This page compares Sony's own headphones: which model suits which listener. Every pick is a Sony model, taken from its Amazon Australia listing, and we say plainly where a rating count is small. Three are over ear wireless pairs, and the page adds one wired pair and two pairs of earbuds.
Start with the line up below. The model names look like a code, but they sort the range quickly once you know what each part means.
| Model | What it is for | Key listing words |
|---|
| WH-1000XM5 | Best Sony headphones overall | Dual processor noise cancelling, 8 mics, up to 30 hours, multipoint |
| MDR-ZX110NC | Cheap wired pair | Wired, 30mm dome drivers, up to 80 hours of battery life |
| WH-1000XM6 | Newest flagship | QN3 processor, 12 mics, 30mm driver, up to 30 hours |
| ULT WEAR (WHULT900N) | Bass lovers | ULT button, V1 processor, up to 30 hours, multipoint |
| WF-1000XM5 | Noise cancelling earbuds | Dual feedback microphones, up to 8 hours (up to 24 with case) |
| WF-C710N | Cheaper earbuds | IPX4, multipoint, up to 8.5 hours (up to 30 with case) |
Best Sony headphones overall: Sony WH-1000XM5
Best Sony headphones overall: the Sony WH-1000XM5, because it is the highest rated wireless noise cancelling Sony pair here, with up to 30 hours of playback and multipoint connection.
The listing describes advanced dual processor noise cancelling with 8 microphones, and hands free calling with 4 beamforming microphones. Playback is up to 30 hours, and the quick charge feature gives 3 hours of use from 3 minutes of charging. It also lists a lightweight design with soft fit leather, wearing detection, touch controls for pause, play, skip, volume and calls, and Hi-Res Audio. It holds 4.3 stars from 2,510 ratings, which likely pool the XM5 colours.
It suits commuters, travellers and office workers who want one pair for music, calls and noise. The honest catch: the Sony WH-1000XM6 is the newer flagship, and this pink listing is one colour of the XM5.
Best cheap wired Sony headphones: Sony MDR-ZX110NC
Best cheap wired Sony headphones: the Sony MDR-ZX110NC, because it is the most rated Sony headphone here and adds noise cancelling to a lightweight, folding wired pair.
To be plain: this is a wired pair, with no Bluetooth. The listing describes noise cancelling technology, 30mm dome drivers, a lightweight design, a swivel, folding design and up to 80 hours of battery life. It holds 4.2 stars from 11,489 ratings, a count that may be shared across colours and sizes.
It suits anyone who wants a cheap pair for a plane, a desk or a school bag, and does not mind a cable. The honest catch: it is a wired pair, so it does not suit anyone who wants Bluetooth.
Best Sony flagship, newest model: Sony WH-1000XM6
Best Sony flagship, newest model: the Sony WH-1000XM6, because the listing gives it the QN3 noise cancelling processor, 12 microphones and a foldable design with a compact case.
The listing calls it the flagship model. It describes the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 with Multi Noise Sensor Technology and Auto NC Optimizer, a 30mm driver unit, Hi-Res Audio, DSEE Extreme and a customisable 10 band EQ. Calls use a six microphone AI based beamforming system with a wind resistant design. The foldable design comes with a compact case with a magnetic closure, and the listing says the headband is even more comfortable and secure than the previous model. Battery life is up to 30 hours, and you can use it while charging.
It suits people who want the top Sony spec and the newest design. The honest catch: it is the dearest pick and has only 106 ratings at 4.0 stars so far, a count shared across its colours.
Best Sony headphones for bass: Sony ULT WEAR
Best Sony headphones for bass: the Sony ULT WEAR, because the ULT button boosts bass and the listing pairs it with noise cancelling, a swivel fold and up to 30 hours of battery.
The listing describes a massive bass boost when you press the ULT button, dual noise cancelling and a V1 processor. Cushions use a thermo foaming design that moulds to your ears, and the swivel fold comes with a compact carry case. Quick charging gives up to 90 minutes of music from 3 minutes. It also lists multipoint connection for two devices, mesh around the mic to reduce wind noise and intelligent wearing detection. It holds 4.2 stars from 188 ratings.
It suits listeners of bass heavy music who still want noise cancelling for travel. The honest catch: only 188 ratings so far, and the bass boost is not to everyone's taste.
Best Sony earbuds for noise cancelling: Sony WF-1000XM5
Best Sony earbuds for noise cancelling: the Sony WF-1000XM5, because it is the most rated Sony earbud here and the listing gives noise cancelling, dual feedback microphones and up to 24 hours of battery with the case.
The listing describes noise cancelling designed to cancel more external noise than ever before, dual feedback microphones and Noise Isolation Earbud Tips. It lists up to 8 hours of listening (24 hours with the case), and quick charging for up to 1 hour of listening from 3 minutes. The listing also describes Sony's best ever call quality. It holds 3.8 stars from 5,787 ratings.
It suits people who want earbuds rather than an over ear band, for the train, the office or a bag with no room. The honest catch: its 3.8 star rating is the lowest of the picks.
Best cheaper Sony earbuds: Sony WF-C710N
Best cheaper Sony earbuds: the Sony WF-C710N, because the listing gives noise cancelling, IPX4 sweat resistance, multipoint and up to 30 hours of battery with the case.
The listing describes noise cancelling using two microphones, with up to 8.5 hours in the earbuds and up to 21.5 hours in the case. It adds IPX4 water and sweat resistance, connection to 2 devices at once, DSEE processing and a 5 mm driver. The Sound Connect app adjusts ambient sound in 20 levels and offers a Focus on Voice setting. It comes in four colours and holds 4.2 stars from 54 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants Sony earbuds for less than the WF-1000XM5. The honest catch: only 54 ratings so far, so it has a thin track record.
