Get everything over-ear over here with this list of the best wireless headphones.
The best over-ear headphones in Australia (2025): Go wireless from $129
Sennheiser Momentum 4
🔥Save: 28% $549.95$398
Battery life
60 hours
Noise cancelling
Yes
Fast charging
Yes
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
From$389
Battery life
20 hours
Noise cancelling
Yes
Fast charging
Yes
4 min readIf you're looking for a new pair of cans, the over-ear headphone market has become increasingly crowded and competitive. You've got a lot more choices than you used to, which can be good and bad.
More competition means better products, but it can also make picking out a pair of Bluetooth headphones feel more overwhelming. To help, we've selected our favourite over-ear headphones from the models we've tested over the last few years.
In this guide we're specifically looking at over-ear headphones. If you're after wireless earbuds, read our best of here. Looking for something cheaper? Check out our guide to the best cheap headphones here.
In this guide:
- : Sony WH-1000XM4
- : Sennheiser HD 458BT
- : Sonos Ace
- : Sennheiser Momentum 4
- : Sony WH-1000XM5
- : Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
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Compare the best wireless over-ear headphones
Product | Rating | Price | Battery life | Fast charging | Noise cancelling | Availability |
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From$438
| 30 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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| 20 hrs |
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| 60 hrs |
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From$548
| 30 hrs |
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| See at Amazon | |
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| 20 hrs |
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From$260.87
| 30 hrs |
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| See at Amazon | |
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| 24 hrs |
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| See it at Kogan | |
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From$189.41
| 22 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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From $400.99
| 80+ hrs |
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| See it at Adidas | |
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From $299
| 60 hrs |
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| See it at eBay | |
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🔥From
| 54 hrs |
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| See it at Kogan | |
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From $994.99
| 15 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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From $439.70
| 20 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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| 50 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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From $50
| 60 hrs |
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| See it at Kmart | |
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From$79
| 65 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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| 40 hrs |
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| See it at Amazon | |
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From $799
| 55 hrs |
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| See it at Dyson |
Why we like them: The Sony WH-1000XM4s might be a generation old now, but they're still our top pick for the best wireless over-ear headphones for most people
To start, they're between $100 and $200 cheaper than the XM5s (depending on where you look), which represents a pretty significant saving. The XM4s also have a more compact, collapsible design that makes them more suitable for travel.
The newer XM5s definitely offer improvements in sound quality and noise cancellation, but for most, we'd say it makes more sense to go for the cheaper WF-1000XM4s.
"Sony’s WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones (2019) are a well-rounded, shining example of what a wire-free audio experience can be and even though there aren’t many upgrades from the XM3s, the small improvements make an already exceptional product even better."
Entertainment editor
Why we like them: While the Sennheiser HD 458BTs can feel a little cheap and look a little boring, you get great sound quality at a reasonable price. The noise cancellation isn't bad either!
Note that if you can't find the HD 458BTs around, the HD 450BT and HD 450SE are effectively the same, other than some slight aesthetic differences. Namely, the 458BTs have red racing stripes, while the other models are just black.
The HD 450SEs also benefit from Alexa support, which is missing on the standard models. We've linked out to the HD 450SEs as they're the cheapest option right.
"The Sennheiser HD 458BT headphones are a great buy if sound quality and noise cancelling are your priorities, and let’s face it, they should be. The lacklustre design disguises the excellent sound quality, which is a shame, but it shouldn’t stop you from having a listen to these great-sounding headphones."
Managing editor
The best kids headphones
Forget the hand-me-downs: kids’ ears are more sensitive to sound, so pick one of these options for kid-friendly headphones.
Why we like them: When it comes to consumer-grade headphones, the Sonos Ace have the best sound quality out of the bunch. And given the $699 RRP, you'd hope that would be the case. That's almost as expensive as the Apple AirPods Max. However, the Sonos Ace do have an edge in more than just pricing. They also lighter and come with a more traditional carry-case.
Not everyone will appreciate the audio prowess on offer, but the complete lack of distortion at high volumes, the throbbing-yet-balanced bass, and the spacious sound stage put the Sonos Ace closer to audiophile territory than most of the competition.
"The Ace is an undeniably expensive set of consumer-grade headphones, but if you've bought into the Sonos ecosystem before you probably have a good idea of what you're in for. What's here looks and feels just as nice as the company's speakers and the myriad thoughtful touches help elevate an already exceptional on-the-go audio setup."
