The best headphones are pairs that you can form a good connection with. While it's certainly true that some will sound better than others, or extra features such as noise-cancellation may be more effective in a pair of over-ears compared to some earbuds, you ultimately want to settle on a pair that cater best to your preferred genres of music.
We're here to help of course, and we've taken top picks from our best over ear headphones, best noise cancelling headphones and best wireless earbuds round-ups and collated them into one single guide.
Yes, there are a lot of pairs in this list to make your way through, but once you're done, we guarantee you'll know which pair of headphones is best for you. Naturally, the first hurdle is deciding which style you prefer. Do you want a pair of over-ear headphones with big speaker drivers offering superior sound? Or do you want a pair of wireless earbuds that are compact, making travel easier?
You also need to think about how much you're willing to and are able to spend, and it's with this in mind that we've included option across all uses and price brackets in our definitive list below.
Whether you’re looking for the best sound quality, a worthwhile budget option or a versatile all-rounder, you’ll find the best headphones for you below.
The quick list
Below you'll find a quick roundup of our choices for the best headphones in Australia. There are quite a few to make your way through, so we've summarised the reasoning behind each pick, but you can click through to a more in-depth review for each. You'll also be able to view the latest deals using our price comparison tool.
Best headphones for most people
A price-reduction in the wake of their successor has sent the Sony WH-100XM4 back to the top of our list. Serving up superb sound and top noise cancellation, they're the perfect all-rounder.
Best budget headphones
At this price, these are an unbeatable pair of wireless on-ear cans that check all the right boxes, from solid audio to impressive battery life, to DSEE upscaling of low-quality tracks.
Best premium headphones
If you've got money to burn on headphones, we can't think of a better pair to splash out on. In this highly competitive space, these Sennheisers take the crown for sound, battery life and smart control options.
Best earbuds for most people
They might not have the absolute last word in noise cancellation, but as an all-rounder, taking into account sound and app control too, the Sony XM5 are a class act.
Best mid-tier earbuds
The Nothing Ear (a) deliver a fun, expansive sound with top-notch noise-cancellation, useful extra features and a unique design, all for a great price.
Best budget earbuds
Energetic sound and Sony 360 Reality Audio Support make these little buds the best of the budget pack.
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Best headphones for noise cancellation
The best noise cancellation we've ever heard, mixed with fantastic sound quality and good smart features. The price is high and battery life is low, though.
Best earbuds for noise-cancellation
Get 'em while you still can! The Bose QC Earbuds II now have a successor, but we still love their combination of superb sound and practically unrivalled noise-cancellation.
Best headphones for sleek design
These deliver awesome detail and balance, and pretty good ANC, along with other smart features. As do lots of other cans here, but the PX8 look and feel better than basically anything else.
The best wired buds for most people
These are unmatched on value. Their stellar audio quality rivals that of some of the best headphones of any kind, but they're a fraction of the price of the high-end stuff. A musical bargain.
The best headphones for workouts
Sweat and water resistance, secure fit and a bass-induced sound that will keep you going and going, these are the best headphones to use when working out.
The best headphones in Australia 2024
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Here you'll find more in-depth reviews of the best headphones in Australia right now. Each entry has a direct link to its full review, written by TechRadar's team of audio experts.
The best headphones overall
✅ You want versatile headphones that sound good: The Sony WH-1000XM4s deliver hgh-quality sound in a lightweight folding design.
✅ You're working from home and need some peace and quiet: With the volume turned up and the noise cancelling on, the WH-1000XM4s will isolate you from everything around you.
❌ You plan on bringing them to the gym or beach: A looser fit and lack of water-resistance should make you think twice before putting them inside your gym bag.
❌ You take tons of conference calls: While these are great for travel, their call quality isn't that strong.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver excellent noise-cancellation and sound quality in a design that we found comfortable and lightweight throughout our testing.
They don’t look different from their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM3. However, new features, including multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor mean they’re a significant upgrade.
The WH-1000XM4 headphones also support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format, which delivers spatial audio on stereo headphones, plus the LDAC codec that can send a bitrate of up to 990 kbps. However, it no longer supports aptX or aptX HD, so your hi-res audio support mileage may vary.
