best budget over ear wireless headphones Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to music and podcasts without the requirement of connecting wires to your audio device. They're 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 are usually packaged in a sleek case.

Soundcore Life Q30

A major improvement Best over ear wireless headphones the Soundcore Life 2 from late-2018, these over-ears are more attractive, feel more durable and are generally more polished. The hinges are more secure and the soft leather cups are slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, however they're more polished. You can replace the 3.5mm cord for a high quality USB-C cable to connect them to mobile Hi-Res and wireless headphones stationary Hi-Fi players. They also come with dual microphones that perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a wide variety of EQ presets that can be customized and saved to allow you to listen to podcasts and music in the style you prefer. This is what makes these headphones stand out from most other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely simple to use.

When ANC is turned on, the Q30's 40mm drivers effectively block out most of the ambient noise and wireless headphones make for excellent listening. They have a natural sounding signature that leans a little on the treble side, and some may be unable to reproduce bass (we got better results with the Bass Booster Equalizer preset). However, you can easily fix this using the Soundcore app, as there's an eight-band equalizer to allow you to tweak.

The left earcup has an 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 on these buttons allows you to skip tracks or play previous ones. You can also make use of voice commands to instruct them to switch modes or set alarms. The right earcup can also be covered by your hand to activate ambient mode to allow you to be aware of what is happening around you without removing the headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is fantastic, too. In our tests with ANC turned on, the Q30 was able to last for nearly an hour longer than its competitors. This gives you plenty of time to prepare for a long flight or a day at the office. They can be easily recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them, and you'll see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless is a pair of high-quality over-ear Bluetooth headphones that offers both active noise cancellation, as well as Bluetooth playback. These headphones are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or on the go. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their superior sound is the reason they stand out.

The Focal Bathys are packaged in a slim, compact and attractive fabric-finished white retail box that includes everything you require inside. You can also get a fold-flat carry case for the headphones as well as a USB-C to USB C cable, 1.2mmSE cable and an audio converter.

They're powered by a respectable 600mAh battery that will get you through a whole day of casual listening and also have an audio input that can be wired for use. When connected wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth and you'll be able manage their functions via an app (now named Focal and Naim which is probably in the same vein as their English Naim brand's network-aware audio products) or using the button located on the left earcup that scrolls between ANC profiles like'soft','silent 'transparent' and full.

Utilizing the app, you are able to alter various settings such as the brightness of the LED and EQ presets, including a "music profile' that sounds brighter and more neutral than the other ones and also their battery life. It also lets you to choose the ANC mode and its level, as well as setting an 'acoustic' setting which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like when used in a space with different soundproofing.

The Focal Bathys feature bass-rich, rich sound profiles that delivers extra energy, impact and warmth to your favourite tracks. This means that instruments and vocals can be muted, and certain elements like cymbals could be less prominent than other headphones. They're also not as effective at active noise cancelation when compared to other over-ears with 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 on-ear headphones wireless 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 are a common sight. This means that the XM5s have a premium price tag, but when you can afford it, there are a few better over the ear wireless over ear headphones headphones on the market.

The XM5s have a lot of features that simplify the lives of the listener, and also automate tasks that they would have to do 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 included. That allows for streaming of high-quality audio with rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls hands-free.

Similar to the previous generation of WH best on-ear headphones wireless, the XM5s excel at noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones to block out the constant drones found in train and underground carriages. The XM5s are great at their job isolating listeners from the noise of busy streets and airports, too.

Sound quality is also excellent. The XM5s may not be as clear in the low frequencies as the XM4, but there's a more pronounced sense of clarity and transparency, too. The bass on Rage Against the Machine's Bullet in the Head shows the Sonys' power and definition, without affecting the music. The XM5s also have the ability to deliver precise and tight bass notes in Massive Attack's Angel.

Battery life is great with up to 30 hours listening time when ANC is on and 40 hours if off. This is plenty to last for a weekend getaway or a few days of heavy use.

The XM5s are not water resistant or dust resistant. Sony recommends not sweating in them or taking them out in the rain. This may not be a major issue for most people however for those who spend much time in the gym or live in a rainy area it could be a significant issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancelling. They have 40mm Apple-designed dynamic drivers with a neutral audio profile that emphasizes the mids and highs without going overboard at either end of the spectrum. They are great for music and movies. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light in design that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with woven fabric and sit comfortably over the ear and do not place pressure on the sides or forehead. The ear cups can tilt and rotate to accommodate various head shapes. The spring-loaded hinges provide a strong, but not too much clamping force that ensures the ear cups remain in place throughout listening sessions.

Switch on noise cancellation by pressing a small button located at the top of the right earcup. You can also use a pushable jog dial-like button like the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it once, twice, or three times for playback controls. Siri is activated by pressing and pressing the button. The buttons are easy to use and well-placed, but I would have liked to see an option to power off or turn off the headphones when in use. The headphones are put into standby mode when 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.

Spatial audio is a cool feature. It utilizes accelerometers, gyroscopes and iPhones or iPads to determine where you are moving. Then, it repositions the sound to make it seem to be coming from that particular location. This creates an immersive theater experience for movies and videos made in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. Only iOS devices are able to listen to spatial audio.

The AirPods Max is a decent pair, but I'd feel a bit ripped off for spending $549 at an Apple Store knowing that the second-generation model would be better within a year. AirPods Pro are more expensive and have superior battery life and more advanced features.