The Best Noise Canceling Headphones In Australia 2025: ANC For Work And Travel With A Clear Winner For Editor’s Choice
- William Davis
- Nov 25
- 7 min read
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission which is paid directly to our Australia-based writers, editors, and support staff.
Noise canceling headphones have become a work and travel staple for many Australians. Over ear headphones with active noise canceling (ANC) tech are pricier than typical earphones, and quality varies greatly which makes finding the best noise canceling headphones a chore.
Our testing process is simple: We check noise canceling ability, sound quality, overall usability, and after purchase care before creating a short list of products you should know about.
Read this article written for the Australian market before making a purchase.
Fitlybone Remix II: Editor’s pick for all around best noise canceling headphones - AU$ 199.99 at Fitlybuy store →
Where to buy Fitlybone Remix II Noise Cancelling headphones in Australia
The Fitlybone Remix II over ear noise canceling earphones sit at the perfect nexus of price and quality. Fitlybone’s sound canceling ability competes directly with larger and better established brands at half the price, and include extras like a top quality hard shell travel case. The over ear design is comfortable and easy to wear for extended periods with a 50-hour battery life to match. To put it simply: The Remix II are the current ANC headphones to own.
Fitlybone Remix II: Editor’s Choice Rating 4.7 out of 5.0
Best Value Link
Please use our best value link if you intend to make a purchase. This directly supports our Australia-based staff of writers and editors.► $199.99 tax included at Fitlybuy store – free delivery
So what makes the Remix II over ear wireless headphones the best active noise canceling headset?
✅ Pros
The best value ANC headphones, period. The Fitlybone Remix II come with a bevy of features that improve the tasks of the day immensely, from listening to music to taking and making work calls. When you need focus, switch to active noise canceling mode to block an astounding amount of background noise thanks to Fitlybone’s inbuilt software, and include accessories including a well constructed hard shell carrying case. It easily competes with more expensive products in the category.
Absurd battery life with USB-C rapid charging. Remix II will achieve a continuous use time of approximately 50 hours before requiring a charge, far longer than any other headset in our list. That’s welcome news for long haul travelers and those with charge anxiety. Rapid charging works through a flush USB-C port.
Outstanding sound range for all uses. Music in all ranges sounds resonant and pure, with little to no distortion at high and low frequencies. Additionally, ANC mode enhances listening sessions by removing any distracting background noise. Calls are clear and voice pickup is superb, enabling multi-purpose use without the need for a secondary headset.
Comfort for long wearing sessions. Fitlybone have done a good job of using top quality cushioning and material on the included ear cups, and we had no complaints after hours of wearing the ReMix II.
Australia-based warehouse and customer support. We have few expectations from after purchase support these days, as poor or absent customer service and slow shipping to Australia from Asia is the norm. We tested Fitlybone on several occasions with questions and every time received proper replies within an hour. That demonstrates commitment to Australian market and contributes greatly to our award of Editor’s Pick.
❌ Cons
Frequently out of stock. Fitlybone sell exclusively through a few online retailers, and stocks are frequently depleted. We would like to see them more widely available in the future.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: Bose delivers, but with pricey frills – $455.00 at Amazon.com.au →
Where to buy the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 in Australia
If you aren’t price sensitive, Bose may be the brand for you. That’s because these wireless noise canceling headphones come with useful features. That said, Bose also add on unnecessary and costly frills that distract from the primary purpose: canceling outside noise.
Best Value Link
Please use our best value link if you intend to make a purchase. This directly supports our Australia-based staff of writers and editors.
Why Bose makes the list of best Bluetooth ANC headphones winners
✅ Pros
Noise canceling at the top of the pack. In many ways, Bose invented noise canceling for the consumer market. Since the 1990s, Bose have marketed this technology all the while making advancements. The 700 showcases the best of this tech, with noise canceling that is about as good as one can find.
Excellent marks for sound quality for music. Music sounds tremendous on the Bose 700, in particular with noise canceling mode on. You’ll feel as if you are at a private concert with no one else in the audience. That said, calls can be a little distorted depending on the voice tone and connection strength.
❌ Cons
Nice to look at, but design detract from comfort. Bose may win marks for visual design, but a thin, oddly angled headpiece may become uncomfortable after just a few minutes of use depending on your head size and hair style. As many long haul travelers and work from home types utilize ANC headphones, this could be a deal breaker.
Touch controls are annoying and hamper use. The thin connectors between the ear cups and the headpiece offer touch controls that purport to allow full control of all functions. As a result, the controls are difficult to use and we often found ourselves performing the wrong action, skipping ahead or hanging up a call.