Regardless, these are a wonderful pair of wireless over-ear headphones and deliver exactly what they promise (and then some) thanks to their exceptional noise cancellation and cutting-edge codec support. Although they've been followed-up by the Sony WH-1000XM5s, these XM4s still have the edge by boasting most of the same features and overall quality of their newer sibling, while selling for a more appealing price.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review
The best budget headphones
✅ You want balanced sound for less: There's none of the bass overload you get on some cheaper headphones, these are made to handle all kinds of music well.
✅ You need long, long battery life: 50 hours! You won't need to charge these very often, so if you're the forgetful type, that's a bonus.
❌ You need noise-blocking power: With no ANC and not especially noise-isolating earpads, you will hear outside sounds, especially loud vehicles.
❌ You want to go audiophile for less: We like the sound here a lot for the price, but if you're an audiophile on a budget, you should look at going wired.
With solid audio, great battery life and Bluetooth connectivity, the Sony WH-CH520 offer a cohesive, budget-friendly package. If you’re looking for on-ear headphones at this price point, you’re likely already willing to make a few sacrifices. Thankfully, most of the compromises (there's no 3.5mm port option) Sony has made with the WH-CH520 are unlikely to be deal breakers.
The lack of active noise cancellation might be more of a problem, but it certainly isn't unfair for the price. Where the WH-CH520s really shine is a very long battery life of 50 hours and premium features like a customisable control app with DSEE and multi-point audio pairing, which makes switching between devices a breeze.
They are made out of a textured plastic, which is sturdy but admittedly not that premium feeling. But again, this should be expected for the price, and more positively, it doesn't interfere with the audio capabilities on offer.
Released in February 2023, they deliver balanced sound that has plenty of detail, making them easy to listen to. Sony really has stripped back features to focus on sound with the WH-CH520s and it really shows with deeper bass and brighter highs.
For those chasing something that is substantially more sturdy or sporting a 3.5mm port, you’re unlikely to find an alternative at the same price point that’s also wireless, let alone boasts great battery life and sound.
Read our full Sony WH-CH520 review
The best premium headphones
✅ You want a battery life that lasts for days: 60 hours with ANC on is just incredible. You'll have far fewer frustrating moments with them.
✅ You like to hear your voice in calls: Sennheiser's excellent Sidetone gets rid of the call echo problem and makes your conversations feel altogether more natural.
❌ You want supremely portable listening gear: These cans lie flat and don't fold up for easy transport – although you do get a nice hardshell case.
❌ You like your headphones to make a statement: As well-made as these are, they won't set the design world alight.
Selecting an outright winner for the best headphones is no easy task, and ultimately, the number one spot could change hands multiple times throughout each year. For us however, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless do enough to take the crown at the moment.
There is definitely intense competition from the likes of Sony or Bose, but with prices of all constantly fluctuating, we feel the Momentum 4 Wireless do enough at this price level to warrant claiming the title of number one.
Chief among our reasons is an insane 60-hour battery life, the likes of which just simply cannot be rivalled. Granted, many of us are unlikely to find ourselves too far from a charging point at any time, but having the security of knowing you're not going to go music-less if you're away from one for a while is a huge tick in our book.
Fortunately, Sennheiser hasn't made compromises anywhere else to facilitate this longevity. You get talented noise cancellation technology, a zealous sound that'll have you nodding your head happily wherever you go and some intuitive on-ear controls. Some of the TR team felt they were a little plain looking (especially compared to previous iterations of the Momentum over-ears) but minimalism appears to be all the rage right now, and we can't argue with anyone that might call them handsome.
Sennheiser has packed everything and the kitchen sink into the Momentum 4 Wireless’s spec sheet, including Sidetone to better hear your voice during calls and 'Sound Zones', EQ and ANC presets which can be set to magically kick in when you're, well, in the zone. Make no mistake though, the headline-grabber is still the sound. And what a sound it is! Think open, detailed, expansive, neutral and crisp. Never is it overly warm; never is it congested or muddied through the bass.
The Momentum 4 Wireless will set you back somewhere between AU$450-550, putting its cost at a similar level to the Sony WH-1000XM5, and only marginally higher than the Sony WH-1000XM4. Considering the extra battery life you get and a sound that is just as accomplished, the Sennheisers are a natural winner.
Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review
The best earbuds overall
✅ You know a great control app when you use one:
The Sony Headphone app is an absolute tour de force of stability, functionality and general usefulness.
