Top Pick for
Most people
Top Pick for
Second-best
Top Pick for
Noise-cancelling earbuds
Top Pick for
All rounder
There are a lot of noise-cancelling headphone options out there, including in-ear and over-ear models, wired or wireless. Finding the right pair is an important decision, as noise-cancelling headphones tend to come with a premium price tag.
Our team tested dozens of pairs of headphones with noise cancellation to come up with this list of products that we can happily recommend.
Finder's team of experts spent hundreds of hours testing and reviewing headphones. For each pair, we considered the design, performance, battery life and overall value for money.
Our editorial team selected the noise-cancelling headphones on this list based on the results from our testing as well as real customer reviews and key product features.
Read more about our methodology below.
These headphones were also included on our list of the best Bluetooth headphones. They sound fantastic and have some of the best noise cancellation on the market, with 2 microphones on each ear cup that detect sound and cancel it out.
They also have a sensor that captures ambient noise extremely effectively and can automatically adjust how much ambient noise to let in based on your location.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones have on-ear controls and offer up to 30 hours of battery life with noise cancellation switched on. They can also pair to 2 devices at the same time.
Find out more in our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Sony was ranked 1st for value for money, 3rd for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 4th for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
If you prefer Bose to Sony, we recommend the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. The Bose 700s offer 11 different levels of noise cancellation so you can control how much ambient noise you want to hear.
The highest level of cancellation blocks out an impressive amount of noise, even if you're not listening to anything. They also offer 20 hours of battery life and have a quick charge feature that gives you 3.5 more hours of listening after a 15-minute charge.
These over-ear headphones have an extremely comfortable, lightweight design and come with a slim travel case.
For more information, check out our full review of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Bose was ranked 3rd for value for money, 1st for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 1st for features and design and 1st for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Sony is also responsible for the best noise-cancelling earbuds for the second generation in a row.
Previous the XM3s held this spot, but the XM4s have offered a few improvements to make them a worthy replacement. This includes water resistance as well as a smaller and more comfortable form-factor this time around. The case is also much smaller.
The audio quality and noise cancellation are also excellent thanks to the 7mm drivers and external microphones to measure noise and automatically adjust to the ideal level of noise cancellation for your environment.
They offer up to 24 hours of listening time with noise cancellation and up to 32 hours of listening time without it. They also have an extra 10-minute quick charge for 90 additional minutes of playtime.
They have a recommended retail price of $449.95, but you can find them at several retailers for a little less. They are also our pick for the best wireless earbuds in Australia.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Sony was ranked 1st for value for money, 3rd for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 4th for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
It was quite difficult to choose between the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 as the best noise-cancelling earbuds.
While the sound quality and inclusions of the XM4s are a touch better, you're still getting truly spectacular buds here.
Sennheiser's active noise cancellation (ANC) and audio quality are sensational. And we find the Momentum True Wireless 3 to be more comfortable than the Sony XM4s. They also have great battery life and a smaller case than the previous generation.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Sennheiser was ranked 4th for value for money, 3rd for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 7th for features and design and 2nd for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
The AirPods Pro are interesting because while they're up there in terms of price, they are nowhere near as good as the XM4s or Momentum 2 as ANC earbuds.
So why are we calling them out? While the ANC and audio are by no means best-in-class, they offer quality-of-life features. They connect to your phone instantly (if you have an iPhone), charge quickly, offer wireless charging, have great battery life and are super comfortable.
They are also in a form factor that doesn't fall out easily, which makes them versatile.
The AirPods Pro and their popularity are proof that oftentimes people just want something slick that works easily. And they do.
They were released in 2019, so you can now find them at several retailers for less than Apple's $399 asking price.
For more information, check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Apple was ranked 8th for value for money, 3rd for performance, 1st for ease of use, 2nd for features and design and 4th for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 over-ear headphones were released in 2018, so you can now get them at most retailers for much cheaper than their original asking price of $499.95. At the time of writing you can find them for under $200 from some retailers.
Despite being a few years old, the Sony WH-1000XM3s are absolutely still worth buying. This is because they were incredibly future-proofed when first released. On top of having incredible ANC and audio, they had a lot of battery life and were one of the first high-end consumer headphones to utilise USB-C for charging.
