The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones in Australia

The air-con on the train is roaring, someone a few seats down is on speakerphone, and your music is already turned up further than your ears would like. That’s what sends you looking for a pair of noise cancelling headphones. For most people, the best noise cancelling headphones in Australia are the Bose QuietComfort. Nearly 1,600 JB Hi-Fi owners have scored them 4.55 out of 5, which is far more owners than any other pair here, and they’re in stock at Amazon Australia.

If you don’t want to spend that much, the Panasonic RB-M600B is the cheapest pick here and Panasonic says it runs 65 hours with noise cancelling on. Most people pay for more headphones than they need. Work out where you’ll actually wear them, then buy for that.

The short answer

The best noise cancelling headphones in Australia

• Best overall: Bose QuietComfort
• Best for travel and commuting: Sony WH-1000XM5
• Best budget noise cancelling headphones: Panasonic RB-M600B
• Best lightweight pair: Skullcandy Hesh ANC
• Best for iPhone owners: Beats Studio Pro
• Best for bass: Sony ULT Wear
• Best for Sonos soundbar owners: Sonos Ace
• Long-battery alternative: Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT

Product		Price
	Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones (884367-0100)	from $448.00 at Amazon · 2 shops	$448.00 at Amazon
	Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones (WH1000XM5B)	from $395.00 at The Good Guys	$395.00 at The Good Guys
	Panasonic Noise Cancelling Headphones (RB-M600BE-K)	from $116.04 at Amazon · 2 shops	$116.04 at Amazon
	Skullcandy Hesh ANC Headphones (253838)	from $199.00 at The Good Guys	$199.00 at The Good Guys
	Beats Studio Pro ANC Over-Ear Wireless Headphones (MQTP3PA/A)	from $479.00 at Amazon · 2 shops	$479.00 at Amazon
	Sony Ult Wear Noise Cancelling Headphones (WHULT900NB)	from $278.00 at Amazon · 2 shops	$278.00 at Amazon
	Sonos Ace Noise Cancelling Headphones (ACEG1R21BLK)	from $599.00 at The Good Guys	$599.00 at The Good Guys
	Audio Technica Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones	from $249.00 at JB Hi-Fi · 2 shops	$249.00 at JB Hi-Fi

1. Best overall: Bose QuietComfort

If you’ve had headphones that squeeze your head, or you just want a safe choice, buy the Bose QuietComfort. Its 4.55 out of 5 comes from 1,590 owners at JB Hi-Fi, and a score that holds up across that many people tells you more than any spec sheet.

Bose calls the noise cancelling “legendary”, which is a word companies tend to use about themselves. In practice you get two modes. Quiet shuts the world out. Aware lets it back in, so you can hear the platform announcement or the person at your desk without taking the headphones off. Multipoint lets you switch between your phone and laptop without re-pairing, so you can go from a playlist to a Teams call without opening the Bluetooth menu.

Where it falls short is battery. Bose quotes up to 24 hours, which is less than several cheaper pairs here. For most commutes that’s still several days between charges, and if they do go flat, the included cable lets you keep listening wired.

Our verdict: If you just want the right pair and to be done with it, this is it. The only reason to look further is if you need a lot more battery or a much lower price.

2. Best for travel and commuting: Sony WH-1000XM5

A long-haul flight or an hour each way on the train is where cheap noise cancelling stops being good enough. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is aimed at that buyer. The Good Guys’ listing puts it in its premium tier and describes it as built for commuters, travellers and long listening sessions.

Three numbers matter for that kind of trip. The battery is rated at up to 30 hours, which covers a Sydney to London flight and leaves some over. They weigh 0.25 kg, which you’ll appreciate around hour nine. And there’s a carry case, so they don’t end up crushed at the bottom of a backpack.

Owners at The Good Guys score it 4.8 out of 5. That’s higher than the Bose, but from 77 reviews rather than 1,590. It currently costs a little less than the Bose; compare today’s prices below.

Our verdict: If you fly often or commute a long way, this is the one to buy over the Bose. If your headphones mostly stay at your desk, the extra travel features won’t matter much.

3. Best budget noise cancelling headphones: Panasonic RB-M600B

Plenty of people want the noise gone and don’t care about anything else. If that’s you, the Panasonic RB-M600B is the cheapest pick in this guide, and it still has hybrid noise cancelling, a very long battery and multipoint.

The battery is the big one. Panasonic claims 65 hours with noise cancelling on. Day to day, that means charging maybe once a fortnight, not every few nights. If you do forget, Panasonic says 15 minutes on the USB-C cable gets you six hours.

Owners at The Good Guys score it 4.5 out of 5 from 61 reviews. That’s a decent number of people and a solid score at this price. One catch: Panasonic’s listing doesn’t mention an ambient or aware mode. If you need to hear announcements without taking your headphones off, the Bose is the better buy.

Our verdict: The value buy. Get these if you mainly want quiet and a battery you can forget about, and save the difference.

4. Best lightweight pair: Skullcandy Hesh ANC

Some headphones feel fine in the shop and then start to hurt by lunchtime. If you wear yours all day at a home desk or on and off through a lecture timetable, weight matters more than a spec sheet admits. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC weighs 228 g and folds flat, so it’s easy on your head and easy to throw in a bag.

Its owner score is the highest in this guide: 4.9 out of 5 from 60 reviews at The Good Guys. Only the Panasonic costs less.

The catch is noise cancelling. The Good Guys’ own listing says it’s useful for everyday background noise but likely less effective and less refined than premium headphones. That’s an honest description. It’ll take the edge off an open-plan office. On a plane it won’t do what the Sony does.

Our verdict: Buy it for long days at a desk or on campus where comfort counts. Frequent flyers should spend more.

