Audio quality

Which pair of buds sound best?

None of the earbuds in our test lack audio quality. The Audioflys offer crisp highs and controlled bass, with precise vocals around the midrange. Sony’s brass buds isolate noise very well, enhancing their immersive and balanced soundstage – which especially impressed with jazz. The Klipsch present tight bass and controlled treble, making up for a lack of separation in the midrange, but at £79, some listeners may expect a little more oomph. The RHAs impress on almost every front though, bringing real depth to proceedings without a hint of imposition. Orchestral music is faultless across the low and midrange, with only a shade of sibilance on the top end. The AKGs are almost as good, with resonant sub-bass that really shines on jazz funk tracks but can detract from less forward genres.

Vibe’s BA11s stand out though, immediately exposing highly compressed tracks. Noise isolation is unparalleled and offers expansive, deep, rich tones, with clean separation across the spectrum.