✅ You have smaller ears: A new SS eartip will benefit those with smaller ears – and helps the XM5s lay claim to being some most stable and comfortable designs available
❌ Noise cancelling is more important than sound quality: Taken on their own, the WF-1000XM5 cancel noise well. But other true wireless buds do it better – specifically, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
❌ You’re away from an outlet for long periods: A best-case 24 hours of battery life isn't bad, but it isn't anything special either.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds had some huge boots to fill, since their XM4 predecessor was such an exceptional pair of wireless earbuds. In many respects, they do indeed fill those boots and elevate performance even further. Sony managed to make the XM5s even smaller than the model they replace, and thoughtfully included a new, smaller SS eartip in the box for those with smaller ears – a genius move if you ask us. Once you settle on the right combination of ear tip sizes for your ears, they'll remain firmly in place.
They're once again packed with features, including Sony 360 Reality Audio support and much-improved call quality. Of course noise-cancellation is here too, and you're able to customise a multitude of settings within the comprehensive companion app.
Sound is where Sony truly excels and the WF-1000XM5 are a testament to that. They're surprisingly bassy considering their diminutive size, but they're also wonderfully detailed and precise. It really is an audio performance you'll love upon first listen.
They're not without their competitors, and other pairs can be more accomplished in specific areas, but as an all-rounder, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are a delight.
Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
The best mid-priced earbuds
✅ You want great ANC for less: The Ear (a) offer the best noise-stopping power we've heard at this price level
✅ You want serious sound quality: The Ear (a) delivering a surprisingly fun and zealous listen, also with support for LDAC higher-res wireless tech.
❌ You want spatial audio support: The similarly priced Sony WF-C700N offer this, but you won't find it here.
❌ You want long battery life: 5.5 hours with noise cancellation is distinctly average – again, the Sony buds mentioned above offer 7.5 hours.
It was a tough decision, but the Sony WF-C700N have finally been replaced as our favourite pair of mid-priced earbuds by the Nothing Ear (a). The Sony pair is still a fantastic pair, make no mistake, but in our Nothing Ear (a) review, we said this new pair looked "more premium and feel more foxy. Their noise cancellation is a touch more robust and the sound is every bit as energetic, detailed and zealous, and (dare we say it?) a tad more expansive to boot." It's these reasons that they not claim a spot in this list.
Sound quality is the star of the show here, with our review further praising the "meaty and arresting" sound. Think less delicate hi-fi and more fun and energy. You will find more detailed and perhaps more engaging audio performances from more expensive pairs – and expectedly so – but as we said while testing them, "for the money, Nothing has tweaked its recipe to near perfection here."
And that's all before we've gotten onto the active noise cancellation, which is nothing (pun not necessarily intended) short of outstanding for the price you'll be paying. We found in our tests that it blocked out virtually all low-level constant noise, and only came unstuck with loud, chaotic sounds. And thanks to features such as wearer detection (so they auto-pause when you take 'em out), multipoint pairing, LDAC hi-res audio support, plus the Nothing app for tweaking the EQ and other features, they're about as well-specced as anything around at the price.
We would have loved longer battery life than the 5.5-hours and spatial audio support would've been a sweet bonus, but on the whole, there is very little to complain about with this terrific pair of Nothing earbuds.
Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review
The best budget earbuds
✅ You want affordable buds that don't feel that way: The sound is better than it has any right to be for such a low price, and they're very well made and pleasant to wear.
✅ You like sound with clarity: There's a strong focus on textured vocals and clean treble with these buds.
❌ You want noise cancellation: To keep the price down, ANC isn't included. If you need it, get the Nothing Ear (a) instead.
❌ Battery stamina is important: The battery life in the buds themselves is excellent, but you'll only get one full charge from the case.
The Sony WF-C510 earbuds launched with an RRP of AU$109, but can now regularly be picked up for under AU$100, making them budget in our books. Yet their audio performance and build quality would suggest they should cost a lot more.
Our review described the WF-C510's audio as "punchy and high-quality", and noted that Sony was clearly putting a focus on clean treble, which serves vocals particularly well. That also means that bass-freaks may wish to look elsewhere, as these Sony earbuds don't have the power to rattle your skull. You can tweak the sound using a custom EQ, but it can be a bit fiddly to use.
To keep the price low, Sony has naturally had to exclude some features, most notably active noise cancellation. Other features missing from the CV include wear detection and low-latency mode, which, if you're used to having those from your previous buds, you may find you'll miss. But for our money, we can forgive missing features if it means the sound quality doesn't suffer, and that's exactly the case here. We appreciate the impressive 11 hours of battery life from the earbuds themselves, but we're less enthusiastic about the case's one full charge worth of juice. We'd expect at least two full charges.