While the newer Sony WH-1000XM4s top our list because they are best-in-class, the changes Sony made were incremental. The battery life is even the same as the previous generation.
Honestly, unless you have the budget to drop $500+ on headphones (that are admittedly great) I still recommend opting for the XM3s because they still hold up so well even 3 years later.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Sony was ranked 1st for value for money, 3rd for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 4th for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
When I first saw the $899 price tag attached to the AirPods Max I nearly choked. How on earth could Apple justify that when its rivals, which were already pricey, start at almost $400 cheaper?
I was determined to dislike these things but dammit, I just couldn't. Don't get me wrong, the price is still tear-inducing, even for Apple. But the audio, noise cancellation, sound (especially the 3D spatial audio) and design are truly spectacular. The mesh band is especially excellent during Australian summer.
The AirPods Max are better than they have any right to be, but they aren't without issues. They're quite heavy. And the protective case not only doesn't protect them but transforms an otherwise chic pair of headphones into what looks like a bra cross with a handbag.
The good news is that you can get them for a lot cheaper now. But even at around $700 these are still pricey. But if you're an Apple fan who wants a high-quality headset that will fit seamlessly into your gadget ecosystem, these are annoyingly good.
Read more in our full review of the Apple AirPods Max.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Apple was ranked 8th for value for money, 3rd for performance, 1st for ease of use, 2nd for features and design and 4th for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Audio Technica's ATH-ANC900BT over-ear noise-cancelling headphones boast an impressive 35-hour wireless battery life and a 60-hour wired battery life with active noise cancellation. They take around 5.5 hours to fully recharge.
They offer 3 levels of noise cancellation that you can adjust using the Connect app.
They have excellent audio quality, but they're not the most comfortable set of over-ear headphones that we've tested, especially for those with smaller heads.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For headphones, Audio Technica was ranked 8th for value for money, 6th for performance, 1st for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 7th for sound quality.
11 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
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8We compared noise-cancelling headphones from the following brands and eliminated any products that weren't widely available across Australia:
We then considered how the headphones performed when we tested them, comparing the design, performance, battery life, overall value for money and, of course, noise cancellation levels of each product. We ended up with what we believe are the 8 best noise-cancelling headphones in Australia.
The Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards is an annual national survey conducted in partnership with research firm Dynata. With over 30,000 real shoppers participating, the awards serve as a reliable reflection of Australian consumers' preferences and opinions.
Here are the scores for headphone brands from 2024.
| Brand | Ease of use | Features and design | Overall | Performance | Sound quality | Value for money | Recommended | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bose | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 91% | 4.59 |
| Sony | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 98% | 4.56 |
| Apple | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 94% | 4.5143 |
| Beats by Dr. Dre | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4 | 96% | 4.5143 |
| Sennheiser | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 94% | 4.5143 |
| Audio Technica | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 95% | 4.46 |
| JBL | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 94% | 4.43 |
| Samsung | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 94% | 4.43 |
| Skullcandy | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 92% | 4.39 |
| Philips | 4.1 | 4 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 90% | 4.23 |
| Logitech | 4 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4 | 3.9 | 82% | 4 |
38% off Soundcore by Anker Noise Cancelling Headphones: $135.99
15% off JBL Live 660 wireless over-ear noise cancelling headphones: $212.41
$100 off Bose QuietComfort Wireless noise-cancelling headphones: $448
20% off Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Headphones
26% off Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Bose has not-so-subtly refined its already excellent QuietComfort Earbuds with a better shape, simpler case and improved audio quality.
Apple’s improved just about everything for its second generation AirPods Pro wireless headphones
Google goes pro with the Pixel Buds Pro, creating a set of audio buds best suited for hardcore Android users – especially Pixel owners.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones deliver superior sound, excellent comfort and easy travel compatibility, as you'd expect. However, they're not a huge step up from their predecessors, or even Bose's most "premium" headphones, and that means that they're still second-best to Sony's WH-1000XM4s.
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Audio-Technica's active noise cancelling true wireless buds have great sound, but they're lacking in some features commonly found in premium headphones.
Quick verdict: Audio-Technica's ATH-CK3TW wireless headphones deliver better sound than you'd expect at this price point.