Noise-cancelling headphones turn down the steady rumble of trains, planes and air-conditioning, and do much less for voices. The tables below compare the over-ear models and noise-cancelling earbuds on sale in Australia on the specs that matter, with maker and JB Hi-Fi prices read on 30 October 2026. A shortlist by need follows, and nothing here was tested.
On the makers’ own figures: for flights, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 (A$579, or A$399 on Sennheiser’s store) claims 60 hours with noise cancelling on and comes with an auxiliary cable. Android users get LDAC and LC3 with the Sony WH-1000XM6 (A$699.95). iPhone users can look at AirPods Pro 3 (A$429) or AirPods Max 2 (A$999). Under A$200, there is the Sony WH-CH720N (A$149.95) or soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds (A$169.99).
There is no single best pair of noise-cancelling headphones, because flights, commuting and phones pull in different directions. These picks follow the stated criteria, not hands-on testing.
Over-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones Compared
Sony, Bose, Apple and Sennheiser over-ear models current in Australia, on the makers’ own figures.
| Model | Maker price | JB Hi-Fi | Battery (ANC on) | Quick charge | Wired listening | Multipoint | Codecs | Weight | Replaceable parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | A$699.95 | A$698 | 30 h (26 h with LDAC) | 3 min ≈ 1 h; ≈ 3 h with a USB PD charger | ✓ 3.5 mm cable, ANC works wired | ✓ | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | 254 g | Not stated |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | A$699.95 | A$698 | 30 h (23 h with Immersive Audio) | 15 min = 3 h | ✓ 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm cable; USB-C audio | Not stated | Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive | 0.26 kg | ✓ Removable cushions |
| Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | A$549.95 | A$549 | 24 h (18 h with Immersive Audio) | 15 min = 2.5 h | ✓ USB-C audio; USB-C to 3.5 mm cable | ✓ | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Apple AirPods Max 2 | A$999 | A$999 | 20 h | 5 min ≈ 1.5 h | ✓ USB-C (lossless); 3.5 mm not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 386.2 g | Not stated |
| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless | A$579 (A$399 sale) | A$579 | 60 h | 10 min = up to 6 h | ✓ 1.2 m auxiliary cable; USB-C hi-res | Not stated | aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | Not stated | ✓ Earpads A$59.95 |
| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Wireless | A$749 (A$709 sale) | Not found | 57 h | 10 min = up to 7 h | ✓ 3.5 mm/2.5 mm cable; USB-C hi-res | Not stated | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive | About 290 g | ✓ Battery and earpads |
| Sony WH-CH720N | A$149.95 | Not found | 35 h | 3 min ≈ 1 h; 10 min ≈ 4.5 h | ✓ 3.5 mm cable, ANC works wired | ✓ | SBC, AAC | 192 g | Not stated |
Maker prices are each brand’s Australian store, and JB Hi-Fi prices are for the black or base colour, both read 30 October 2026 and including GST. “Not stated” means the maker does not list it; “Not found” means JB Hi-Fi did not list the model. Battery and charge figures are maker claims.
Noise-Cancelling Earbuds Compared
Sony, Bose, Apple and soundcore earbuds with active noise cancelling, on the makers’ own figures.
| Model | Maker price | JB Hi-Fi | Battery (ANC on) / with case | Water rating | Codecs | Multipoint | Wireless charging | Weight per bud |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WF-1000XM6 | A$499.95 | A$499 | 8 h (5 h with LDAC) / Not stated | IPX4 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | ✓ | ✓ Qi | 6.5 g with M tips |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) | A$449.95 | A$449 | 6 h (4 h with Immersive Audio) / case holds 3 full charges | IPX4 | Snapdragon Sound listed; codecs not stated | ✓ | ✓ | 0.01 kg as listed |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | A$429 | A$429 | 8 h / 24 h | IP57 | Not stated | Not stated | ✓ MagSafe, Qi | 5.55 g |
| Apple AirPods 5 | A$219 | A$219 | 4 h / 20 h | IP57 | Not stated | Not stated | ✗ USB-C case | 4.3 g |
| Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | A$249 | A$249 | 5 h / 22 h | IP57 | Not stated | Not stated | ✓ Qi | 4.3 g |
| soundcore Liberty 5 | A$169.99 (A$34 off on 30 Oct) | Not found | 8 h / 32 h | IP55 | LDAC; others not stated | ✓ | Not stated | 4.6 g |
Prices read 30 October 2026, including GST. Sony and Apple quote 5 minutes in the case for about 1 hour of listening; soundcore quotes 10 minutes for 5 hours. “Not stated” means the maker does not list it.