Build quality is great and despite being compact, the buds have no problem staying put in your ears. You can feasibly wear them to the gym or out on a run or cycle and need not worry about them falling out.
The Sony WF-C510 are some of the best cheap earbuds you'll find and prove Sony is a master of audio no matter the price bracket, given its high-performing WF-1000XM5 flagship earbuds and the WF-C700N mid-range earbuds.
Read our full Sony WF-C510 review
The best headphones for ANC
✅ You want class-leading active noise cancelling: There really is nothing better. Bose's own QuietComfort Headphones are the only thing that comes close.
✅ You want exciting, nuanced, rich sound: These are Bose's best-sounding headphones yet – they're wonderfully dynamic and detailed.
❌ You want a long battery life: The 24 hours of battery life here is pretty disappointing – not a dealbreaker, but below Sony and way below Sennheiser.
❌ You want Hi-Res Audio connectivity: Despite a high cost, there's no USB-C Hi-Res option, and no broad aptX or LDAC support.
These are Bose's most exciting headphones in years, and they put the inventor of active noise cancellation right back on top of the category it created. They're in a class of their own when it comes to blocking outside sound, and we tested then on planes, trains, buses, in bustling cities, in the office, and at home – and in all cases, they silence the create was more complete than anything else we've tried (though obviously, some stuff will still leak through).
But what's so exciting is that on top of this, they also sound simply fantastic. As we said in our review: "They deliver some of the most alive, exciting, textured, finely resolved, deeply engaging music I've ever heard from a pair of wireless headphones." This sound quality comes at a premium, but we think they're easily worth the higher price over the likes of the Sony or Sennheiser headphones here. "The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones may not be cheap, but on the music quality alone, I think they're a great deal," our review says.
They also have some good smart features, including customizable active noise cancellation modes and multipoint connectivity, controlled from the generally intuitive Bose Music app.
It's a bit of a shame that higher-quality audio support is limited to Snapdragon Sound with compatible phones, and the 3.5mm audio cable. Several audiophile competitors (the Sennheiser Momentum 4 in this guide, and the Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2) have USB-C audio support for serious hi-res files, and aptX for broader high-quality wireless tech (or LDAC).
The 24-hour battery life is also lower than the 30 hours that's standard for noise-cancelling headphones, and massively lower than the 60 hours for the Sennheiser headphones in this list. But we can forgive all these faults for the sound quality on offer here.
Check out the latest Bose coupon codes, including an exclusive 10% saving for TechRadar readers
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review
The best earbuds for ANC
✅ Noise cancellation really matters to you: These buds are at the top of the ANC game as it stands right now, and that’s without compromising on the sound quality.
✅ You want beautifully balanced sound: Whatever CustomTune is actually doing, it’s working. The sound is very well balanced, with a lot of detail and texture.
❌ You’d prefer high-definition wireless sound quality: With support for just low-definition wireless codecs, the QCE II may not be for everyone. There’s no LDAC or aptX support.
❌ Size and wireless charging matter to you: Despite Bose managing to shrink its flagship ANC buds, the QCE II aren’t the smallest true wireless options you can get.
As impressive as the first generation Bose QuietComfort Earbuds were, it would be fair to suggest that the second generation of Bose's premium noise-cancelling in-ears has improved upon them in almost every way.
Design refinements with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 vastly improve the noise cancellation, for example, which is especially impressive given the originals already offered some of the best ANC at the time of their release. As an added plus, our review found that you don’t lose out on audio quality for these improvements to ANC, as the “sound is very well balanced, with a heck of a lot of details and textures coming through. And if you find the need to tweak it, you can via the EQ in the app.”
With that said, there are a few specs missing from these buds that are a little disappointing when considering the premium price – there's no support for high-def wireless codecs and no wireless charging, for example.
However, if you’re after the best noise-cancelling true wireless buds currently available, look no further as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are unmatched in that area.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review
The best looking headphones
✅ You like to look good: Not everyone cares about looks. But if you want people to gaze longingly at your over-ears, these are probably the set for you.
✅ You're prepared to pay extra for class-leading sound:
There's no doubt that the PX8 sound absolutely jaw-dropping for detail, clarity, energy and agility.
