Best Over the Ear Headphones Bluetooth

Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect a wire to your audio device. They're ideal for public transport, while at work or at home.

Wireless over-ear headphones may have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are an important upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They are more attractive and are more durable and have a more polished finish. 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 with a high quality USB-C cable to use them with mobile Hi-Res as well as stationary players. They also have dual mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad selection of EQ presets that can be saved and altered to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from most other ANC headphones, and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block almost all ambient sound when ANC is enabled. This creates an extremely pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound is natural, however it lags it's a bit harsh on treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we had better results using the Bass Booster equalizer). This can be fixed easily using the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

The left earcup features a power button, a pairing button, and USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these buttons lets you skip tracks or repeat the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to switch modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear everything around you without having to remove 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 on than its rivals. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or working for a long time. They can be easily recharged with the included USB-C cable and you'll get an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're designed as a pair of premium headphones that are ideal for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound fantastic when used for audiophile home use too. They're a little more expensive than other similar headphones, but their superior sound quality is their main selling factor.

The Focal Bathys come in a small attractive white box with a fabric finish. It contains all the accessories you'll require. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, USB-C to USB-C cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

They're powered by a decent 600mAh battery that can get you through a whole day of casual listening and have an audio input that can be wired for use. Wirelessly, they are paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions using an app (now called Focal and Naim in keeping with English Naim's products that are network-aware) or the button on the left earcup, which scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, soft 'transparent,' and 'full.

The app allows you to adjust various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs as well as the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which is more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. You can also choose the ANC level and mode as well as set an 'acoustic environments' to adjust the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of headphones in a different acoustic room.

The Focal Bathys have a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra punch, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals be muted, while other certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancellation contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology, like 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 sector where brands like Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. This means that the XM5s have a premium cost, but if you can afford it, there are a few more superior wireless over-ear headphones out there.

The XM5s have a lot of features that make life easier for the listener, and also automate tasks that they'd otherwise have to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is also included, as is support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows for streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates higher than conventional Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for making calls without hands.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation of WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. These headphones wireless bluetooth are among the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do have an increased sense of clarity and a greater sense of openness. For instance the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging the other elements. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create tight and headphones Bluetooth precise bass notes.

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

The only drawback 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 wear them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for everyone else however for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid location this could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral sound profile that emphasizes mids and highs without going too loud. This makes them perfect for movies and music. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most rival headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and feel comfortable on your head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with weaved fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The earcups can also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a solid but not overly strong clamping force, which ensures that the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. There's also a button that can be pushed, Jog-dial-like button, akin to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press it once twice or three times to playback control. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to see a power button that would switch off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when removed from your ears or put in their case, and they only wake up when you slide them over your head again.

Another cool feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine the direction you're moving in, and then repositions the sound to make it seem like they're coming from these locations. This creates a cinema-like experience with videos and movies made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. Only iOS devices are able to listen to the spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off when I spend $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the next-generation model will be better within a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.