Best Headphones

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did you hear? bose hits the nail on the head when it comes to headphone reviews

many of us just can’t live without listening to music or podcasts, especially when we’re stuck on public transportation during rush hour. and you don’t want to be that person at work who forgot their headphones and was forced to borrow a pair. there’s something extremely personal about headphones and that’s why great care should be taken when buying the right pair for your ears and your budget.

Reading: Headphone brands australia

To find out which type of hearing aids Australians rated the best, we asked more than 900 people for their feedback on the hearing aids they bought in the last two years. Respondents rated brands based on sound quality, audio enhancements, practicality, comfort, design, value for money, and overall satisfaction. those who received the minimum survey sample size of 30 responses are compared in our report.

In this year’s review, Aussies danced to the beat of Bose, and the brand returned to the top spot after ranking best in overall satisfaction. it also earned five-star reviews in most other categories.

These are the best headphone brands in Australia, as rated by consumers in the latest Canstar Blue review:

bose
sony
jbl
apple
dre beats
logitech
sennheiser
kmart

The results were loud and clear: Bose is the highest-rated brand for headphones after receiving the only five-star review for overall satisfaction and top marks for sound quality, audio enhancements, comfort, and design. most other brands scored four stars overall except kmart which finished with three stars for overall satisfaction

However, kmart was hard to beat when it came to value for money, similar to logitech, both scored top marks in the category. logitech was also placed as one of the best in design and practicality. sony also worked its way to number one in terms of practicality and again in sound quality (as did jbl and beats by dre).

Read on for a guide to the brands compared this year, with details on what they have to offer if you’re on the market for a new pair of headphones.

headphones

bose

bose has been a leading audio company for over 50 years, covering products such as wireless and noise-cancelling headphones, as well as headphones suitable for exercise and sleep. Prices for the brand’s over-ear and around-ear headphones typically start at $329.95 for SoundLink II wireless around-ear headphones, rising to just under $600 for noise-cancelling headphones. bose 700.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are the latest model, featuring controllable noise cancellation technology and four microphones that are supposed to pick up and isolate your voice while canceling out the noise around you. Plus, if you need a question answered, these bad boys are optimized with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

Otherwise, there’s the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II, a cult-favorite game that provides up to 20 hours of battery life, noise cancellation, voice assistant, and a 15-minute quick charge feature that’s easy to use. it says it gives you 2.5 hours of playback. the supra-aural model’s headband is also wrapped in alcantara, the same material used in high-end cars and yachts. what a fantasy!

Some headphones you can expect from Bose include:

bose soundlink ii wireless around-ear headphones: $329.95 pvp*
bose quietcomfort 45 headphones: $499.95 pvp*
bose noise canceling headphones 700 : $599.95 pvp*

Bose clearly impressed consumers after receiving five-star reviews for sound quality, audio enhancements, design, comfort, and overall satisfaction. it got four stars for its practicality and value for money.

sony

Global tech giant Sony can be found in almost every area of the entertainment industry, including movies, games, and music. With an audio range that covers everything from small headphones to professional mixing consoles, there’s plenty on offer for basic listeners, professionals, and everyone in between. You can expect Sony’s over-ear headphones to cost anywhere from just $26 for their ZX110 Wired Overhead Headphones to as much as $2,499.95 for their higher-end models.

sony’s wh-1000xm4 wireless noise-canceling headphones ($399 pvpr*) are one of the latest models, said to feature a qn1 hd noise-canceling processor to minimize outside noise, as well as noise-canceling technology. smart listening to enhance your listening experience . This set of headphones is available in silver and black. Sony also offers the WH-CH710N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones as a cheaper alternative that provides up to 35 hours of listening time, hands-free controls, and a fast-charging feature that supposedly gives you 60 minutes of playback with 10 minutes of playback. load.

the range of sony headphones includes:

sony wh-ch710n wireless noise canceling headphones: $198 rrp*
sony wh-1000xm4 wireless noise canceling headphones (silver): $399 rrp*
sony premium hi-res audio by 1am2: $399.95 pvp*

sony earned five stars for sound quality and convenience, before earning four stars for value for money, overall satisfaction, and in the remaining categories.

jbl

jbl has been in business for over 70 years and is well known within the audio industry. their website allows you to refine results by price, color, as well as design features including wireless models, noise cancellation, or waterproof earphones. JBL headphones start at just under $50 for a set of wired headphones and can go up to $500 for wireless models with noise cancellation.

