The best over-ear headphones in Australia for 2024 (2024)

The best over-ear headphones are those that completely immerse you in sound. Their increased physical size compared to the best wireless earbuds means they can make use of larger speaker drivers, which are able to deliver sound packed with detail and definition.

And, while it could be entirely subjective, we believe over-ear headphones have the capacity to be more comfortable than earbuds, thanks to plush materials used on the headband and ear cups. Think of them as giving your head a comfortable hug.

A good proportion of over-ear headphones also make use of active noise cancellation, which is only boosted by the snug fit and encapsulating ear cups.This combination of comfort, sound and noise-cancellation make over-ear headphones ideal for travelling, allowing you to switch off from those around you on long-haul flights, for example.

And, you may not have considered it, but over-ear headphones are also generally better for your hearing health, as they aren’t pressing up into your ears like earbuds or compressing your ears like on-ear headphones will.

The quick list

Below you'll find a quick roundup of our choices for the best over-ear headphones in Australia. You can click to read more in-depth reviews of each pair and view the latest deals using our price comparison tool.

The best over-ear headphones in Australia for 2024

Below you can find more in-depth reviews of each choice for our favourite pairs of over-ear headphones. You can then choose to click through to the full review of each, written by TechRadar's team of audio and headphone experts.

The best over-ear headphones for most people

We mentioned the Sony WH-1000XM4 at the top of this list, and said they just miss out on the top spot in some minor areas, namely, battery life. If you're happy to charge them more often than you would the Sennheisers, then you'll be the owner of a very capable pair of headphones indeed.

Other over-ear headphones on our list may offer superior sound quality, but the WH-1000XM4 manage to offer the best balance of features and performance while the slightly better price point than its premium competitors ultimately give it enough of an edge to land at the top spot for this list.

The XM4s boast an impressive number of features such as multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor, and stand out as heavyweights when it comes to overall value.

There isn't a whole lot to complain about, but even though the WH-1000XM4 is cheaper than its 5th-gen successor, they're still not what you could call "cheap". So if you have a tighter budget, you might be better off looking at some of the other options below.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review

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The best budget over-ear headphones

Sony has stripped back its premium flagship over-ear headphones to the bare necessities with the WH-CH720Ns. The pared down features means that they’re the best budget option out there at this price, balancing audio quality, noise cancellation and value for money.

They stand above the rest for the flagship-level features that have been added, including support for Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format, DSEE upscaling of mediocre-quality tracks, multi-point pairing and adaptive active noise cancellation – although this is not at the same elite level found in the Sony WH-1000XM4 and 1000XM5. The sound quality is also great, delivering strong levels of detail in the audio.

But, of course, there are limitations and the sound can feel constrained at times compared to pricier options. They also don’t support hi-res LDAC or have automated control settings. The buttons are easy to find though and the extremely lightweight design makes them among the most comfortable to wear for long periods. And all this for one of the most affordable prices on the market? These are a steal.

Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review

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The best premium over-ear headphones

It was honestly a tough decision as to where to place the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, as they could very well place at the top of this list. However, it was their price that ultimately kept them from claiming it (in comparison to the Sony WH-1000XM4 at least) but it means they comfortably take the crown for the best premium over-ears instead.

You get everything you could possibly need here, including long battery life, rated up to a staggering 60-hours from a single charge, alongside an extensive feature set, easy on-ear controls, talented adaptive noise cancellation and an abundant sound that'll have you nodding your head happily wherever you go.As for whether you think they're a good-looking set of cans is down to your personal preference. Our reviewer thought they were pretty plain-looking, but others may appreciate the minamalist approach. Regardless, the sound quality on offer here more than makes up for any lack of effort on physical presentability.

Sennheiser has packed everything and the kitchen sink into the Momentum 4 Wireless’s spec sheet, including Sidetone to better hear your voice during calls and 'Sound Zones', EQ and ANC presets which can be set to magically kick in when you're, well, in the zone. Make no mistake though, the headline-grabber is still the sound. And what a sound it is! Think open, detailed, expansive, neutral and crisp. Never is it overly warm; never is it congested or muddied through the bass.

Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

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The best mid-range wired over-ear headphones

Sivga is not a very well-known brand but you’ll find its Oriole headphones hard to forget once you see them. The striking wooden ear cups aren’t just for looks either, but also help them to deliver decent sound across varying frequencies – all for a reasonable mid-range price.