❌ You need class-leading battery life: The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless can offer double the 30 hours offered by the PX8. Mind you, 30 hours is hardly poor…
❌ You desire listening gear that folds up: Bowers & Wilkins' newest proposition follows the recent tendency for lying flat, but not folding up for easy transport.
If the only factor to be taken into consideration when determining the best headphones were sonic quality, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 would land much, much higher up this list. But then there's the price. While you can certainly spend even more on headphones, at around AU$1,000, they ain't cheap.
It also makes them vastly expensive than the majority of consumers would or should ever consider for a pair of new headphones. Still, the price tag isn't necessarily without its justifications. A new carbon cone 40mm drive unit replaces the bio-cellulose driver in the (slightly) more affordable Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 and the die-cast aluminium arms, diamond-cut bright metal detailing and Nappa leather trim elevates the build to high-end territory.
And the sound quality is simply exceptional, with agile, dynamic sound coming through crystal clear and at a performance level that is simply top of the class. You also get a generous 30 hours of battery life, which is impressive when considering how much is packed into the headphones that could elsewhere be used as justification for a more modest juice cycle.
If money is no object and sound performance is what matters most to you, these are the best headphones money can buy. It's just the asking price being so far beyond what many could reasonably consider drastically harming the PX8's overall value which sees these headphones tumble so far down this list.
Read our full Bowers & Wilkins PX8 review
The best wired earbuds
✅ You want uncompromising sound: Audio quality is where the Triple Drivers stand out, delivering a balanced yet detailed sound with mid-bass.
✅ You want the best possible value: At this price range, it's hard to find headphones that can match the level of quality build and design you're getting.
❌ You don't like wires: The biggest gripe we had with these headphones is that the rubber cable would catch on itself, which can be distracting when listening on the go.
❌ You value quality materials: Another minor flaw we found during our testing was that the plastic remote feels cheap, like the rubber material used for the cable.
After testing the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones for a few weeks, we found that they deliver fantastic sound and equally fantastic value for money. That's why we consider them to be the best headphones for those who prefer wired earbuds.
For the price, it would be difficult to find a better-sounding and more well-built pair of earphones than the 1MORE Triple Drivers – although if you want a little extra refinement and more luxurious materials, the same firm's 1MORE Quad Drivers are even more impressive, albeit at twice the price.
The inbuilt remote feels a little cheap, but that's more than made up for by the lush sound quality offered by these luxe-looking earbuds. For the price, you would struggle to do better than 1MORE's Triple Driver in-ear headphones.
Read our full 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone review
The best headphones for workouts
✅ You want a secure fit on the treadmill: An intuitive wing-tip fit means the Beats Fit Pro should stay in place in all ear types.
✅ You sweat a lot: Not all pairs of wireless earbuds lay claim to being sweat resistant, but the Beats are fully protected.
❌ You're an Android user: While Android users can still use them, it's iPhone owners that will get the full benefits, including Spatial Audio.
❌ You workout for hours: While not a huge drawback, we did find they could get uncomfortable over longer listening sessions.
With the Beats Fit Pro, Apple's taken its winning formula for competent in-ear headphones and turned it into one of the best pairs of workout headphones we've tested. These noise-cancelling earbuds take the performance of the Apple AirPods Pro and place it in a more workout-friendly form, complete with wing tips that keep them in place and a custom-designed driver for a bassier sound.
These Beats earbuds boast a new sound profile with elevated highs and lows as well as good overall clarity. When we put them through their paces with Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow's INDUSTRY BABY, we found them to deliver the driving bass line followed by a vocal track that moves depending on which way you’re facing, supporting Apple Music's Dolby Atmos. If you want the concert experience during your run or when you're at the gym, these are the best workout earbuds to get.
They don’t support wireless charging like the AirPods Pro. But, they make up for that with around 6 hours per charge with 18 hours in the charging case with the ANC on.
Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
Other headphones to consider
Recently, we reviewed the biggest recent headphones launch: the Sonos Ace. Sonos' first headphones are a very premium price, and have a design to match. But the audio quality for music is a step behind the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones we recommend above. However, we absolutely loved them for their movie performance and spatial audio, either when used with a Sonos soundbar or with any Dolby Atmos-capable device – if you're a big movie fan, you should still read our Sonos Ace review.
If music is your focus, though, you should absolutely take a look at our Sennheiser HD 620S review. These audiophile-friendly wired headphones are comfortable, reliable and sound magnificent for the price – but you're missing out on the convenience of wireless tech or the travel-friendliness of noise cancellation, even though they're a rare thing for Sennheiser's fancy wired headphones: they're closed-back.
