Some Of The Most Common Mistakes People Do With Over The Ear Headphone…

Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the requirement to connect wires to your audio device. They're an excellent choice for public transport, 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 Life Q30

These over-ears are a major upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better, feel more durable, and have a more polished appearance. They're still mostly made of plastic, however the hinges are more secure and the soft protein leather cups are larger. 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 mics that worked well in our tests with FaceTime, Skype and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app offers a wide selection of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts or music in the style that you prefer. The Soundcore app is easy to use and makes these headphones stand out.

When ANC is on the Q30's 40mm drivers cut out almost all background noise, making for audiophiles 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 have had better results using the Bass Booster Equalizer). But, you can rectify this by using the Soundcore app, as there is an 8-band equalizer that can help you tweak.

The left earcup features an power button as well as a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup is equipped with buttons for play/pause, volume up/down and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you to skip tracks or repeat previous ones. They also have an option to speak to them which allows you to request to switch the mode or set an alarm. You can also cover the right earcup with your hand to activate ambient modes, to allow you to hear the world around you without having to remove the headphones.

The battery life on these headphones is great as well. In our tests with ANC turned on, the Q30 ran for almost an hour longer than the other headphones. This lets you enjoy an extended flight or a long day at work. The included USB-C cord allows you to quickly charge the batteries. You'll also get a warning 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 feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth playback. They're made to be a premium high-end headphones that are great for listening to music and podcasts on the go but also are a great choice for home use by audiophiles as well. The headphones are a little higher priced than comparable headphones, but their outstanding audio quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that contains all the accessories you require inside. There's a fold-flat headphone carry 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 take you through a whole day of casual listening and have an audio input for wired use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you can control their functions through an app (now known as Focal & Naim likely in line with their English Naim brand's products that are network-aware) or via the button that's on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'silent','soft' transparent', and full.

The app lets you modify different settings, like the brightness of the LEDs and the EQ presets (including a'music' profile which is more neutral and brighter than the other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and the level as well as setting an 'acoustic environment' which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate how it would sound like if it were placed in a room with different acoustics.

The Focal Bathys come with a bass-rich sound profile that adds additional warmth, punch and impact to your most loved tracks. In the end, vocals and instruments are nudged back into the mix, and can sound veiled while details like cymbals are slightly less prominent than you'd expect on other headphones. They're also not as effective in active noise cancellation when contrasted with other headphones that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are known for their high-end quality and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. It is the best of the over-ear headphone market, which is a mainstream market and is in the 'luxury' lifestyle market where brands like Apple, Montblanc, Bang & Olufsen and Montblanc are located. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you are able to, there aren't many better wireless over-ear headphones.

The XM5s are loaded with features to make life easier for listeners and, in a few instances, automate tasks they'd otherwise have to deal with manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine (which upscales music compressed to near hi-res) and bluetooth headphone's LDAC Technology are all included. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at bitrates that are higher than standard Bluetooth. There's even a built-in microphone for audiophiles making calls hands-free.

The XM5 headphones aren't any different from the previous generation of WH headphones in terms of noise cancellation. They're among the top-performing headphones for cutting out continuous drones that can be heard in underground and train carriages. The XM5s also excel in separating the listener from the noises of busy streets and airports.

The sound quality is also very good. The XM5s lack as much detail in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess more clarity and 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 without flattening everything else. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel showcases the XM5's ability to produce accurate and precise bass notes.

Battery life is great with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if it's off. This is enough to cover a weekend getaway or several days of heavy use.

The only issue is that the XM5s don't have any dust or water resistance protection. Sony recommends not sweating in the XM5s or taking them out in the rain. This might not be a problem for a lot of people, but it might prove a stumbling block for those who spends much of their time in the gym or lives in a city with rain.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max is a pair of wireless headphones over-ear that feature Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple created dynamic drivers measuring 40mm with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and mids without going too loud. This makes them perfect for both movies and music. They also provide superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light and comfortable on the head. The ear cups are made of memory foam covered with woven fabric, fit comfortably over the ears and do not place pressure on the sides or the forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a solid but not overly strong clamping force, which ensures that the earcups stay in place during listening sessions.

You can toggle noise cancelling by pressing a small button on 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 adjust the volume and press the button once twice or three times to control playback. Siri can be activated by pressing and holding the button. The buttons are easy to use and are well-placed, however I would have liked to see a power button that would shut off the headphones when in use. The wirless headphones go into standby when they are removed from your ears or if they are placed in their case. They only come back into use when you place them on your head.

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 going, and then repositions sounds to create the illusion that they're coming from those locations. This creates an immersive theater experience for videos and movies that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only catch is that spatial audio requires an iOS device for use and it won't allow you to enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd feel a bit ripped off entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew that they'd be outdone next year by the second-generation model. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.