GetMartThe Australian Buyer’s Almanac Afterpay Day in 5d
Fair PricesReviewed 15 Aug 2026

Noise-cancelling headphones: what you should pay

Over-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancelling good enough for flights and open offices.

GREAT FAIR HIGH $300 $450 What you should pay (AUD)
Why these numbers

Flagship-class cancelling regularly promos under $300 (especially previous-generation models); $300–450 is standard for current flagships; above $450 you’re paying launch-window premiums.

Price check

Is the price you’re looking at any good?

Timing: good time. Afterpay Day (late Aug) usually includes major audio brands. Full timing for headphones & earbuds →
THE PICKS

What to actually buy

Our pick

Sony WH-1000XM5

  • Benchmark noise cancelling and battery life
  • Regularly promoted into the GREAT zone since the XM6 era began
  • Comfortable for a full Sydney–Perth flight
Check today’s price →
Budget

Soundcore Space Q45

  • A shocking fraction of flagship performance for the money
  • Battery life that outlasts any long-haul
  • The right answer for commuters on a budget
Check today’s price →
Upgrade

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

  • The comfort king — lightest clamp of the big three
  • Cancelling that particularly suits chatter-heavy offices
  • For people who wear them eight hours a day
Check today’s price →
We don’t print prices for these picks because prices change daily and a stale number is worse than none. The buttons open Amazon AU, where today’s real price lives. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you, and it never changes what we recommend. Full disclosure →
BUYING TIPS

Before you buy

  • Previous-generation flagships are the smartest buy in audio — the XM5 vs XM6 gap is small; the price gap isn’t.
  • Black Friday, Prime Day and Afterpay Day all reliably include the big three brands.
  • Buying for flights? Check the case fits your carry-on pocket — the Bose case is chunky.

Common questions

Are noise-cancelling headphones worth it?

For open-plan offices, flights and commutes, they’re the single highest-satisfaction tech purchase most people make. For quiet homes, save your money.

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