Any looking for mid-range noise cancelling earbuds should look at our Motorola Moto Buds Plus review – we liked these a lot, especially with their Bose-powered ANC, but they just don't edge out the picks we already have in this guide.
And speaking of earbuds, if you like a loooooong battery life and the latest tech ideas, take a look at the JBL Live Beam 3. These have a screen built into the case, which works better than it has in previous attempts at this – but more than that, the 10 hours of battery life in the buds with ANC turned on is absolutely class leading. Compare that to 6 hours from AirPods Pro 2! Read our full JBL Live Beam 3 review for more.
How to choose the best headphones for you
One of the key parts of being able to choose the best headphones for you is knowing what you're talking/reading about. There's a lot of jargon around headphones, so here's an explanation of all the key terms you'll need to know when buying headphones today.
3.5mm jack: The classic wired connection for headphones – not all of today’s wireless headphones support this, though, so we make sure to highlight it, for when only wired use will do.
Active noise cancellation (ANC): A way of processing audio to counteract extraneous sounds around you and remove them from what you’re hearing. Microphones on the outside of the headphones listen for ambient external sounds, then create an ‘antiphase’ (often called ‘anti-noise’) soundwave, which is mixed into your music to ‘cancel out’ the ambient noise. This means you can listen to music at lower volume levels, or can hear podcasts more clearly.
aptX: A higher-quality audio streaming system from compatible devices, that works over Bluetooth, but is capable of streaming higher-resolution files. There are multiple versions of aptX, but in new headphones you are mostly likely to see aptX Adaptive, which can work at different quality levels depending on connection strength. You may also see a reference to aptX Lossless, which is part of aptX Adaptive, and is the highest-quality connection the tech currently offers. There is also aptX Voice, which is designed to make your voice clearer on calls, and is also part of aptX Adaptive.
Auracast: A new Bluetooth connection system, still in its early stages. It enables you to connect Auracast-ready headphones to any Auracast transmission source without needing to ‘pair’ your headphones in the usual Bluetooth method, meaning that you could connect to a TV in a bar to hear a sports game, or connect to your airport gate to hear announcements. It was developed for hearing-aid use, but will be supported by a large number of headphones due to its convenience.
Bluetooth: The technology that effectively all headphones rely on for a wireless connection. It is capable of supporting many different music streaming technologies, including aptX, LDAC and LHDC. The two standard and most common streaming technologies are called SBC and AAC, and are supported on the vast majority of earbuds. There are many different versions of Bluetooth, and higher versions enable newer features such as Bluetooth LE Audio or Auracast – however, supporting a new version of Bluetooth doesn’t guarantee that these technologies are supported, so always check the specs. Bluetooth 5.4 is the latest version at the time of writing, though Bluetooth 5.3 is more common, and supports every major Bluetooth feature.
Bluetooth LE Audio: The next-gen version of Bluetooth’s standard music streaming technology, which is technically called LC3. LC3 is capable of delivering higher-quality music than SBC or AAC while using less power – or much higher quality at the same level of power use. There are limited models that currently support LE Audio, and even fewer phones that support it. We hope that will change in the future.
Dolby Atmos: A spatial audio format used in both music and movies. Instead of music being encoded into ‘channels’, different parts of the audio are encoded as ‘objects’ that can be positioned in 3D space, meaning that they can be heard in specific and realistic positions.
Drivers: The part of the headphones that make the sound – often called speakers. The type used on almost all headphones and earbuds are ‘dynamic’ drivers, which are the traditional cone-shaped speakers you see on loudspeakers, just smaller (usually between 5mm and 13mm on earbuds, and between 20mm and 50mm on headphones). However, some headphones use ‘planar magnetic’ drivers, which are more precise and favored by audiophiles, but are typically more expensive and harder to produce.
EQ: This is the short term for ‘equalizer’, which is a way to adjust the sound balance of a pair of headphones, to enable you to increase or decrease the bass tones, mid-range and treble. Many wireless headphones these days come with an app that enables you to control the EQ, either by choosing presents for different genres (such as rock, classical or pop), or by giving you a series of sliders to adjust these frequencies yourself. EQs are split into ‘bands’, so a three-band EQ has three sliders: one for bass, one for mid, one for treble. A nine-band EQ has nine sliders, giving you finer control across the sound range.