5. Best for iPhone owners: Beats Studio Pro

If you’ve got an iPhone and you’re fed up with headphones that need an app and three tries to pair, the Beats Studio Pro is built for you. Beats lists one-touch pairing and native Apple features, along with Siri on the on-ear controls. Beats says Android features are supported too, but the Siri controls are the clue to who it’s aimed at.

Beats quotes up to 40 hours, but note the word “total”: Beats doesn’t say whether that’s with noise cancelling on. A 10-minute charge for up to four hours is the more useful number on a rushed morning.

The objection is price. It costs more than the Bose, and its 4.44 out of 5 from 131 JB Hi-Fi owners is a good score but a lower one. You’re paying for the Apple features and the spatial audio.

Our verdict: Buy it if you live in the Apple world and want headphones that just pair with it. Otherwise the Bose does the main job for less.

6. Best for bass: Sony ULT Wear

Some people want quiet. Others want quiet and then a lot of bass. The Sony ULT Wear is for the second group. There’s a dedicated ULT button that Sony says boosts the bass, so the boost is one press away instead of buried in an app.

It also handles the commute well. Sony quotes up to 30 hours of battery. The headphones pause when you take them off. The fold-down design and carry case suit a commuter bag.

Owners at The Good Guys score them 4.8 out of 5, though that’s from only 25 reviews. If you like a flat, even sound, you’re paying for a button you’ll never press.

Our verdict: Get these if bass is the reason you listen. Everyone else is better served by the Panasonic for less or the Bose for a safer bet.

7. Best for Sonos soundbar owners: Sonos Ace

You’ve got a Sonos soundbar, the kids are asleep, and the film’s big scene is about to wake the whole house. That’s the problem the Sonos Ace solves. Sonos says you can switch the TV sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar to the headphones, with Dolby Atmos and head tracking, so you get the late-night movie without the complaints.

It’s also a capable pair of everyday headphones. There’s an Aware mode, and Sonos quotes at least 30 hours with noise cancelling on. Its quick charge claim (three hours from three minutes) is handy if you forget to charge them.

It’s the dearest pick in this guide. Owners at The Good Guys score it 4.8 out of 5, but that’s from 12 people. That’s a promising start, nowhere near enough to call it proven. And without a Sonos soundbar, the feature that makes it worth the money does nothing for you.

Our verdict: For Sonos soundbar owners, this is the pair to buy. Everyone else should skip it and save a lot of money.

8. Long-battery alternative: Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT

The Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT is for people whose biggest complaint about headphones is charging them. Audio-Technica claims 60 hours with noise cancelling on and 90 with it off, and calls that “class-leading”. The hear-through mode is a nice touch: Audio-Technica says it lets in your own voice too, so talking with them on feels less strange.

It’s last for a reason. Owners at JB Hi-Fi score it 3.92 out of 5, the lowest score in this guide, and that’s from just 12 reviews, too few to settle anything in either direction. The Panasonic costs less, quotes more battery with noise cancelling on, and has a better score from more owners.

Our verdict: Only worth it if the hear-through mode or the cable matters to you. For most people after long battery life, the Panasonic is the better buy.

How we chose

We did not test these headphones ourselves. The picks are based on:

• Owner ratings. Review scores published by JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys, weighted by how many reviews there are. Each product box shows the score, the number of reviews and the retailer.
• Maker specifications. Battery life, modes and features come from the manufacturers’ published specifications or the retailer’s listing.
• Price and stock checks. Each pick was in stock at one or more of the retailers we check. Prices on this page are updated automatically; compare today’s prices in each product box.

Noise cancelling headphones buying guide

Match the headphones to the problem

If you fly or commute a long way, strong noise cancelling and a battery that outlasts the trip matter most. A carry case helps too, because headphones get crushed in carry-on bags. The Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort are the ones to look at.

If you work from home or in an open-plan office, comfort and call quality count for more than the strongest possible cancelling. Look for a lighter pair and for multipoint, so you can move between your laptop and phone without re-pairing. The Panasonic and Sony ULT Wear both list multipoint; on comfort, the Skullcandy is the lightest pair with a quoted weight.

If you always forget to charge things, buy on battery. The Panasonic and Audio-Technica quote 60 hours or more with noise cancelling on. A quick-charge figure matters too: a few minutes on the cable before you leave the house can get you through the day.

If you need to hear what’s going on around you, look for an aware, transparency or hear-through mode. Without one, you’ll be taking your headphones off every time someone speaks to you or the train stops.

If your battery runs flat at the worst time, a pair that comes with an audio cable keeps working wired. The Bose, Beats and Audio-Technica all include one.

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t assume the dearest pair is the right one. The Panasonic costs a fraction of the top picks and has a solid owner score. Most people don’t need spatial audio or lossless USB-C.

Over-ear or earbuds

Every pick here is an over-ear headphone. Over-ears cover the whole ear, which helps block noise before the electronics start working, and they usually have room for a bigger battery. Earbuds are easier to carry but run out of battery sooner. If you’ll mostly use them at your desk or on a plane, over-ears make more sense.

Noise cancelling headphones FAQs

Do noise cancelling headphones block all sound

No. Active noise cancelling works best on steady, low sounds like engine hum, air-conditioning and traffic. Sudden or high-pitched noises, such as voices or a baby crying, still get through to some degree. Treat them as a way to turn the world down, not off.

Can I use them on a plane

Yes. A long flight is one of the main reasons people buy them. Check the battery figure against your longest trip, and if you want to plug into the in-flight entertainment, choose a pair that comes with an audio cable.

Is it worth paying more for a premium pair

It depends on where you’ll use them. The dearer pairs here add things like spatial audio, lossless USB-C or Sonos soundbar support. If you won’t use those, a well-rated cheaper pair like the Panasonic gives you most of the benefit for much less.