10 Untrue Answers To Common Over The Ear Headphones Wireless Questions…

Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music or podcasts anywhere, without the need to run an audio wire to your device. These headphones are ideal for use in 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 sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly made of plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and use them with portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also come with dual mics built-in that worked flawlessly in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the style you like. The Soundcore app is easy to use and sets these headphones apart.

The Q30's 40mm speakers effectively block out almost all ambient sound when ANC is turned on. This results in a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, but it is a bit the treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster EQ). However, you can fix this with the Soundcore application, as there's an equalizer with 8 bands to help you tinker.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup as well as the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking on these controls allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct for waterproof a change in mode or set alarms. The right earcup can be covered with your hands to enable ambient mode, so you can be aware of what is happening around you, without removing the headphones.

These headphones have a fantastic battery life. 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 for a long flight or a day at the office. The USB-C cable included lets you quickly recharge the batteries. 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 offers both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a pair of premium headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go, but are a great choice to listen to audiophile music at home too. They're slightly more expensive than other similar headphones but their superior audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packed in a small elegant white box with a fabric finish. It comes with all the accessories you will need. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The battery's capacity is 600mAh, which can last for a full day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim, probably in the same vein as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the button on the left earcup which scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent' and 'full'.

Using the app allows you to alter different settings, including the brightness of the LED as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that is brighter and more neutral than the others and their battery duration. You can also select the ANC mode and level as well as setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra warmth, punch and impact to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back in the mix and can sound veiled while details like cymbals and vocals are slightly less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation, compared to other over-ears that have higher-end technology, such as the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 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. This means that the XM5s are expensive in price tag but, should you be able to afford it, there are a few better over the ear wireless headphones on the market.

The XM5s have features to help listeners and, in certain cases, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are all included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional bluetooth headpones. There's even a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They are among the best at reducing the constant drones that are heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at separating listeners from the noises of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do have a greater sense clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows off the Sonys strength and clarity without affecting the rest of the music. The XM5s are also able to produce precise and precise bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is also good, providing up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC active, and 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy use.

The XM5s are not waterproof or dust-proof. Sony recommends not sweating on the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for most people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid area it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going overboard. They are ideal for movies and music. They also offer better sound quality when compared with other headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are made from memory foam covered in woven fabric, and they sit comfortably on the ears without pressing on the sides of the face. The ear cups can also be rotated and tilted to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a firm, but not too strong clamping force that ensures the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press the button once twice or three times to playback control. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are well-placed and easy to use, but I would have liked a power button to switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only wake up when you place them on your head again.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which uses the gyroscopes and accelerometers in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're going, and then repositions sound to create the illusion that they're coming from these locations. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for videos and movies recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to audio in spatial format.

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 the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive, but they have better battery life and advanced features.