The 5 unbeatable headphones deals I'd buy now – and not all are in Amazon's sale

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones: was £349, now £179 at Amazon

Here's a time-limited deal that'll expire when Amazon's Big Deal Days wraps up at the end of Wednesday 9 October. Sony's 5-star headphones may be a few years old now, but they're a modern classic, delivering multi-point connectivity for two Bluetooth connections, gob-smackingly good noise-cancelling (ANC), and superb sound processing thanks to the pair of 40mm drivers on board. In terms of value for money, I reckon this could be the best bargain out there right now.

Technics EAH-A800: was £299, now £174.99 at Argos

Save 30%: Enter 'RED30' discount code at checkout. 

As I say, it's not all about Amazon, though, and if you're in the market for an alternative retailer and an alternative option compared to the Sony above, then Technics' 5-star headphones are well worth your consideration. These excellent over-ears deliver incredible Hi-Res audio, have jaw-dropping battery life of up to 60 hours, and the design is classic of the brand. The ANC isn't up to as much as the Sony WH-1000XM4, granted, but for audiophile sound these have the edge. 

Sonos Ace headphones: was £449, now £349 at Sevenoaks Sound & Vision

I found Sonos' first-ever headphones release to be the most comfortable that I've ever tested, which is really saying something! So if you want hours of at-home listening then the Ace is a revelatory audio offering. The active noise-cancelling ANC is decent too, as is the sound quality if you give the equalisation a bit of a tweak in the app. There's a fun home cinema mode if you own a Sonos soundbar and want three-dimensional audio personal listening session rather than disturbing your household (yes, it's niche, but that's Sonos' special offering). 

Bowers & Wilkins PX8: was £599, now £423.27 on Amazon

I know, these cans are quite a bit pricier than the other offerings on this page. But boy are they worth the cover price! Described as "pure headphones perfection" in our review, I can vouch for the PX8 as feeling like some of the best headphones – and that's before even putting them on to wear! The build quality is impeccable, while Bowers & Wilkins' high-end audio is at the fore here – this is audiophile quality through and through. Don't expect much of the ANC, however, and it's otherwise full-on 5-star stuff here. 

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C): was £229, now £179 on Amazon

I had to pop a pair of in-ears onto this list – and what better than Apple's best offering? Announced mere weeks ago, the 2024 AirPods Pro add USB-C (instead of Lightning), bringing everything right up to date. Beyond that, however, it's the ease of use within Apple's ecosystem and truly impressive noise-cancelling that really sell these earbuds. If you've been looking for an AirPods upgrade then, well, this is the best out there right now – at a great price.