Good noise-cancelling headphones have become one of those products where, once you’ve owned a pair, you can’t imagine going back. Whether it’s blocking out plane engines, office chatter, or the bus engine on your daily commute, the peace they provide is worth every cent. I’ve been testing four popular models over the past two months, including on flights across Australia, to bring you this comparison.

The Contenders

I tested the Sony WH-1000XM6 (around $499), the Apple AirPods Max 2 (around $849), the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (around $499), and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 (around $399). All four are premium noise-cancelling headphones aimed at serious listeners.

Noise Cancellation

The Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the two clear leaders in noise cancellation. Both effectively neutralise low-frequency drone noise like airplane engines and air conditioning, and both do a solid job reducing mid-frequency sounds like conversation.

On a Perth to Melbourne flight, both the Sony and Bose made the cabin noise disappear almost entirely. The Apple AirPods Max 2 was close behind, while the Sennheiser was noticeably less effective, particularly against low-frequency noise.

For office environments, all four were adequate at reducing background chatter to a manageable level, but the Sony’s adaptive noise cancellation stood out. It automatically adjusts the level of cancellation based on your environment, which means it’s not over-processing in quiet settings and ramps up when noise increases.

Sound Quality

This is where preferences become very personal, but I’ll share my assessments. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 produced the most natural and detailed sound of the four. Instruments were well-separated, vocals were clear and present, and the overall tonality felt honest. For critical listening and music appreciation, the Sennheiser was my favourite.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 has a versatile sound that works well across genres. The default tuning is slightly bass-forward, but the excellent app allows extensive EQ customisation. For most listeners who enjoy a variety of music, the Sony is the most satisfying all-rounder.

The Apple AirPods Max 2 sounds excellent, with a wide soundstage and good detail retrieval. The Spatial Audio feature with head tracking is impressive for movie watching but less useful for music. The sound quality is a step up from the previous generation.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra has the most bass-forward tuning by default, which some listeners love and others find excessive. The Immersive Audio mode adds spatial effects that work well for some content but can make music sound artificial.

Comfort

Over-ear headphones need to be comfortable for extended wear, and this is where the Apple AirPods Max 2 fell behind. The weight (around 385g) is noticeably heavier than the competition, and during the three-hour flight, I was more aware of them on my head than I was with any other pair.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 was the most comfortable overall. The clamping force is gentle, the ear cups are spacious, and the headband distributes weight evenly. I wore these for a five-hour work session without discomfort.

The Bose was similarly comfortable with plush ear cushions and light weight. The Sennheiser was good but had slightly firmer clamping pressure that some people might find too tight.

Battery Life

The Sennheiser leads with up to 60 hours of battery life, which is extraordinary. You can go weeks between charges with moderate use. The Sony gets about 40 hours, the Bose about 24 hours, and the Apple about 20 hours. All support fast charging, with the Sony giving you five hours of playback from a three-minute charge.

Call Quality

All four headphones have multiple microphones for voice calls, and all performed adequately in quiet environments. In noisy settings like a busy street, the Apple AirPods Max 2 and Sony WH-1000XM6 produced the clearest voice transmission. The Bose and Sennheiser were slightly less effective at isolating your voice from background noise.

Value Assessment

The Apple AirPods Max 2 at $849 is hard to justify purely on features and performance. It’s a premium product with excellent build quality and sound, but the price premium over the Sony and Bose doesn’t correspond to an equivalent improvement in performance.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 at $399 is arguably the best value if sound quality is your priority and you can accept slightly weaker noise cancellation.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra at $499 each are the most balanced options, offering the best combination of noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, and features.

Where to Buy in Australia

All four are available at JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and The Good Guys. Amazon AU frequently offers competitive pricing, especially on the Sony and Sennheiser. Addicted to Audio is a specialist retailer worth checking for the Sennheiser.

My Pick

The Sony WH-1000XM6 is my overall recommendation. It offers the best noise cancellation matched with excellent sound quality, outstanding comfort, great battery life, and a feature-rich app. It does everything at a high level and nothing poorly. But honestly, all four are excellent headphones, and the best one for you depends on whether you prioritise sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, or ecosystem integration.