Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts or music anywhere, without the need to run an audio cable from your device. They are an excellent choice for public transportation, at work, or at home.

Wireless headphones with over-ears can feature an elegant design and superior noise cancellation. They typically come with a stylish storage case.

Soundcore Q30

A major upgrade over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, long-Lasting sony wireless bluetooth headphones – 50 hours+ these over-ears appear better, feel stronger and are generally more polished. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft leather cups are bigger. You can swap the 3.5mm cord for a higher quality USB-C cable and connect them to portable Hi-Res devices and stationary players. They also have two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide range of EQ presets, which can be customized and saved to listen to music or podcasts in your preferred style. The Soundcore app is easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for excellent listening. The Q30's sound signature is natural, but it's a bit harsh on the treble. Some may find the bass response lacking (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ). You can fix this easily by using the Soundcore App, which includes an eight-band Equalizer.

The headphones come with an power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup as well as the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup has play/pause and volume up/down buttons. Double-clicking on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or replay previous ones. They also have a voice command, so you can ask them to change the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup by using your hands to activate ambient modes so that you can hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC switched on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a busy day at work. The USB-C cord included in the kit lets you quickly recharge the batteries. You'll also receive an alert when the battery is getting close to empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the move. The headphones are a more expensive than other headphones, but their superior sound is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive white fabric-finished retail box that includes everything you'll need in. The package includes a fold-flat headphone carrying case, long-lasting sony wireless bluetooth headphones – 50 hours+ 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 full day of listening to music and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When used wirelessly they're paired via Bluetooth and you can control their functions using an app (now named Focal & Naim likely in the same line as their English sister brand Naim's network-aware audio products) or by pressing the button on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' 'transparent' and 'full'.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter different settings like the LED brightness as well as EQ presets that include a "music profile' that is more neutral and brighter than other presets and their battery duration. It also allows you to choose the ANC mode and the level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it would sound like if it were placed in a space with different audio acoustics.

The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds more punch and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix and sound muffled, while other details such as cymbals sound somewhat less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancellation when compared to other over-ears with higher-end technology like the Long-lasting Sony Wireless Bluetooth Headphones – 50 Hours+ - www.headphonesshop.uk - 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 is a top pick in the mainstream over ear headphone market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are situated. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you are able to, there aren't many better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that make life easier for the listener and automate some tasks that they would need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music that has been compressed to near high-res), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are all included. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed at bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones are no different from the previous generation WH headphones in regards to noise cancellation. They're among the best-performing cans to block out the constant drones heard in train and underground carriages. The XM5s also excel at isolating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s do not have as many details in the low-frequency range like the XM4, however they do possess an increased sense of clarity and openness. The bass on Rage Against The Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys strength and clarity without affecting the rest the music. In the same way, Massive Attack's grooving Angel showcases the XM5's ability to create precise and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also excellent, offering up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is plenty to last for a weekend getaway or a long period of use.

The only issue is that the XM5s lack any water resistance or dust resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating on the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a big deal for the majority of people however for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a humid region, it could be a major problem.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair over-ear wireless headphones that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that concentrates on the highs and mids while not going too loud at either end of the spectrum. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also provide better sound quality than many competing pairs of headphones.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam and covered with a woven 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 various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly strong clamping force, which ensures that the earcups stay in place during listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, jog-dial-like button, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can turn to control volume and press it once twice or three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, but I would have liked to see the power button that could turn off the headphones when they are not in use. The headphones go 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 blue tooth head phones.

Another great feature is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're moving in, and then repositions sounds to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. 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 use it and you won't be able enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be somewhat smug entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery performance, making it hard to justify the extra expense for most people.