At this mid-tier price level, there are lots of competing wired over-ear headphones to choose from but the Sivga Oriole, which are the costlier alternative to the company’s Robin, are the best you can buy considering the step-up in sound quality thanks to large 50mm dynamic drivers.

They don’t have active noise cancellation or Bluetooth like many of the other options here, but the full suite of core components are here though. The Sivga Oriole comes with a 1.8m long cable, a 3.5mm to 6.3 adapter and a hemp carry case. The lightweight design is another advantage here.

Read our full Sivga Oriole review

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The best over-ear headphones for sound

For the casual listener, planar magnetic headphones might not be a common phrase. But for the audiophiles out there, this type of design is highly sought after and very rarely comes in wireless (or reasonably affordable) forms – but the Edifier does both. Planar magnetic refers to the drivers, which have a larger, flat and super-thin diaphragm in a magnetic field in each earcup, with offers more exciting and distortion-free sound.

And following hours of testing, we rate Edifier’s flagship premium headphones – the Stax Spirit S3 – as the best planar magnetic headphones you can buy right now. They have a lot going for them, including beautifully detailed, expansive audio quality, a light comfortable folding design and an incredible 80 hours of battery life (we noted in our review that this even pushed up to 90).

The only missing premium feature here is active noise cancellation. But if you prioritise out and out sound packed with crisp audio detail, then these headphones shine above the rest – plus you do get an element of passive sound isolation from the ear cup design. Edifier’sStax Spirit S3 comes with a price tag that isn't cheap, but is competitive with the likes of Sony's higher-end headphones, and is completely justified in that context, because they sound glorious.

Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S3 review

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The best over-ear headphones for ANC

If you want the most powerful noise blocking tech on the planet, grab these headphones. We rate the Sony WH-1000XM4 higher as a choice for most people because you can find them so much cheaper, and they very nearly as good – but make no mistake that the WH-1000XM5 take a step up in ANC and sound quality.

Whether you like the new lighter design (which can no longer be folded up, although the ear cups do lie flat in the case) or not, they really are comfortable and the user-friendly perks are impossible to ignore, including automated audio control settings thanks to smart sensors. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones can anticipate exactly what you want them to do without you needing to touch a button yourself.

These smart features feel snappier and more responsive than previous versions – though they have very tough competition from the clever features offered by the Sennheiser further up.However, for sheer noise-stopping power, these have the edge.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

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The best over-ear headphones for design

If the only factor to be taken into consideration when determining the best headphones was sonic quality, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 would land much, much higher up this list. But then there's the price. While they're technically not the cheapest pair on this list, they're certainly pricey when it comes to more lifestyle-orientated pairs. But Bowers & Wilkins is a premium audio brand with prestigious heritage, so we're not exactly shocked.

Nevertheless, the PX8's price of north of AU$1,000 is more expensive than a vast majority of consumers would or should ever consider for a pair of new headphones. Still, the price tag isn't necessarily without its justifications. A new carbon cone 40mm drive unit replaces the bio-cellulose driver in the (slightly) more affordable and the die-cast aluminium arms, diamond-cut bright metal detailing and Nappa leather trim elevates the build to high-end territory.

And the sound quality is simply exceptional, with agile, dynamic sound coming through crystal clear and at a performance level that is simply top of the class. You also get a generous 30 hours of battery life, which is impressive when considering how much is packed into the headphones that could elsewhere be used as justification for a more modest juice cycle.

If money is no object and sound performance is what matters most to you, these are among the best headphones you can buy. It's just that the asking price is so far beyond what many could reasonably consider spending which lands the PX8's further down this list.

Read our full

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The best open-back over-ear headphones

If you love a wide, open sound, then a pair of wired open-back headphones are the way to go and the Sennheiser HD-660S2s are the best you can buy right now. These boast an immensely impressive and expansive soundstage, but being open-back means they don't block out the outside world, so they need to be used in quiet spaces.

Made for the mixing booth, the HD-660S2s have an air of superiority to them. But Sennheiser has made these for general listening too. They feature brilliant sound recreation, premium ear cup cushioning and a durable headband to prevent vibration. Just remember that the open-back design does mean sound will inevitably leak from them, so they're not as well-suited to being worn in crowded areas.

