17 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Ignore Over The Ear Headphones Wirel…

Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting a wire to your audio device. They are also a great choice for public transport, at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of styles and noise cancelling capabilities. They are typically packaged in a stylish case.

Soundcore Q30

These over-ears are a major Music Headphones Wireless improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and feel more durable and have a more polished finish. They're still mostly plastic, but the hinges are tighter and the soft protein leather ear cups are a bit bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable and make use of them with mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also come with two mics built-in that worked flawlessly during our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app has a huge range of EQ presets, which can be altered and saved to listen to music headphones wireless (mouse click the up coming article) or podcasts in your preferred style. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers block out most of the background noise, making for very pleasant listening. The Q30's sound is natural, but it's a bit harsh on the treble. Some may not be a fan of the bass response (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). However, you can easily solve this issue with the Soundcore app, since there's an eight-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

These headphones have an power button and a pairing button on the left earcup and the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with a voice command that allows you to ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.

The Q30 headphones offer a long battery life. In our tests with ANC enabled the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This leaves plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or a day at the office. The USB-C cord included in the kit allows you to quickly charge them. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is nearing empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed 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 audio quality is the primary selling factor.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a small elegant white box with a textured finish. It contains all the accessories that you'll require. 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 600mAh battery can last a whole day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can connect wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able to manage their functions via an app (now known as Focal and Naim, probably in the same vein as their English sister brand Naim's products for audio that are network-aware) or via the button that's located on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and 'full'.

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

The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich sound that adds extra energy and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix and can sound dull, while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at 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 has earned a reputable reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It sits at the upper end of the mainstream over-ear headphone market, edging into the 'luxury lifestyle' sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s are expensive in cost, but should you be able to afford it, there are better wireless over-ear headphones on the market.

The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks they would otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music to near-high-resolution) and Bluetooth's LDAC Technology are all included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't different than the previous generation headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans for removing the continuous drones that can be heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of busy streets and airports also.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as precise in the lower frequencies as the XM4, however, they have a higher level of clarity and realism as well. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition but without affecting the rest of the music. Similarly, Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also excellent, offering 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 usage.

The XM5s are not water resistant or dust resistant. Sony actually recommends not sweating on them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a problem for many people, but it might cause a problem for those who spend a lot of their time at the gym or lives in a city that is rainy.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones which feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also offer higher fidelity compared to other blutooth headphones.

The headphones have a light build that feels 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. Ear cups can be tilted and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges offer a firm, but not too strong clamping force to ensure that the earcups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button at the top of the right earcup. It also has a pushable Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press it once twice or three times to playback control. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are well-placed and simple to use, however I missed having a power button to switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones are put into standby when they are removed from your ears or when they are put in their case. They will return to life when you put them on your head.

Spatial audio is another great feature. It uses the gyroscopes, accelerometers, and iPhones or iPads to determine where you're moving. Then, it alters the position of the sound to make it appear to come from the location you are in. This creates a theater-like experience with videos and movies that were recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch 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 when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better in the next year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have better battery life and advanced features.