Afterpay Day has delivered some exceptional headphone deals – as TechRadar AU's resident expert, these 5 have my seal of approval

JBL, Bose, Sony and Sonos headphones on a pink background with "Don't Miss" text in white.
(Image credit: Future)

Each time Afterpay Day comes rolling around in Australia — which is just twice each year, once in March and again in August — I admit I can be a little sceptical as to just how good the deals will be. That’s especially true this week, as the Amazon Big Smile Sale is also running to throw a proverbial spanner in the works.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered out it wasn’t Amazon that had some of the best headphone deals, but The Good Guys instead. Yes, the nation’s friendly electronics retailer has discounted a huge number of headphone models, and for Afterpay Day, you can save even more off your order using the code DEAL. It’s this extra code that allows The Good Guys to come up trumps when it comes to tantalising prices, so make sure to enter it at the checkout stage (though note that it can’t be used with the JBL Live Beam 3). I’ve picked out five of my favourite discounts below – and note that, despite the name, you don't actually need to checkout with Afterpay to get these specials; they're available with any payment type.

Of course, it’s not just headphones that are discounted this Afterpay Day, so to view all the latest and greatest deals, make sure to follow my live coverage of the sale for anything else that might appeal more to you.

Sony WH-1000XM5
Save 30% (AU$164)
Sony WH-1000XM5: was AU$549 now AU$385 at The Good Guys

This isn’t an all-time low on these excellent Sony headphones, but it’s not far off! They may technically have been superseded by a newer, more feature-packed model, but there’s no denying the Sony XM5s are still a supremely talented pair of over-ear headphones. Plus, their successor is a lot more expensive. The five-star XM5s on sale here send a richly detailed sound to your ears, and their noise cancellation is top notch.

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Sonos Ace
Save 36% (AU$214)
Sonos Ace: was AU$599 now AU$385 at The Good Guys

These Sonos headphones have remained my favourites since they launched in mid-2024. Their RRP has dropped AU$100 to AU$599, and while I love them, I can still admit that’s a lot of money. Fortunately this Afterpay Day deal fixes that gripe. For your money, you’re getting 40mm dynamic drivers, truly wonderful ANC and excellent 30-hour battery life. I particularly love how comfortable they are — I often wear these all day without feeling any fatigue.

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Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Save 39% (AU$212)
Bose QuietComfort Headphones: was AU$549 now AU$337 at The Good Guys

This iconic set of Bose noise-cancelling headphones has technically gone much lower in price before, but that was for a version with a soft carry case. You’re getting a hard shell case here for improved protection, while the headphones themselves deliver first-class ANC and superb sound quality in a travel-friendly design.

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Save 29% (AU$131)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): was AU$449 now AU$318 at The Good Guys

This Good Guys deal is an all-time low price on Bose's current flagship earbuds, making them a simply sensational purchase if you prefer the in-ear style of headphones. They deliver best-in-class ANC and a lovely, punchy and energetic sound. You also get the Immersive Audio feature that gives any song you listen to a 3D soundfield effect.

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JBL Live Beam 3
Save 33% (AU$81)
JBL Live Beam 3: was AU$249 now AU$168 at The Good Guys

Sitting pretty in our guide to the best wireless earbuds, the JBL Live Beam 3 is the top option if battery life is your main concern. Offering 12 hours from the buds and up to 48 hours in total via the charging case, you’ll hardly ever need to worry about being near a power outlet. They sound great too, serving up an expansive soundstage and they even have a touchscreen display on the case to assist with playback control.

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Max Langridge
Senior Editor, Home Entertainment & Broadband (APAC)

Max is a senior staff writer for TechRadar who covers home entertainment and audio first, NBN second and virtually anything else that falls under the consumer electronics umbrella third. He's also a bit of an ecommerce fiend, particularly when it comes to finding the latest coupon codes for a variety of publications. He has written for TechRadar's sister publication What Hi-Fi? as well as Pocket-lint, and he's also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica magazines. Max also dabbled in the men's lifestyle publication space, but is now firmly rooted in his first passion of technology.

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