Some of the cheapest models in the range are the JBL Tune 500BT headphones, which feature Bluetooth wireless streaming and JBL Pure Bass sound technology. these are said to provide 16 hours of battery life, with a two-hour recharge time or a five-minute quick charge for an additional hour of music. You can also make hands-free calls with a one-button remote. jbl also promises a lightweight, foldable design, allowing you to wear the headphones for extended periods.

here are some jbl headphones:

jbl received five stars for sound quality and four stars for all other aspects, including design, value for money and overall satisfaction.

apple

Since steering consumers toward music players with click wheels and touchscreens in the early 2000s, Apple has finally jumped on the headphone bandwagon with the AirPods Max. these headphones are described as providing high-fidelity reproduction and ultra-low distortion, as well as noise control and spatial audio. AirPods Max also feature a knitted mesh canopy and what are claimed to be acoustically engineered memory foam ear cushions.

airpods max retails for $899 rrp* and comes in the following colors:

sky blue
space gray
pink
green
silver

apple received four stars for sound quality, audio improvements, and overall satisfaction. it got three stars everywhere else.

beats for dre

most people who are great at their music would have heard of beat by dre. As of 2006, Beats by Dre offers a number of headphones within its lineup, as well as some fun colors like yellow, navy, and red. prices range from $140 to $450, depending on the model.

options include beats solo pro ($429.95 pvp*), which provide up to 40 hours of listening time (or 22 hours when using noise cancellation and transparency mode). There’s also a fast fuel mode so you can enjoy three hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging. Another standout feature is the Audio Sharing feature, which allows you to share audio with another pair of Beats headphones or AirPods. In addition, these over-ear headphones are said to contain advanced acoustics for powerful sound with balanced tonality, plus dual-beam microphones, a motion and voice accelerometer to detect speech and eliminate background noise, hands-free controls and voice assistance on compatible devices.

the range of beats by dre headphones includes:

beats ep: $139.95 pvpr*
beats solo 3 wireless: $299.95 pvpr*
beats studio 3 wireless: $449.95 pvpr *

beats by dre earned a five-star review for sound quality and four stars for design, value for money, overall satisfaction, and the remaining categories.

logitech

For gamers and those who work from home, electronics company Logitech has some wired and wireless headsets to try. Prices start at $49.95 for the Logitech H151 Stereo Headset and top out at $419.95 for the Logitech Zone Wireless Headset. one of the latest models is the logitech zone wired usb headset ($219.94 pvp*). it’s described as ideal for noisy workspaces and comes with dual noise-cancelling microphone technology designed to isolate your voice and minimize sounds like keyboard clicks and conversations up to 60cm away.

here are several logitech headsets currently available:

logitech earned five-star reviews for design, practicality, and value for money. it also received four stars for sound quality, comfort, and overall satisfaction, as well as three stars for audio improvements.

sennheiser

For 75 years, Sennheiser has been one of the world’s leading audio brands, producing a curated selection of premium audiophile headphones and, most recently, a 3D sound bar. there are also many other products for traveling, watching TV at home and for professionals. Their range of over-the-ear headphones typically retail from $149.95 for the HD 400 and go up to $3,499 for the HD 820. For those who want to avoid worrying about a cord, wireless headphones can be snagged for as low as $200. and $600. sennheiser also offers a collection of noise-cancelling headphones starting at $299.95 and going up to $599.95 for the latest model.

