With headphones of all types, colours and styles flooding the market, it’s hard knowing which ones to pick – do you go for the premium model you’ve always wanted, or are you better off just grabbing a cheap set from the discount bin?
Well, it’s worth remembering that cheap headphones are cheap for a reason, so even if saving money is priority we can’t recommend those $2 discount-bin variety that you find all over the world. And, as you’ll find out below, you don’t always have spend a lot of dosh to snag a great set of headphones either.
To save you the time and effort, we’ve put together this dedicated guide to the best bargains on great-sounding headphone. We constantly monitor major Aussie retailers and go a-huntin’ to bring you the most worthwhile deals on a variety of sets – from in-ear buds to noise-cancelling cans – so check out our continually updated list below to discover the best current headphones deals in Australia.
Best cheap over-ear headphones this week
Bose QC 35 II | usually $499 now 409
The price of these ever-popular noise-cancelling cans has been fluctuating on Amazon lately, and it’s far from the cheapest price we saw last year, but it’s still less than its usual RRP. So if you’d like to lay your hands on this excellent and very popular noise cancelling cans, then head to Amazon. View Deal
Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones| usually $499 now $395
While it’s been possible to snag the excellent Sony WH-1000XM3 cans for $399, it’s pretty much gone back to full price at most major retailers. However, MobileCiti can help you save over $100 on the black set, with the headphones listed at $395.View Deal
JBL Everest Elite 750 | usually $429 now $343
It’s not a massive discount, but we don’t usually see JBL’s excellent and very premium Everest Elite 750 over-ear headphones go on sale. However, you can snag an $86 discount from VideoPro on three colour options – the silver, blue and gun metal.View Deal
JBL Duet NC | usually $349 now $197.77
With JBL’s signature sound, you get 24 hours of battery and a 2-hour charge for a full day’s worth of listening. These premium wireless cans also feature active noise cancelling and are currently less than $200 on Amazon. Keep in mind, though, that these are shipping from the US store and are international versions.View Deal
Best cheap in-ear headphones this week
Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100 | usually $159 now $119
The reflective finish on these wireless headphones are a great when you head out for an evening/night run. Plus, they’re waterproof and promise an excellent and comfortable fit so you can put them through the rigours of any workout. And you can save $40 on the grey and black sets at JB Hi-Fi.View Deal
(Image: © Jabra)
Jabra Elite 65t | usually $299 now from $259
By far one of the most balanced sounding true wireless headphones available today, the Jabra Elite 65t is also earpods you can personalise via an accompanying app. And while it does come with a premium price tag, you can save about $40 on Amazon right now on the Copper Black colour option.View Deal
Sony WI-1000X noise-cancelling headphones | usually $449 now $379
Sony does noise cancelling well, and its in-ear ‘buds are just as good as cans, but without the discomfort of having something big around your head. So if you’re after a premium set of ‘buds to shut the world out during your daily commute, the WI-1000X will offer digital noise cancelling, now at a relatively affordable price of $379 on Amazon. That’s over $70 cheaper than Sony’s own price tag. It’s not the cheapest price we’ve seen, but it’s still a decent bargain.View Deal
Jaybird Tarah | usually $149 now $129
It might be just a $20 discount at JB Hi-Fi, but these are the latest wireless sports ‘buds from Jaybird. They’re sweat- and waterproof, offers up to six hours of playtime and is affordable.View Deal
B&O BeoPlay E8 | usually $449 now $343
Everyone’s cutting the cords, so you should too. And why not get a touch of luxury while you’re at it? B&O’s first true-wireless ‘buds are on sale at VideoPro for $343 a pop, saving you over $100 on the premium product. These earphones are available in black and grey. View Deal
Sony WF-1000XN | usually $399 now $289
Looking for noise-cancelling ‘buds? Sony’s premium offering comes in the form of the WF-1000XN, which is about $400 a pop, but you can save $110 when shopping from Appliances Online. This offer is available only on the gold pair. View Deal
The best deals on our favourite headphones
To help you decide which headphones work best for you, we’ve decided to put together a little buying guide with a list of our favourite recommendations.
The headphones you’ll find here have tons of features to help you to get the most out of your music, or any other form of audio-visual entertainment you prefer, however you like to listen to it.
