20 Things You Should Know About Over The Ear Headphones Wireless
Best Over the Ear Headphones
Wireless headphones allow you to listen to music and podcasts without the need to connect an audio wire to your device. These headphones are great for use in public transport, at the office or at home.
Wireless over-ear headphones are available in a variety and noise cancelling capabilities. They are typically packaged in a sleek case.
Soundcore Life Q30
These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and are more durable and have a more polished look. They're still largely plastic but the hinges are a bit more secure and the soft protein leather cups are bigger. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a high-quality USB-C version to use them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two mics built in that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.
The Soundcore app has a huge range of EQ presets that can be adjusted and saved to listen to music and podcasts in your preferred style. The Soundcore app makes it easy to use and sets these headphones apart.
When ANC is turned on the Q30's 40mm drivers eliminate most background noise, making for excellent listening. They have a natural sound profile that leans a little on the treble end, which some might feel is lacking in bass response (we had better results using the Bass Booster EQ preset). It is possible to fix this using the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.
These headphones have a power button and pairing button on the left earcup as well as the USB-C port for charging. The right earcup features buttons for play/pause, volume control and volume up/down. By double-clicking these controls, you can skip tracks or repeat the previous one. They also come with a voice command, so you can request to change the mode or set an alarm. The right earcup can also be covered with your hands to activate ambient mode so that you can hear what is going on around you without taking off the headphones.
The battery life on these headphones is great and the battery life is also excellent. In our tests with ANC turned on the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This lets you enjoy a long flight, or a long day at work. They can be quickly recharged using the USB-C cable included and you'll get a warning when they're approaching empty.
Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal's Bathys wireless headphone bluetooth are a set of premium over-ear headphones that offer both active noise cancellation and bluetooth headphones wireless playback. They're designed as a premium high-end headphones that are great for listening to podcasts and music on the go but also sound amazing when used for audiophile home use as well. The headphones are a more expensive than other blutooth headphones, but their exceptional sound is the reason they stand out.
The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box with all the accessories you'll need in. The package also includes a fold-flat carrying case for Bluetooth Headphones Wireless the headphones, a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.
The battery's 600mAh capacity can last for a full day of casual listening. They also have an audio input to make use of wired. When they're wirelessly connected, they're connected via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now called Focal & Naim which is probably in line with their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or via the button that's located on the left earcup that allows you to switch between ANC profiles such as'silent','soft' transparent', and full.
The app allows you to modify various settings, including the brightness of the LEDs and 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 mode and level and set an 'acoustic environments setting to alter the sensitivity in order to simulate the sound of the headphones in a different room.
The Focal Bathys have an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives extra warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix and sound muffled, while details like cymbals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. The headphones are also less effective at active noise cancellation when compared with other over-ears that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony has a fine reputation for its headphones, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. It is a top pick in the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and also falls within the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. This means the XM5s have a premium price tag but, if you can afford it, there are few better over the ear wireless headphones available.
The XM5s come with a variety of features that make life easier for the listener and automate tasks that they would need to perform manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is available and also support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows high-quality audio to be streamed with bitrates that are higher than Bluetooth. The built-in microphone is capable of making calls hands-free.
The XM5 headphones aren't different from the previous generation headphones from WH, in terms of noise cancellation. They are among the top in cutting down on the continuous drones that can be heard in subway and train carriages. The XM5s do an excellent job of shielding listeners from the background noise of busy streets and airports as well.
The sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s aren't as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, however, there's a greater sense of clarity and transparency as well. The bass in Rage Against the Machine’s Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition without affecting the music. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s' ability to deliver precise and precise bass notes.
Battery life is also very good, providing up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and 40 hours when it's off. This is enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days of heavy usage.
The XM5s aren't dust or water resistant. Sony recommends not sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a big deal for the majority of people however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a rainy area it could be a major problem.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of wireless headphones that fit over the ear with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers that measure 40mm with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes highs and mids, but not going overboard. This makes them perfect for both music and movies. They also offer better sound quality than many competing pairs of headphones.
The headphones are light and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric and sit comfortably over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can be flipped and rotated to accommodate different head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges have a solid but not overly powerful clamping force, which ensures that the earcups remain in place during listening sessions.
Toggle noise cancelling mode by pressing a small button on the top of the right earcup. It also has an earphone-style jog dial with a push button similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it once three, twice, or times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and bluetooth headphones wireless well-placed, but I would have liked to have an option to power off or shut off the headphones when not in use. The headphones are put into standby when removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They only come back into use when you place them over your head.
Spatial audio is another cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes, and iPads or iPhones to determine where you are moving. Then, it repositions the sound to make it appear to originate from that particular location. This creates a cinema-like experience when watching movies and videos made in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to be used and you won't be able to enjoy it with other devices.
The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off if I spent $549 in an Apple Store knowing that the newer model would be better after a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.