some sennheiser headphones currently available include:

sennheiser 450bt: $299.95 pvpr*
sennheiser hd 560s: $319.95 pvpr*
sennheiser 660s: $639.95 pvpr*

sennheiser received four stars on most factors, including sound quality, design, and overall satisfaction. the only exception was value for money, where it earned three stars.

kmart

When kmart isn’t cooking up a popular range of kitchen appliances like deep fryers and pie makers, the retailer is probably trying to keep up with its range of headphones. The retailer offers some of the most affordable options on the market, with products retailing from just $9.50 for a pair of wired on-ear headphones and going as high as $40 and more for wireless alternatives. Kmart also has gaming headsets on its shelves for $25, which come with a fixed on-ear mic, volume and mic controls, and a computer adapter cable. The headset is compatible with PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4 and mobile phones.

some currently available kmart headsets include:

kmart wired over-ear headphones: $9.50 pvpr*
kmart round bluetooth dj headphones: €29 pvpr*
bluetooth noise canceling headphones on kmart ear: 39 usd pvp*

kmart rounded up the scores at five stars for value for money and three stars for the rest of the board, including sound quality and overall satisfaction.

what to consider when buying headphones

Nearly one in four respondents (20%) said brand was an important factor in their purchasing decision. But while different marketing campaigns will draw consumers to different models in the first place, customer satisfaction is ultimately determined by other factors, such as whether the headphones actually live up to the hype. our survey found that the main drivers of customer satisfaction when buying headphones are:

sound quality: 27%
design: 19%
comfort: 18%
value for money: 15%
practical: 12%
audio improvements: 8%

headphones tend to be marketed for better sound quality and better design and comfort, so it’s no surprise that consumer satisfaction is largely due to those factors. If you use your headphones when you’re out and about, even on your daily commute, you want them to feel and look good, plus be easy to store, with wireless models coming in handy too. Noise-cancelling headphones are also very popular, with one in three respondents (40%) buying headphones with bluetooth and/or wireless capabilities.

types of headphones

There are a variety of headphones to choose from. but in this particular survey, we’re focusing on the broader end of the spectrum: lightweight, full-size, or noise-canceling headphones. basically anything that doesn’t involve putting something in your ears! if you’re interested in ones that fit your ears, check out our headphone review.

To get back to headphones, here are the main types:

Lightweight Headphones: These rest against the outside of your ears and have a thin headband that goes over or behind your head. they tend to fold easily, which makes them quite good for travel. sound quality can vary between brands and comfort will largely depend on the quality of the headband over your head.
full-size headphones: cover or They completely surround the ears and the often generous padding can help make them very comfortable. As closed-back headphones, these block out a fair amount of outside noise and prevent your music from disturbing others. the sound quality is often said to be quite good, but the downside is that they tend to be large and bulky compared to other types of headphones.
noise canceling headphones: are similar in size and weight to regular full-size models. but the difference is that these use noise-canceling circuitry inside the earpiece to create a sound wave that blocks out, or at least reduces, ambient noises, including traffic or other people’s conversations. the downside is that some models require batteries, regardless of whether you’re using noise cancellation or not.

Our survey found that respondents spent an average of $186 on their latest headphones, with most people keeping their old pair for 2.5 years. two-fifths of consumers surveyed (40%) bought headphones with bluetooth or wireless capabilities, and a similar number of people also looked for something with noise cancellation (40%).

about the author of this page

this report was written by canstar blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, tahnee-jae lopez-vito. she is an expert in appliances, toiletries, and all things grocery and shopping related. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly rating reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchasing decisions on all types of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and all. what you need to know.

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image credits: dean drobot/shutterstock.com, dusan petkovic/shutterstock.com, rawpixel.com/shutterstock.com.

*prices are taken from retailer websites, correct as of September 2021.