Given their focus on delivering audiophile level sound, these headphones aren't wireless but they come with a variety of cable connections. Compared to their predecessors (the HD-660S), the HD-660S2s have a more fleshed out bass. These are bound to delight anyone looking to have the delights of open-backed cans.

Read our full Sennheiser HD-660S2 review

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The best over-ear headphones for Apple fans

The Apple AirPods Max were the most hotly-anticipated set of cans for quite some time leading up to their launch, having been the subject of rumour and speculation for at least two years. And there's little doubt that they're impressive, even if they don't quite justify their exceptionally high price.

What they do offer is effective active noise cancellation, superb audio quality, and a design that sets them apart from most noise-cancelling headphones on the market. And Apple fans in particular will (obviously) find a lot to love. But while their exceptional audio performance and class-leading ANC manages to impress, they're let down by their eye-watering price (in terms of consumer-level headphones), horrible carrying case and their lack of support for Hi-Res Audio codecs.

Apple knows its audience, and these headphones are strictly designed and manufactured with this audience in mind, packing in a variety of nifty features for iOS users and boasting the kind of sleek, futuristic design that Apple is known for.

That does make the AirPods Max an undoubtedly excellent option for those hoping to pair their new headphones with their existing Apple devices, however, some may find them too expensive to be a viable option.

Read our full Apple AirPods Max review

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The best over-ear headphones for USB-C audio

A fantastic pair of over-ear, wireless headphones with top-end features and great sound. They're our top pick for connectivity with hi-res USB audio, great news for iPhone 15 and Apple Music users. You can also get USB-C audio with the Focal Bathys headphones higher in our list, but these are cheaper. You'll also find Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound support, so aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, regular aptX and LDAC are all here – all of the current top-tier wireless audio coding. The only feature that's lacking a little is ANC. It's definitely acceptable, but it isn't the complete bubble of silence you'd expect from the best of the bunch, like the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700.

Sound-wise, these headphones are impressive. During our testing, we noted an expansive soundstage, which we felt revealed separation and clarity. Our only criticism was that they sometimes over-celebrate the treble, which can result in the mix sounding disorganized and jumbled. Otherwise, we're treated to a detailed mix with plenty of dynamic rise and fall through the mids and a decent serving of snappy bass weight.

These headphones won't fold up like most over-ears used to, but instead lie flat. They can then be kept in their hard shell case, which isn't the biggest on the list but will still take up a bit of room in a bag. Overall, we'd describe the build quality as premium and classy, and we rated the fact there are physical buttons here all located on the same cup.

Value-wise, these headphones aren’t expensive given the premium experience they offer. The battery level is also more than sufficient at 45 hours, the build is classy, the companion app is excellent and the features are excellent. And if it’s features and connectivity options you’re after – especially USB-C – we say get these headphones. However, if it’s best-in-class ANC you’re after then your money would be better spent elsewhere.

Read our full Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 review

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How to choose the best over-ear headphones

If you're looking at buying over-ear headphones, there are three key factors that will determine what will be the best over-ear headphones for you. The first factor, particularly nowadays, will be your budget. As you'd expect, the over-ear options with premium sound quality and performance features tend to come with premium price tags attached. But there are some notable exceptions, with some of the above options available at prices friendlier to most budgets without many (or any) compromises.

Naturally, the second factor in helping you determine the best over-ear headphones for you will be sound quality. How do they sound? Do you prefer a more neutral sound profile, or are you more searching for richer bass levels first and foremost? There are a number of elements that go into sound performance when it comes to headphones, so doing your research to determine which pair appeals most to you with its sound profile and performance quality is a must.

The third key factor when it comes to discovering the best over-ear headphones will be based on your needs. Do you need headphones with more battery life for long trips? Do you need the highest quality noise-cancelling to block out a noisy train carriage? Do you need to take your headphones exercising with you and therefore want headphones that are (at least) water resistant?

Knowing what your needs are is crucial to being able to find the best over-ear headphones that will meet those needs.

How we test the best over-ear headphones

If you're looking for a pair of the best over-ear headphones, this guide focuses on sound quality above all else.

You'll find cans we'd recommend for audiophiles and those working in professional roles through to the best over-ear options for those who simply want to focus at work or enjoy their favorite tunes at home.

To help you compare these headphones, we've recommended other models if we think that they might be better-suited in terms of price, sound and performance.

We have tested all of the headphones in this guide extensively, spending lots of time analyzing the sound, fit, design, specs, and value for money.

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