Hi-Res Audio: High-resolution audio is music that has been digitally stored with much more information in the file than the more compressed versions you get if you use MP3 files, or stream from Spotify. We have a whole guide on what Hi-Res Audio is, but the idea is that you can hear more detail in your music, so they’re closer to the original recordings. Hi-Res files also tend to offer more dynamic range, and expansiveness, so they sound more natural. This all depends on the headphones being good enough to express this extra quality level, of course – you will find that many headphones are ‘Hi-Res Certified’, but this is just on a technical level, not a quality level. Most of the best streaming services support some kind of Hi-Res Audio files now, though they’re a lot larger than the lower-quality files we’re used to before, so some services won’t default to playing these files unless you’re on a Wi-Fi network.
In-ear: This means that a pair of earbuds has tips that fit into your ear canal. You may see the term ‘IEM’ used, which means ‘In-ear monitor’ – this is a particular kind of in-ear bud favored by professionals, and it’s often used even in consumer wired earbuds to say that a pair of earbuds is very high-quality and will have a very noise-isolating fit.
Find My: Both Apple and Android phones have a system that enables them to find lost devices, and some headphones support this. On iPhones, it’s simply called Find My. On Android, it’s called Find My Device. Some headphones have a custom version of this feature based on their app, rather than the version built into the phone software. The built-in version is strongly preferable.
Head tracking: On headphones that support spatial audio, head tracking is an additional piece of processing whereby the headphones can detect the movement of your head from the source device, and use it to make the 3D sound of Dolby Atmos or other spatial formats feel more true to life. It means that the sound you’re listening to doesn’t have to move with you when you move your head – it can sound more like you’re sitting in a room of speakers, even when you’re wearing headphones.
LDAC: This is a higher-quality music streaming technology that works over Bluetooth, much like aptX. It was developed by Sony, and is heavily supported by the company’s products, and support is possible on Android phones, and many of the best portable music players.
LHDC: This is another higher-quality music streaming technology, and a rival to aptX and LDAC: It is also possible for Android phones to support it.
Lossless: Lossless music is essentially music that has been streamed/transmitted using technology that doesn’t lose detail from the original file. The original files of a music recording are very large, and must be reduced for efficient streaming or download. MP3 is a ‘lossy’ technology, which means it removes information from the track in order to make it much smaller. Other file types, such as FLAC (used by Tidal) and ALAC (used by Apple Music) are lossless, which means that the files are larger than MP3, but they retain all the original audio information. Read more in our dedicated audio file format explainer.
Multi-point Bluetooth: A newer Bluetooth feature that enables your headphones to be paired with two (or even three, in rare cases) devices at the same time, so you can switch between them instantly, without needing to disconnect and reconnect, or re-pair, your headphones each time.
Noise isolation: This refers to the passive ability of a pair of headphones or earbuds to isolate you from ambient sounds, without using the processing of active noise cancellation. So it refers to the way that earbuds also act like earplugs to block outside sound, or the way that over-ear headphones provide a seal around your ears to do the same thing.
On-ear: An on-ear fit refers to headphones with a small earpad that sits directly on your auricle (the part of the ear that’s outside the head). This tends to provide a less-perfect seal for noise isolation than over-ear headphones, and some find it less comfortable – but some prefer it.
Over-ear: An over-ear fit means the earpads of the headphones are larger, and sit around your auricle, so your whole ear is encompassed within their seal. This is the fit of choice for the best noise-cancelling headphones, because it provides the best passive noise isolation, which they can then enhance with active noise cancellation.
Planar magnetic: This type of speaker driver can be more precise and dynamic than the dynamic drivers used in most headphones, and is a favorite of audiophiles. However, it’s expensive and hard to power, meaning that headphones that use it tend to be heavy and pricey.
Snapdragon Sound: This is a combination of wireless technologies designed to provide a better experience if you have both a phone and pair of headphones that support it. It combines the higher-quality streaming of aptX with other features designed to reduce the latency of the Bluetooth connection (ie, how long it takes to transmit the sound), to improve the quality of voice calls, and to improve the overall reliability of the connection. ‘Snapdragon’ is a series of chips made by Qualcomm, and are used in many Android phones. Read more in our in-depth Snapdragon Sound explainer.