Shortlist by Need
Each pick follows from the stated criterion and the makers’ specifications. None were tested.
Flights
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless or Sony WH-1000XM6.
- Criterion: longest maker-stated ANC battery with a wired option. MOMENTUM 4 claims 60 hours and includes a 1.2 m auxiliary cable.
- Sony says the WH-1000XM6 keeps noise cancelling on the supplied cable where Bluetooth is restricted, such as on a plane.
iPhone users
AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Max 2.
- Criterion: Apple’s own features. Apple says functionality may be limited with non-Apple devices.
- Any model listing AAC also suits an iPhone: Sony says AAC is mainly used in Apple products.
Android users
Sony WH-1000XM6, Sony WF-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5.
- Criterion: higher-bitrate codecs. Sony lists LDAC and LC3; Sennheiser lists aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless.
- Your phone must support the same codec.
Under A$200
Sony WH-CH720N (A$149.95) or soundcore Liberty 5 (A$169.99).
- Criterion: lowest maker prices in the tables, with ANC and multipoint. The WH-CH720N claims 35 hours; Liberty 5 lists LDAC and six tip sizes.
Commuting
AirPods 5 or soundcore Liberty 5.
- Criterion: the two lightest maker-stated earbuds in the table with a transparency mode, at 4.3 g and 4.6 g per bud.
- Liberty 5 is rated IP55 and AirPods 5 IP57.
Keeping them for years
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).
- Criterion: replaceable parts. Sennheiser lists a user-replaceable battery and A$59.95 earpads; Bose lists removable cushions.
How Noise Cancelling Works and Its Limits
Active noise cancelling (ANC) uses microphones to pick up outside sound and plays an antiphase signal to cancel it. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 help guide says it works primarily on low-frequency noise such as vehicles and air-conditioning, that noise is reduced but not completely cancelled, and that the effect can drop depending on how the headset is worn. An older Sony guide adds that it is not as effective for higher frequencies, such as human voices. Expect a quieter commute, not silence.
Over-Ear or Earbuds?
In the tables, over-ear models claim 20 to 60 hours per charge against 4 to 8 hours for earbuds, and all but AirPods Max 2 list an analogue audio cable in the box. The cost is bulk: where listed, 192 g to 386.2 g on the head, against about 4 to 7 g per earbud. Earbuds rely on a seal, so tip choice matters: Apple includes five sizes with AirPods Pro 3, soundcore six with Liberty 5, and Bose three tips plus three stability bands, with extra-small and extra-large tips available separately.
Codecs, iPhone and Android
A codec is how audio is compressed over Bluetooth. Sony’s guide says all Bluetooth devices support SBC, and that AAC is mainly used in Apple products such as iPhone. LDAC and aptX need a phone that supports them; Bose says its aptX Adaptive gaming mode needs a Snapdragon Sound source. Higher-bitrate codecs can cost battery: Sony quotes 26 hours for the WH-1000XM6 with LDAC against 30 with AAC. LC3 is the codec of LE Audio, which the Bluetooth SIG says also adds hearing aid support and Auracast broadcast audio.
Reading Battery Claims
Battery figures are the makers’ test results. Apple tested AirPods Pro 3 at 50 per cent volume, and Sony, Apple and Bose all say real use varies with settings. Modes also cut the headline: Bose drops from 30 to 23 hours with Immersive Audio, and Sony from 30 to 26 hours with LDAC. Compare like with like, and treat quick-charge figures the same way.
