Sony WF-C700N

The Sony WF-C700N cost $119 at JB Hi-Fi. A hundred and nineteen dollars. For earbuds with active noise cancellation, multipoint Bluetooth, and sound quality that genuinely embarrasses products three times the price. This is the budget king, and it isn't particularly close.

Sony took the noise cancelling technology from their flagship line and dialled it down (not gutted it) for a budget product. The result: ANC that won't match the XM5 or Bose QC Ultra in total silence, but handles the 400-series bus commute well enough that you can listen to a podcast without cranking volume to dangerous levels. For $119, that's remarkable.

Sound quality is the real surprise. The 5mm drivers deliver a warm, balanced signature with more bass presence than you'd expect. DSEE upscaling makes compressed Spotify streams sound better than they have any right to. No LDAC or aptX support, so the audiophile ceiling is lower than the flagship Sonys, but for everyday listening, podcasts, and calls, these sound genuinely good. Not good-for-the-price good. Actually good.

At 4.6g per earbud, these are the second lightest in our lineup (behind the Pixel Buds Pro 2 at 4.7g). For the all-day calls test, six hours of continuous Teams meetings was effortless. No ear fatigue. The lightweight design and comfortable silicone tips make these an all-day wear proposition.

Battery life is 7.5 hours with ANC on, 15-20 hours with the case. Solid for the price. Multipoint Bluetooth lets you stay connected to your phone and laptop simultaneously. IPX4 water resistance handles sweat and light rain.

For the lawn mowing test: they stayed in well during steady mowing. The light weight helps. Not as sport-locked as the Jabra Elite 10, but secure enough for yard work. The case is the one area that feels budget. It's light plastic, and the hinge doesn't inspire confidence about years of pocket carry. Functional, not premium.

These are the earbuds I recommend to anyone who asks "what should I buy?" without specifying a budget. At $119, the value is staggering. They pop up on OzBargain every couple of weeks, sometimes dipping below $100.

Available at JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Sony Australia, Kogan, and Addicted to Audio.

Your rights under Australian Consumer Law: At $119, these are budget earbuds, and a reasonable consumer would expect 1.5 to 2 years of reliable use. Sony's manufacturer warranty is 1 year, which aligns closely with the expected lifespan at this price point. But if they fail within 18 months (dead earbud, case charging failure, Bluetooth module giving up), you still have a consumer guarantee claim. The case's plastic build quality is a potential failure point. Start with the retailer you bought them from. They handle it.