Sony’s WH-1000 series has long been a favorite among audiophiles, thanks to its unbeatable noise cancellation and crystal-clear sound. The Sony WH-1000XM5 takes it up a notch, keeping the streak alive as a gold standard for wireless headphones.

You look at Apple’s over-the-ear headphones and see they are appropriately called the AirPods Max. Samsung has a line of earbuds named the Galaxy Buds, fitting in with the rest of its Galaxy lineup of personal devices.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are some of the world's best noise-canceling headphones, combining Sony's excellent wireless technology, top sound quality, and supreme comfort. And as luck would have it, they're now on offer for just $298 (was $399.99) at Amazon in the US, or £249 (was £379) in the UK.

The WF-C510 earbuds and WH-C520 over-ears are both five-star pairs (the earbuds are also What Hi-Fi? Award winners) and our top pick at their ultra-budget prices, beating similarly affordable rivals we have tested from brands such as JBL, EarFun and Jabra for sound quality.

Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones normally retail for $399.99. As of Nov. 22, they're on sale for $298 in Black Friday sales.

Before Black Friday these headphones cost £299 direct from Amazon, so the bargain isn’t quite as red hot as the £379 RRP might suggest. But it’s still a legit deal good enough to make some folks hit the checkout before these run out. We imagine at at least some of the colours may well do so.

We gave top marks to the Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones when we reviewed them a few years ago, and today they’re only $200 on Amazon!

You don't always need to buy the latest and greatest headphones for the best sound quality or ANC experience. This Black Friday, skip splurging on the Sony's WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra and consider getting Sony's WH-1000XM4 instead.