Spatial audio: A generic term used to describe various types of 3D sound technologies used in headphones. Apple uses it to refer to its own particular mix of Dolby Atmos support with head tracking. Other brands may use it for equivalent features, but there’s no rule as to exactly what it means, other than that the idea is to make the sound feel like it’s coming from all around you, not right in your ears – think Dirac Virtuo, DTS:X, THX and of course Dolby Atmos. It’s especially good with movies, where it can recreate the home theater experience in headphones.
Transparency mode: A variation of active noise cancellation. Instead of blocking the outside noise, the processing actually mixes ambient noise into your music intelligently, so you can hear what’s going on around you without overwhelming your music. That way, you can hear a train announcement, have a conversation, or be aware of traffic. Different manufacturers call this mode different things – it may be something like ‘Aware mode’, “HearThru’ or ‘Ambient mode’. We tend to call it ‘Transparency mode’ as a rule, to make it easy to compare products in our guide.
USB-C Audio: Some headphones offer the ability to play digital audio from a computer or phone when connected by a USB-C cable, and the advantage of this is that it can support extremely high-quality resolution tracks – far beyond what any version of Bluetooth currently supports. For audiophiles, a pair of headphones that can do both wireless for convenience and USB-C Audio for wired Hi-Res Audio playback, can be preferential.
How we test the best headphones
☑️ More than 2,400 audio reviews
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
When it comes to the best headphones, we focus on sound quality above everything else. We look at both wired and wireless cans and earbuds that would appeal to audiophiles, as well as those working in professional roles.
However, we also appreciate that budget is important too, so we compare like for like, picking out budget headphones that perform admirably for the price.
We also look at other features such as ANC, battery life, fit, and of course the usability and extra perks offered by any companion apps. Of course, design and whether they look (and feel) good all adds to the model's desirability – and this is noted as we listen to music across a wide range of genres over several days.
We have tested all of the headphones in this guide extensively, spending plenty of time analyzing the sound, fit, design, specs, and value for money so that you will be able to choose a product you'll be over the moon with.
FAQ
What are the best headphones I can buy right now?
The best headphones aren't necessarily guaranteed to be the best for you, as which options are best for your needs will depend on your preferences, style, budget and where you hope to primarily wear your headphones.
Luckily, there's options for everyone to be found without much effort thanks to our list above. While our top pick might be the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones, we consider the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 our favourite pair of earbuds, while two offerings from Australia's own Nura (the NuraTrue and Nuraloop, respectively) earn their places in the discussion of the best headphones.
If you have a tighter budget, however, we'd suggest the Sennheiser HD 250BT headphones as our pick for the best budget wireless headphones, while we're bullish on the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds being the best budget true-wireless option.
If money is no object and the best of the best sound quality matters to you, however, you might find no better option than the Bowers & Wilkins PX8.
The best headphones for you depend on you, but you're sure to find something suitable in our list above.
Which brand is best for headphones?
There's no one perfect headphone brand out there. It all depends on your budget, audio needs, the features you want, and even the comfort or design involved with the headphones.
That's why we've included numerous headphones covering different price ranges and feature sets. While major brands like Sony and Bose may stand out most and Melbourne-based Nura have emerged as serious competitors, that doesn't mean you shouldn't rule out the others, with something for everyone out there.
What are the best headphones for working out?
When it comes to finding the best headphones for working out, the first thing you will need to determine is if they're water resistant. The last thing you want is to ruin your new pair of headphones because they aren't prepared for dealing with the sweat that comes with most exercise.
The next thing to consider is fit. Many people choose to go for true-wireless earbuds when working out due to their portability, however this style does come with some downsides. Without wires and being so small, it's pretty easy for them to pop out of your ear while you're bouncing around and can then get lost.
For this reason, our pick for the best headphones for working out is the NuraLoop headphones. These are wireless, though not true wireless, with a connecting band between the two buds that will drape over your neck. This means that there's less concern about losing one, or them falling out and bouncing away from you when you're working out.
These (and others with similar design) also hook over your ears to better secure the fit, meaning you won't have to worry about losing your headphones as much as you would with earbuds, while also avoiding the over- and on-ear designs that can trap in heat and sweat while exercising.
Are wired headphones better than wireless?
Generally speaking, wired headphones do deliver better sound quality than wireless headphones. But audio tech has seen so much positive advancement in recent years that many of the best wireless headphones offer more than enough performance to ensure you're unlikely to notice a difference.
We often still recommend that strict audiophiles continue to opt for wired headphones, but for everyone else it will be mostly down to personal preference.
