10 Websites To Help You To Become A Proficient In Over The Ear Headphones Wireless
Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to podcasts and music without the requirement of connecting wires to your audio device. These headphones are ideal for use in public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear cans are available in a variety of designs and noise cancelling capabilities. They are usually packed in a sleek case.
Soundcore Q30
A major improvement over the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, 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 ear cups are a bit bigger. You can also swap out the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version so that you can use them with portable Hi-Fi systems as well as stationary Hi-Res players. They also come with dual built-in microphones, which work well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a huge selection of EQ presets that can be customized and saved so you can listen to podcasts and music in the way you prefer. The Soundcore app is simple to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively cut out almost all ambient noise and make for an extremely pleasant listening experience. They have a natural sound signature that leans a little on the treble end, which some might be unable to reproduce bass (we have had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). However, you can fix this with the Soundcore app, since there is an 8-band equalizer to help you tinker.
The headphones come with the power button and a pairing button on the left ear cup 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 these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. They also come with an option to speak to them that allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right ear cup with your hand to activate ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without removing the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC enabled, the Q30 lasted nearly an hour longer than its rivals. This lets you enjoy an extended flight or a full day at work. The USB-C cable included allows you to quickly recharge them. You'll also get an alert when the battery is about to run out.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of powerful over-ear Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are made to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding sound is what makes them stand out.
The Focal Bathys come in a small attractive white box with a cloth 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.
The 600mAh battery will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to connect wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via bluetooth wireless headphone. You can control their functions via an app (now named Focal & Naim in keeping with English sister brand Naim’s network-aware products) or the dedicated button on the left earcup, blue tooth head phones which scrolls through ANC profiles like'silent','soft transparent,' and full.
The app lets you alter various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including a'music' profile that sounds more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and its level as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting that adjusts the sensitivity of your music to simulate what it would sound like when worn in a space with different audio acoustics.
The Focal Bathys feature a bass-rich sound profile that adds extra energy, impact and warmth to your favorite tracks. As a result, instruments and vocals are pushed back into the mix, and sound muffled, while details like cymbals and vocals are somewhat less prominent than you might expect on some other headphones. They're not as efficient in active noise cancelation when contrasted with other headphones that have 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 headphones are 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 hang out. The XM5s are costly however, if you are able to find them, there's not a better pair of wireless headphones bluetooth headphones for over-ear use.
The XM5s are loaded with a number of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate tasks that they would be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res), as well as Bluetooth's LDAC Technology, are included. This lets high-quality music to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making hands-free phone calls.
Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They are among the best at eliminating the constant drones that are heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s also excel at isolating the listener from the noises of busy airports and streets.
The sound quality is excellent. The XM5s may not be as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, they have a higher level of clarity and transparency also. For example the bass work on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys muscles with real force and definition, without reducing everything else. The XM5s also have the ability to provide precise and accurate bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.
Battery life is excellent, with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is plenty for a weekend getaway or a long period of 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 take them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for most people however, for those who spend a lot of time in the gym or live in a humid area it could be a significant issue.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones equipped with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids, but not going overboard. This makes them ideal for both music and movies. They also provide superior fidelity compared to most competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones have a lightweight construction that is comfortable on the blue tooth head phones (see this site). The earcups are made out of memory foam that is covered in woven fabric, and they are comfortable to wear without putting pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups also tilt and rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the earcups stay in place throughout listening sessions.
You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. There's also a pushable, like a jog-dial, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch, that you can twist for volume control and press once, twice or thrice to playback control. Siri is invoked by pressing and pressing the button. These buttons are placed well and easy to use, but I would have liked the power button that could turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically go into standby mode when they are removed from your ear or placed in their case. They only come back on when you place them on your head once more.
Another great feature is spatial audio, which makes use of the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to determine where you're moving, then repositions sounds to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates a theater-like experience when watching movies and videos recorded in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it and you won't be able to enjoy it on other devices.
The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be somewhat smug going into an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone in a year by the new model. The AirPods Pro have more advanced features and better battery life, making it difficult to justify the cost for most people.