1. Sony WH-1000XM2
Don’t compromise good sound for noise cancellation
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 23g | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: 4Hz-40kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Driver type: Dynamic | Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless range: 9m | NFC: Yes
Excellent noise cancellation
Best sound performance money can buy
Long battery life
A touch fragile
For the most part, when shopping for noise cancellation headphones we’ve gotten used to making a compromise between shutting the world out and wanting great sound performance. But no longer. Sony’s WH-1000XM2 cans are a great redesign of the already-excellent MDR-1000X and offer not just perfect noise cancellation but also score top marks in sound quality. These headphones easily outclass Bose’s flagship QC35 II in terms of both soundscape and feature set.
Read more: Sony WH-1000XM2 review
2. Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Industry-leading noise cancellation
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 24g | Cable length: 1.2m | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: 40mm | Battery life: up to 40 hours | Wireless range: 9m | NFC: Yes
Broad soundscape
Excellent noise cancellation
Active EQ not for everyone
The very popular and excellent Bose QC35s underwent an upgrade and now come with Google Assistant at your beck and call. For a premium price, not only do you get Bose’s world class noise cancellation and good sound quality, you also get a personal butler and an incredibly comfortable set of cans. And with up to 40 hours of battery life, you’ll get through any long-haul flight.
Read more: Bose QuietComfort 35 II review
1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones
Good sound and good value
Acoustic design: Closed | Cable type: Y | Driver type: Dynamic | Frequency: 20Hz-4kHz | Mic: Inline | Battery life: N/A | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: N/A
Lush sound
Beautifully designed
Excellent value for money
Plastic remote looks cheap
For a little over $100, it’s hard to recommend a better sounding pair of ‘buds than the 1More Triple Driver in-ears. It’s hard to fault the headphones, if you can put up with the rubber cable and the plastic remote. Even that is just us nitpicking. For the price, it’s our top recommendation of in-ear headphones if your phone still has a headphone jack or you don’t mind using an adaptor.
Read more: 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones review
4. Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
For the next time you travel
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 289g | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: N/A | Drivers: 40mm | Driver type: Dynamic | Battery life: 24 hours | Wireless range: 100m | NFC: No
Incredible all-day battery life
Multi-point Bluetooth
Good sound quality
Design may not suit everyone
If you’re a frequent flyer, or commute long distances daily, you’ll understand the need for a great pair of noise cancelling headphones. Unfortunately, most of them cost a pretty penny. But not the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. These headphones offer not just good sound and shut the world out, but do it at pretty much half the cost of the usual suspects of Sony, Bose and Beats. They also have a useful feature that turns the headphones off when you’re not wearing them, saving battery. And did we mention you can pair two devices at once as well? If that isn’t great value, then we don’t know what else is.
Read more: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 review
5. Jabra Elite 65t
The best true wireless ‘buds
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 6.5g + 5.8g | Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz | Drivers: N/A | Cable length: N/A | Battery life: 4.5 hours (15 hours with charging case) | Wireless range: N/A | NFC: No
Understated design
Balanced soundscape
Pleasure to use
Limited ear tips
With headphone jacks fast disappearing from flagship handsets, wireless headphones is the way to go. But not everyone likes the feel of a set of cans on their head and cables, no matter how small, can get annoying. If that’s describing you, then true wireless ‘buds are the answer to your prayers. While most of them compromise on sound quality, the Jabra Elite 65t not only sound good but offer ambient noise isolation as well. They’re an excellent substitute if you aren’t too keen on the other-worldly look of Apple’s AirPods.
Read more: Jabra Elite 65t review
6.Optoma NuForce BE Sport4
The near-perfect set of wireless ‘buds
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 15.5g | Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Dynamic | Battery life: 10 hours | Wireless range: 29m | NFC: No
Impressive sound quality
Multiple ear tips
Practical design
Can’t listen one-eared
It’s hard to find the Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 wireless ‘buds, but if you’re after a set of no-frills headphones that don’t compromise on sound quality, you’ll want to look for these. They do an excellent job of isolating sound when in a noisy environment and boast up to 10 hours of battery. And with a 15-minute quick charge, you’ll get an additional two hours of playback out of them.
Read more: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 review
If you’re after more information on headphones in different form factors, take a look at some of our other dedicated audio articles:
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