Gadgets editor
Why we like them: The Sennheiser Momentum 4s are basically unrivalled when it comes to battery life. You'll get a massive 60 hours per charge, with noise cancelling switched on. Better yet, a 10-minute top-up will take you from flat to about six hours of playback.
"Sennheiser's Momentum 4 Wireless headphones opt for a classy, more subdued design that matches the aesthetic of its true wireless earbuds. They also blow the competition out of the water with a monstrous 60-hour battery life and even take a shot at the noise-cancelling crown."
Entertainment editor
Why we like them: Over the last few years, Sony has been a surprise contender for the noise-cancelling crown, creating serious competition in a space where Bose used to dominate.
While Bose, Apple, and Sennheiser have all made advancements with their noise cancelling tech late, Sony's new WF-1000XM5s are a step above if you care about blocking out as much as the world as possible. It helps they're always very lightweight and offer excellent sound quality.
"Sony's latest set of premium noise canceling headphones make a few smart sacrifices, but emerge better for it. The WH-1000XM5 recover ground lost to rivals and issue a fresh reminder of why Sony continue to rule the roost when it comes to making noise cans that feel and look as good as they sound."
Gadgets editor
Why we like them: If you need headphones that will make it sound like you're taking a call from the office when you're actually at the pub, the Bose NCH 700s are the pair for you. On top of great noise cancellation, the NCH 700s can also reduce noise when it comes to phone calls, isolating your noise from background sounds. Your voice comes across crystal clear, even if you're strutting down a busy highway or waiting for a train.
"If you haven’t had the aural pleasure of trying the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are legitimately a solid set of noise-cancelling cans. Still, they’re premium priced and questionably pitched as an upgrade to Bose’s iconic QuietComfort 35 line, and the sound logic behind that is debatable."
Editor-at-large
Over-ear and wireless headphone buying guide
What to look for when comparing Bluetooth headphones
If you're looking for a new pair of wireless over-ear headphones, you'll find options available at almost every price segment. In many cases, spending more gets you a more premium product, but there are also plenty of cheap options. If you're struggling to make up your mind, here are some key questions you'll want to consider.
- How long do you want the battery to last?
- Where are you going to wear these headphones? Are they for home, the office, commuting, or travel?
- Are you going to be taking hands-free calls with these earbuds?
- How important is noise-cancelling to you?
- Are you hoping to be listening to high resolution audio using these headphones?
- Do you care about having headphones that neatly integrate with the operating system of your connected device?
- How portable do you want your headphones to be?
- How much money feels like too much money to spend on a set of earbuds?
Everyone's needs are different, but getting a sense of the features you care about most helps when it comes to picking the right pair of headphones.
Check out our open-ear vs in-ear vs over-ear headphones guide to know which type of headphones you should buy for your situation.
How we review over-ear headphones
Every single set of over-ear wireless headphones we review is based on our first-hand experience using the product over a period of time. This review period is typically a few weeks but can sometimes be longer or shorter depending on the nature of the product.
Value is ultimately the lens we evaluate headphones through. It’s never a question of whether headphones are good, but whether they’re good for the money. When we review over-ear wireless headphones, we start off by evaluating the product according to following five main considerations.
The first of these is the sound they produce. Audio quality is pretty important for headphones, after all. While audio products can be quite subjective for many reasons, we have standardised testing procedures across the team designed to help us look at the category in a consistent way.
When it comes to assessing sound quality, we use a standardised testing playlist. This is typically embedded in the review itself and available via Spotify if you want to play along at home. Meanwhile, every microphone we test is available online via SoundCloud if you want to judge for yourself.
After that, we consider the amount of thought that's gone into the overall level of comfort & design. Are they comfortable to wear over extended periods of time? Do the headphones feel well made, or a bit cheap?
Next up, we evaluate the features. How long does the battery last? Is the connectivity reliable? Is the noise-cancelling good? Do they pass the headbang test? Does the product have something worth calling out, like Apple’s unique approach to multipoint in the AirPods family?
Finally, we consider the vibe and overall experience offered by the hardware (and software) involved. What's the overall experience? The intangible, expressed in a slightly more tangible way. The parts that you can’t just encapsulate through a checklist of features.
After more information? You can read more about how we review over-ear headphones here.
Best over-ear headphones frequently asked questions
For best wireless over-ear headphones, try the Sony WH-1000XM4. The Sony WH-1000XM5s are the better product but the difference in form-factor and sound quality isn't nearly so big as the difference in price. If both are a little too expensive, then it might be worth checking out the Sony CH-520 or Sennheiser HD 458BT.
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