The best Labor Day headphone deals will save you up to 45% on Apple, Bose, Sony and more

It says a lot about the Sony XM4 that although it has been succeeded by the XM5 and, just recently, XM6, it's still selling and still super-popular. That's because Sony had already set the bar really high; the XM4 is just a great premium headphone, one that you can now get for a not-so-premium price.

In fact, $198 is just a few dollars above the lowest price on record. And in case you're wondering, this originally sold for $350. (Also worth noting: the new XM6 is $450.)

So why is a four-year-old product still so popular (and desirable)? Simple: great sound, comfy fit, superb noise-cancelling. Like I said: Sony set a high bar. If you've been looking for splurge-worthy 'phones without the outrageous price, this is a deal worth considering.

The Soundcore Space One was already our pick for the best budget headphone when it was selling for $100. This Labor Day deal gets you out the door for $80 — not a massive discount, but the best one since Prime Day and an even better deal on an already great buy.

In addition to a comfy fit and great overall sound, the Space One provides solid ANC, amazing battery life (up to 40 hours, and that's with ANC on) and a nifty Easy Chat feature: Cup your hand over the left earcup and the headphones quickly switch into transparency mode so you can converse more comfortably.

These are without question one of my favorite under-$100 headphones, but you don't have to take my word: Over 10,000 buyers collectively rated the Space One 4.4 stars out of 5.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones aren't flashy, but they do one thing really well: make the world go quiet. Whether you’re dodging the drone of air travel or just trying to focus in a noisy house, the ANC (active noise cancellation) on these things is top-tier.

And they live up to the Comfort part of their name: You can wear the plush memory-foam ear cups for hours without that head-clamp fatigue or sweaty-ear syndrome. That's an important consideration when choosing over-the-ear headphones.

Finally, you get the classic-Bose sound quality: warm, balanced and easy on the ears. They’re not bass monsters, but they deliver plenty of detail and richness. This isn't the lowest price on record, but it's definitely a substantial discount on a really good headphone.

Look, I'd never spend $480 on a pair of headphones, let alone $549. I mean, did you see those Soundcore Space Ones for $80? But I can't deny the AirPods Max has legions of fans, who love its comfort, style and Apple Watch-style crown control. And if you're leaning that way yourself, you might as well score a discount.

This one is actually the largest since Prime Day. And it's available on all five colors in the Max lineup.

I'd be remiss if I didn't spotlight these headphones' superb spatial audio, which feels like nothing short of a magic trick: Sound stays in a fixed position, which is especially great if you're watching a movie. The AirPods Max are also great for phone calls, something I can't say for a lot of competing headphones.