How to choose Sony headphones
How to read Sony model names
On these listings, the WH models are the over ear wireless headphones and the WF models are the truly wireless earbuds. MDR is the wired pair here. The 1000X line (the WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6 over ear pairs and the WF-1000XM5 earbuds) is where the listings put Sony's noise cancelling flagships, and the XM6 listing says its headband is more comfortable than the previous model. ULT is a separate range built around the bass button, and the WF-C710N is the cheaper of the two earbuds.
Over ear or earbuds
Over ear headphones sit around your ears and list the longest figures here: up to 30 hours on the wireless pairs and up to 80 hours on the wired MDR-ZX110NC. Earbuds are smaller, so they fit a pocket, but the battery is shorter in the earbuds themselves and the case tops it up. If you are open to other brands, our wireless earbuds guide compares earbuds across brands.
Noise cancelling and microphones
The listings differ in the microphone and processor details they give, and the numbers climb up the range: 8 microphones on the WH-1000XM5 and 12 on the WH-1000XM6. The ULT WEAR uses dual noise cancelling with a V1 processor, and the earbuds use two microphones (WF-C710N) or dual feedback microphones (WF-1000XM5). We are going on the listings, not lab tests, so read these as the specs Sony gives, not measured results. If you are open to other brands, our noise cancelling headphones guide compares them.
Battery life and quick charge
The WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM6 and ULT WEAR listings all say up to 30 hours, with quick charging of 3 minutes for 3 hours, 3 hours and up to 90 minutes. The wired MDR-ZX110NC lists up to 80 hours. For earbuds, read the earbud figure and the case figure separately: the WF-1000XM5 lists up to 8 hours, or up to 24 hours with the case, and the WF-C710N lists up to 8.5 hours plus up to 21.5 hours from the case, up to 30 hours in all.
Wired or wireless
Only the MDR-ZX110NC is wired, and it is the cheapest way into Sony noise cancelling. Everything else connects wirelessly, and the WH-1000XM5, ULT WEAR and WF-C710N list multipoint, which lets you connect two devices at once, say a laptop and a phone.
Calls, travel and sound tuning
If you take a lot of calls, look at the beamforming microphone lines: 4 on the WH-1000XM5 and 6 on the WH-1000XM6. For flights, the folding designs and cases on the WH-1000XM6 and ULT WEAR help. For a room full of people, a speaker from our Bluetooth speaker guide is the better tool. The WH-1000XM6 lists a customisable 10 band EQ, and the WF-C710N works with the Sound Connect app.
Rating counts and what they tell you
The Sony MDR-ZX110NC has by far the most ratings and the WH-1000XM5 the most among wireless over ear models. The WH-1000XM6 (106), ULT WEAR (188) and WF-C710N (54) carry small counts so far, so their ratings are a smaller sample. Counts on Amazon Australia often pool colours, so treat them as a guide rather than an exact tally.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Sony headphones to buy in Australia?
For most people the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the best Sony headphones pick here: noise cancelling with 8 microphones, up to 30 hours of playback and multipoint connection. The Sony WH-1000XM6 is the newer flagship, and the Sony MDR-ZX110NC is the cheap wired pair for anyone who does not need Bluetooth.
Which is better, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the WH-1000XM4?
The WH-1000XM4 is the earlier model and is not one of the six Sony pairs compared here, so we can only give the WH-1000XM5 side. Its listing describes dual processor noise cancelling, 8 microphones, touch controls and up to 30 hours of playback. If you want the newest, the Sony WH-1000XM6 listing adds 12 microphones and the QN3 processor.
What is the latest Sony headphone?
Of the Sony headphones we checked, the WH-1000XM6 is the newest over ear model, and its listing calls it the flagship. The listing says its headband is even more comfortable and secure than the previous model. It has only 106 ratings so far, so the Sony WH-1000XM5 has far more ratings to judge it on.
Is Sony making a WF-1000XM6?
We have not seen a WF-1000XM6 listing, so we cannot confirm one. The Sony earbuds we checked are the WF-1000XM5, with noise cancelling and up to 8 hours of listening (24 hours with the case), and the cheaper WF-C710N. If a newer pair appears, check its listing against these two.
Which Sony headphones have the best noise cancelling?
The Sony WH-1000XM6 listing describes the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 and 12 microphones, the top spec on this page. The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses dual processor noise cancelling with 8 microphones and has far more ratings. The ULT WEAR uses dual noise cancelling with a V1 processor.
Which Sony earbuds should I buy?
The Sony WF-1000XM5 is the noise cancelling pick, with dual feedback microphones and up to 24 hours of battery with the case, though it holds 3.8 stars from 5,787 ratings. The Sony WF-C710N is the cheaper pair, with IPX4 sweat resistance and multipoint, but only 54 ratings so far.
Are there cheap Sony headphones with noise cancelling?
Yes, two on this page. The Sony MDR-ZX110NC is a wired pair with noise cancelling technology and up to 80 hours of battery life. The Sony WF-C710N is a truly wireless pair with noise cancelling and multipoint. Both cost less than the over ear wireless models, so they suit a tighter budget.
Which Sony headphones are best for bass?
The Sony ULT WEAR is the bass pick: the listing describes an ULT button that boosts bass, dual noise cancelling and up to 30 hours of battery. Only 188 ratings so far. If you want to tune sound yourself, the Sony WH-1000XM6 listing mentions a customisable 10 band EQ.
Are Sony noise cancelling headphones good for travel?
Yes, on the listings. The Sony WH-1000XM6 and ULT WEAR both describe a foldable design with a compact carry case, and the Sony WH-1000XM5 lists up to 30 hours of playback. The wired Sony MDR-ZX110NC has a swivel, folding design and up to 80 hours of battery, so it suits long trips without Bluetooth.