Bose QuietComfort 45: An older, battle tested over ear ANC model – $389.00 at DickSmith.com.au →
Where to buy the Bose QuietComfort 45 in Australia
Oddly, Bose have kept the tried and true QuietComfort platform in production despite having a newer model in the aforementioned 700. Most likely, it is because they got it right the first time, and are not yet fully confident in a newer platform. If you have the funds to spare, this may be a better fit than the 700.
Best Value Link
Please use our best value link if you intend to make a purchase. This directly supports our Australia-based staff of writers and editors.
Why an older Bose model remains at the top of our list of best wireless noise canceling headphones
✅ Pros
Noise canceling that stays competitive. While not as adept at canceling background noise as the Bose 700, the QuietComfort 45 remains highly effective. Higher pitched sounds are able to sneak through, and airplane noise can be a challenge. That said, these ANC headphones are still good at what they do.
Stands up to the listening test. Despite their age, the QuietComfort 45 still provide a Bose-level audio experience when listening to music. High are crisp and without distortion, and bass is present without drowning out more subtle elements of a score.
❌ Cons
Designed in a different era. Let’s face it, a lot has changed in the last few years. The QuietComfort platform never anticipated work from home with endless calls or video meetings, and that means mic pickup isn’t great. Battery life could also be improved compared to newer models, and all day use may not be possible.
Unnecessary Bose Connect app gets in the way. The included Bose Connect app may seem like a brilliant idea at first glance, but in reality it is from an older era when Bluetooth was not as universal. The basic functions of connecting, turning on ANC, and adjusting minor settings are not needed and should use the far superior Bose Music app.
Apple AirPods Max: Expensive ANC headphones for Apple enthusiasts – $888 at Amazon.com.au →
Where to buy the Apple AirPods Max over ear noise canceling headphones in Australia
Apple is known for creating products that cater to their own ecosystem, and the AirPods Max are no exception. Like other Apple products, iOS users will receive benefits including ease of connectivity, lost item tracking, and more. Of course, functionality comes at a cost and may not be top contender for the best active noise canceling.
Best Value Link
Please use our best value link if you intend to make a purchase. This directly supports our Australia-based staff of writers and editors.
Where Apple hits the mark, and misses
✅ Pros
Perfect for iOS users on the go. Apple have built their own proprietary chip and software ecosystem, and so the AirPods Max are effortlessly interoperable with multiple Apple devices. Switching between a MacBook and an iPhone is as simple as a tap. Leave the AirPods Max behind? No worries. Apple tracks their location and alerts you on other devices as soon as you leave the vicinity. Not an Apple user? None of these features will work for you.
Best in class transparency mode. Transparency mode – or piping outside sounds into the headphones – works wonderfully. Switching this feature on allows you to hear your surroundings and have full conversations without having to take the headphones off. In noise rooms, Apple’s software actually enhances your ability to focus on a single voice.
Calls are easy and clear to make. Apple clearly invested in microphones and voice processing, as video and audio calls are crystal clear no matter the environment. As a result, your voice will come through as perfectly audible to the receiving party, and without lag or delay.
❌ Cons
Noise canceling is adequate, but not spectacular. For the price we expected to be blown away by the sounds of silence. But after switching Apple’s proprietary active noise canceling on, we noticed it did not filter out background noise completely. Thats a huge disappointment considering the massive price point and Apple’s reputation for excellence in engineering.
Price. Apple are playing in the top of the range price point trading on badge and slightly better quality (and heavier) build materials. Need we say more?
Yamaha YH-L700A: Mediocre ANC headphones from a renowned instrument brand – $419.00 at Amazon.com.au →
Why Yamaha makes the list of best ANC earphones
✅ Pros
A sound profile that is built for classical music. Yamaha have always been about pure genre instrumental sounds. Then it’s not surprising that the YH-L700A sound best when listening to instrumental tracks. More modern, high energy music creates distortion that even non-audiophiles may dislike.
❌ Cons
Comparatively poor noise canceling capabilities. Yamaha tout their proprietary noise canceling technology as an adaptive leap forward in software engineering. And while it sounds wonderful on paper, performance is mixed with glitches that take the listener out of the experience. Their noise canceling software shows promise, but needs significant improvement.
Odd shape may not suit all ear types. The circular ear cups are large and bulky. Yamaha explain that this is to create a tight seal around the entire ear, allowing the active noise canceling sound waves to perfectly block out sound. But the large ear cups may not fit all ear sizes and head shapes, several testers noted gaps that prevent ANC from working. There’s a reason all modern ANC headphones use an oval ear cup shape, and in this case different is not better.