Visually they aren't quite as nice as the identically-priced Sony WH-900N — which have a chunkier look and come in more vibrant colours — but the noise cancelling is noticeably better, so for flights, commutes or noisy work environments these are my pick.

Best for gaming on the go

I do most of my mobile gaming on an incredibly noisy train, so I tend to favour the above for that as well. But, if the background to your game sessions isn't as noisy as mine, you might want something more pocketable that still has the fidelity, hardiness and mic capability you need.

If you're playing on a recent Android phone, it's hard to look past the $169.95 Razer Hammerhead ANC. They plug in via USB-C, so you don't need to use a dongle or recharge them, and you get the benefit of decent active noise cancellation. They also look and feel great, with a braided cable, solid metallic body, handy inline mic and controls, comply tips and glowing green logo. Note that these are not compatible with some phones (notably those from Samsung), so research first or keep the reciept.

If you prefer a 3.5mm headphone connection, I really like the HyperX Cloud Earbuds, at around $70. These are designed to complement the Nintendo Switch, and as long as you're not in too noisy an environment (there is no noise cancelling), they sound great for the price. The flat cable keeps tangles to a minimum, there's a variety of silicon tips included and the mic is handy if you switch over to your phone.

Best for high-end fashion looks

Master & Dynamic isn't well-known in Australia, but the New York brand has just arrived with a set of true wireless earphones that might as well also be a piece of jewelry: the MW07. These have a flat, shiny surface made of handcrafted acetate in a few different finishes (I like the tortoiseshell), and come in a stainless steel box so highly polished that it also comes with a soft bag to hold it when it's in your backpack.

I like the use of tiny buttons instead of touch controls to cut down on the frustration factor of tiny touch targets, and the buds do sound very nice as far as true wireless sets are concerned, but at $549.95 you're primarily buying these for the look.

Functionally the MW07 doesn't offer that much over a much cheaper and less elegant set like the TicPods Free, but there are some luxuries here I appreciate. For example the MW07 is compatible with Bluetooth AptX for better sound, charges by USB-C, and has a bunch of soft tips and wings included in the box to help you get a good fit.

Best for audiophiles

If you're buying for someone who really loves their music, odds are they already have some very nice headphones to listen to it with. But if you want to get them something a bit different — and you don't mind paying for it — you have to look at Blue, the microphone company that also makes some unusal-looking and incredibly good-sounding headphones.

The most straightforward set I've used is the Blue Lola, which will set you back close to $500. It has massive 50mm custom drivers, and a strange scissor mechanism that holds the cups against your head without using a traditional band. The fit is comfy, the sound is incredible, and it's light enough to wear for a long time, although it will be very conspicuous if you wear it in public.

Then there's the Blue Sadie, which will take you close to $700. This are more or less the same, but it adds a built-in amplifier that makes for just about the clearest and purest sound you could hope for. It also makes for heavier headphones and the need to recharge the battery (which is unusual in wired headphones), so it's essentially for home listening only.