10 No-Fuss Methods For Figuring Out The Over The Ear Headphones Wirele…

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 transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety and noise cancelling features. They are usually packed in a stylish case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major upgrade 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 tighter and the soft leather ear cups are larger. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and connect them to mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with dual built-in microphones, which perform well in our tests for Head Phone Wireless FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

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

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most ambient noise and make for excellent listening. The Q30's sound is natural, but a little on treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer). You can fix this easily using the Soundcore App, which comes with an 8-band Equalizer.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup along with an USB-C port to charge. The right ear cup features play/pause, the volume up and down buttons. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also have the ability to speak that allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can also 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 on these headphones is excellent as well. The Q30 lasted an hour longer in our tests when ANC was switched on than its rivals. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a full day at work. They can be charged quickly using the USB-C cable included, and you'll see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of powerful over-ear headphones that feature active noise cancellation and 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 sound fantastic when used for home use by audiophiles too. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small, slim and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you require inside. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for the headphones and a USB-C cable to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a good 600mAh battery that will get you through a full day of casual listening and have an audio input for wired use. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal and Naim in the same way as English sister brand Naim’s products that are network-aware) or the button located on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles such as'silent,'soft 'transparent,' and 'full.

The app allows you to alter various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including the music profile, which sounds brighter and neutraler than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode and setting an 'acoustic settings that adjusts the sensitivity to mimic the sound of headphones in a different room.

The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich sound that delivers extra punch, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals be muted, while other certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than on other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation contrasted to other headphones with more advanced technology such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones and the WH-1000XM5 is no exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream headphones for over-ear, and is slipping into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means 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 come with features that help listeners and, in certain instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to handle manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near hi-res) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This lets high-quality audio be streamed at bitrates which are higher than Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making hands-free phone calls.

Like the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones to block out the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are also great at isolating the listener from the hum of airports and busy streets.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s lack as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, however, Head phone Wireless 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 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.

The battery life is fantastic with up to 30 hours of listening time when ANC is on and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to last the weekend or a few days of heavy use.

The only issue is that the XM5s do not have any water resistance or dust resistance protection. In fact, Sony recommends that you don't sweat into them or take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for some people, but it could be a problem for those who spends much of their time in the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes highs and mids without going overboard. They are perfect for movies and music. They also provide higher fidelity than most rival headphones.

The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam, are covered with woven fabric and are comfortable to wear over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate various head phone wireless bluetooth headphone (just click the next article) shapes. The spring-loaded hinges feature a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.

A small button located on the the right earcup allows you to switch between noise cancelling modes. There's also a button that can be pushed, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to adjust the volume and press it once twice or three times to playback control. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to have a power button that would shut off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode after being removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only wake up when you slide them over your head again.

Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones or iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it adjusts the sound so that they appear to originate from the location you are in. This creates an immersive theater experience for films and videos recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able to experience it on other devices.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I would be a bit disappointed for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better in the next year. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and improved battery performance, making it hard to justify the extra cost for the majority of people.