports and streets as well.

The sound quality is also top-quality. The XM5s do not have as high a resolution in the low frequency range as the XM4, however they do have more clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys power and clarity, without affecting the rest of the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's' ability to deliver precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is active and 40 hours if off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.

The XM5s are not waterproof or dust-proof. Sony actually recommends not sweating into them or wearing them in the rain. This might not be a problem for the majority of people however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid area this could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed by Apple and have a a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud on either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also have higher fidelity than most other headphones.

The headphones have a light construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups, which are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric and fit comfortably over the ear they do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can also be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a strong but not too powerful clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups stay in place throughout listening sessions.

Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. You can also use 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 three, twice, or times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button invokes Siri. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, but 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 when removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you place them on your head again.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions the sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those locations. This creates a cinema-like experience for movies and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on them if I knew they'd be outdone in a year by the second-generation model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and a better battery life, making it difficult to justify the cost for the majority of people.