Australia’s best cheap headphones, discounts and deals in January 2020

Headphones have flooded the market, and it’s difficult to know which ones to pick – especially if you’re a first time buyer. Here, we’ll help you weigh up whether you should buy top-of-the-line, or if a cheaper set will suffice.

While it’s tempting to buy a set of super cheap headphones, it’s worth remembering that they are inexpensive for a reason. But as you’ll see below, getting your hands on a decent pair of headphones doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Especially when you have us to do the digging for you.

To save you the time and effort, we’ve put together this dedicated guide to the best bargains on great-sounding headphones. We constantly monitor major Aussie retailers and go searching to bring you the most worthwhile deals on a variety of sets – from in-ear buds to noise-cancelling cans from the most popular brands – so check out our continually updated list below to discover the best current headphones deals in Australia.

Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech at Getprice.

Over- & on-ear headphones

Bose QuietComfort 35 II | from AU$360 (RRP AU$500; save AU$140)

If you’re loyal to Bose, the always popular QuietComfort 35 II has seen a decent discount on Amazon. These headphones have superb sound and top-notch noise cancellation – perfect for commuters. The black and silver sets are cheapest for AU$360. If it’s the rose gold you’re after though, it is AU$395.View Deal

Sony WH-1000XM3 | AU$347 (RRP AU$549.95; save AU$202.95)

The best headphones your money can buy are now available for less, thanks to Amazon Australia. The hype surrounding these over-ear cans from Sony is real – the sound quality is excellent and the noise cancellation is impressive. Did we mention they’re damn comfy too? They also boast a whopping 30-hours of battery life, and the AU$202 discount only sweetens the deal.View Deal

JBL Live 650BTNC | AU$187 (RRP AU$249.95; save AU$62.95)

One of the best budget noise-cancelling cans is now available for real cheap at Videopro via eBay. While Bose and Sony are the big name brands in noise cancellation tech, you don’t need to splurge on their premium price tags – the JBL Live 650BTNC are an excellent choice, with the promise of great sound quality and a comfortable fit.View Deal

In-ear headphones

Jabra Elite 65t | AU$179.30 (RRP AU$249; save AU$69.70)

For a nice – and cheaper – alternative to the Apple AirPods, the Jabra Elite 65t are worth your while. These true wireless earbuds have a reliable connection and don’t sacrifice on sound. We also found them a pleasure to use, and the long battery life is very much appreciated. This discount is available only on the titanium black colour option from Amazon Australia.View Deal

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless | AU$342 (RRP AU$499.95; save AU$157.95)

Sennheiser’s Momentum range is superb, and the brand’s first foray into the true wireless space doesn’t disappoint. They’re one of the more stylish in-ear ‘buds around, and there’s touchpad tech built into both earbuds, so they usually cost a pretty penny. You can now get a sweet discount on Amazon, where they’ve taken just over AU$150 off.View Deal

Bose SoundSport Free Wireless Headphones | AU$199 (RRP AU$299; save AU$100)

The Bose SoundSport Free are a fantastic pair of wireless headphones, designed to withstand getting knocked about during your workout. The connection is reliable, so you’ll get the adrenaline pumping and stay in the zone. The AU$100 saving is available directly from the Microsoft Store, in both the black and blue/citron colour variants.View Deal

The best deals on our favourite headphones

To help you decide which headphones work best for you, we’ve decided to put together a little buying guide with a list of our favourite recommendations.

The headphones you’ll find here have tons of features to help you to get the most out of your music, or any other form of audio-visual entertainment you prefer, however you like to listen to it.

1. Sony WH-1000XM3

The headphones that can do everything

Excellent noise cancellation

Fantastic sound quality

30-hour battery life

Mediocre call quality

The Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones are the best you can buy in 2020 – for now, anyway.

They’re very much in line with what we’ve seen from Sony in the past two years, and with this model they’ve managed to improve on some already fantastic sets. The noise cancellation can beat anything Bose has to offer with ease. That’s because Sony has dedicated time to perfecting audio playback and its noise-cancelling technology.

However, their crown could soon be handed over, as rumours of a Sony WH-1000XM4 release date have been circling. We’ll see what 2020 brings.

Read more: Sony WH-1000XM3 review

2. Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Industry-leading noise cancellation

Broad soundscape

Excellent noise cancellation

Active EQ not for everyone

The very popular and excellent Bose QC35s underwent an upgrade and now come with Google Assistant at your beck and call. For a premium price, not only do you get Bose’s world class noise cancellation and good sound quality, you also get a personal butler and an incredibly comfortable set of cans. And with up to 40 hours of battery life, you’ll get through any long-haul flight.

Read more: Bose QuietComfort 35 II review

(Image credit: 1More)

1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones

Good sound and good value

Lush sound

Beautifully designed

Excellent value for money

Plastic remote looks cheap

For a little over $100, it’s hard to recommend a better sounding pair of ‘buds than the 1More Triple Driver in-ears. It’s hard to fault the headphones, if you can put up with the rubber cable and the plastic remote. Even that is just us nitpicking. For the price, it’s our top recommendation of in-ear headphones if your phone still has a headphone jack or you don’t mind using an adaptor.

Read more: 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones review

(Image credit: JBL)

4. JBL Live 650BTNC

Great noise-cancelling headphones for those on a budget

Great sound

Compact design

On-ear form gets uncomfortable

Retailing for around AU$250, the JBL Live 650BTNC punches above its weight in terms of sound quality, build and features.

If you’re listening wirelessly, 20 hours of battery life is promised, while wired listening will get you upwards of 30 hours from a single charge. So if you don’t want to splash on the Sony WH-1000XM3 or the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, the JBL Live 650BTNC will deliver similar performance for half the price.

Read more: JBL Live 650BTNC

5. Jabra Elite 65t

The best true wireless ‘buds

Understated design

Balanced soundscape

Pleasure to use

Limited ear tips

With headphone jacks fast disappearing from flagship handsets, wireless headphones is the way to go. But not everyone likes the feel of a set of cans on their head and cables, no matter how small, can get annoying. If that’s describing you, then true wireless ‘buds are the answer to your prayers. While most of them compromise on sound quality, the Jabra Elite 65t not only sound good but offer ambient noise isolation as well. They’re an excellent substitute if you aren’t too keen on the other-worldly look of Apple’s AirPods.

Read more: Jabra Elite 65t review