Safe Listening
The World Health Organization says you can safely listen at 80 dB for up to 40 hours a week, falling to four hours a week at 90 dB. It recommends keeping volume at no more than 60 per cent of maximum, using well-fitted noise-cancelling headphones so you do not turn the volume up in noisy places, taking breaks and using apps that track sound levels.
The WHO and ITU set out device features for this in a safe listening standard announced in February 2019: a sound allowance, a personal listening profile and volume limiting, including parental volume control. The ITU’s H.870, Guidelines for safe listening devices/systems, lists a March 2022 version as in force.
Your Rights If Something Goes Wrong
The ACCC says consumer guarantees are automatic and cannot be removed by a “no refunds” sign or an extended warranty pitch. For a major problem, the business must offer a refund or a replacement; for a minor one, it must repair or fix it free, and it must not send you to the manufacturer instead. Change of mind is not covered unless the store has its own policy; Bose’s Australian store, for example, advertises a 30-day return.
Before You Buy
Common Questions
Do noise-cancelling headphones block voices?
Partly. Sony says ANC works primarily on low-frequency noise and is less effective on voices.
Sony or Bose noise-cancelling headphones?
Not tested here. On paper, the WH-1000XM6 and QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) both list A$699.95 and 30 hours; Sony lists LDAC and multipoint, Bose lists aptX Adaptive and removable cushions.
Do noise-cancelling earbuds work as well as over-ear?
Not tested here. Earbuds depend on the seal from the tip, and makers claim far shorter battery life per charge.
More device guides are in the Technology section.
Sources and How This Was Checked
Prices, specifications, battery claims and box contents come from Sony, Bose, Apple, Sennheiser and soundcore Australian product pages and Sony’s help guides, and street prices from JB Hi-Fi product pages, all read on 30 October 2026. Prices can change without notice. Safe listening guidance is from the WHO and ITU, consumer rights from the ACCC and LE Audio from the Bluetooth SIG. No headphones or earbuds were tested, so nothing here judges sound, comfort or noise cancelling performance.
Official Pages Used
Sony Help Guide (WH-1000XM6): What is noise canceling?how ANC works, low-frequency focus, partial cancellation and fit.helpguide.sony.net
Sony Australia: WH-1000XM6 specificationsWH-1000XM6 price, codecs, multipoint, weight and box contents.www.sony.com.au
Bose Australia: QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)price, battery, quick charge, box contents, removable cushions, weight, Snapdragon Sound and aptX Adaptive, and the 30-day return.www.bose.com.au
Apple (AU): Buy AirPods Max 2AirPods Max 2 price.www.apple.com
Sennheiser Australia: MOMENTUM 4 WirelessMOMENTUM 4 price, sale price, battery, box contents and earpad price.au.sennheiser-hearing.com
soundcore Australia: Liberty 5Liberty 5 price, discount, battery, LDAC, multipoint, IP55, weight, fast charging, tips and Transparency.www.soundcore.com
JB Hi-Fi: Sony WH-1000XM6 (Black)street price.www.jbhifi.com.au
Bluetooth SIG: LE AudioLE Audio, LC3, hearing aid support and Auracast.www.bluetooth.com
WHO: Deafness and hearing loss: safe listeningsafe listening levels and advice.www.who.int
ITU-T H.870: Guidelines for safe listening devices/systemsH.870 title and version in force.www.itu.int
ACCC: Consumer rights and guaranteesautomatic consumer guarantees versus warranties.www.accc.gov.au
Related on Tech X Telco: AirPods 5 arrive 18 September: Australian prices and differences between the two models.
Michel Elijah covers technology, streaming and online security for Tech X Telco. He writes practical how-to guides on everything from email troubleshooting to spotting the latest scams doing the rounds in Australia, with a focus on clear steps anyone can follow.
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