PORTABLE HEADPHONES

BIN THE BUNDLED BUDS, AND INVEST IN BETTER SOUND

Soundmagic E10S £40

Best in-ears under £50, Awards 2015 Paying £40 for a pair of buds like these ranks as one of the simplest, most affordable and most satisfying upgrades available. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m

Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEI £90

Best in-ears £50-£100, Awards 2015 You wouldn’t think anything so small could sound so good – not for just £90. But good they sound, wonderfully smooth, expressive and balanced. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m

Sony MDR-EX650AP £60

November 2014 These smart buds are nicely judged tonally, with plenty of detail. Add an expansive soundstage and you’re looking at great value for money. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m

Focal Sphear £100

November 2015 These Focals back that a classy design with a full-bodied, detailed sound that’s seriously engaging. They are a comfortable fit, too. In-line controls: Yes Cable length 1.2m

Klipsch X11i £200

November 2014 As comfortable in your ear as a cotton bud, the X11is deliver great sound too – exciting yet smooth and insightful. Highly recommended. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.3m

Shure SE425 £200

Best in-ears £100-£300, Awards 2015 If you’re serious about the quality of your in-ear headphones, we’d point you here. The energetic, immersive performance is irresistible. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.6m

Sennheiser IE 800 £600

Best in-ears £300+, Awards 2015 You might think it a waste to spend £600 on buds, but don’t make up your mind till you’ve heard these – they’re astonishing performers. In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.1m

Shure SE846 £950

June 2014 Stunning detail, supreme tonal balance and extraordinary dynamics. You just need to ensure you use an equally talented source In-line controls Yes Cable length 1.2m & 1.6m

AKG N60 NC £230

Best noise-cancelling headphones under £250, Awards 2015 The N60s are ultra-portable and offer effective noise-cancellation, leaving them free to present a punchy, musical, balanced sound. Quoted battery life 30 hours

Bose Quietcomfort 35 £290

August 2016 The latest Quietcomfort benefits from being truly wireless and switching to rechargeable batteries. The best just got better. Quoted battery life 20 hours (wireless), 40 hours (wired)

PSB M4U2 £250

April 2015 As well as obliging with a powerful delivery the PSBS offer a choice of listening modes (passive, active and noise-cancelling), to suit. Quoted battery life 55 hours

AKG K451 £50

October 2012 Great agility and precision timing combined with excellent build and compact size, makes the K451s a must-audition pair of cans. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 120g

AKG Y50 £50

Best portable on-ears under £100, Awards 2015 Our Product of the Year cans for 2015 are portable on-ears, and deliver a rhythmic, clear, detailed, dynamic sound. At this price they’re amazing. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 190g

AKG K550 £100

Best home on-ears under £150, Awards 2015 These on-ears, relatively light and very comfy, are communicative too, natural and unforced. And they deliver bass with punch and precision. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 305g

Grado SR125E £150

December 2014 These might have looked at home on the ears of a wartime radio operator, but they sound great. Stay at home, though: they’re leaky. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.5mm Weight 363g

Philips Fidelio M1MKII £135

May 2015 The Fidelios offer an unusually smooth delivery and plenty of weighty, punchy bass. Clarity and precision are further strong points. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 166g

Beyerdynamic T51i £245

Awards 2014 It’s satisfying when great design, premium build and top performance all come together. These on-ears really do sound as good as they look. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 174g

B&W P5 Series 2 £250

February 2014 Clear, precise sound, bags of detail, punchy rhythm – these gorgeous ’phones have the lot. We can’t think of anything to say against them. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 195g

Grado SR325E £270

Best home on-ears £150-£300, Awards 2015 If you don’t mind the sound that leaks from them, you’re free to enjoy the fluid dynamics and wonderfully musical presentation. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.5mm Weight 330g

Philips Fidelio X2 £230

October 2015 The X2s have a smooth, neutral sound, great rhythm and punchy bass. Superior design helps make them supremely comfortable too. Type Open Connection 3.5mm Weight 380g

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 £270

Best portable on-ears £200-£300, Awards 2015 We love the design but it’s more than just pretty – the Momentums 2.0s are comfortable on your ears and fold neatly off them. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 240g

B&W P7 £330

September 2014 Worth every penny. The solid build quality and comfy fit we expect, but the level of detail and dynamics swept us off our feet. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 290g

Shure SRH1540 £400

Best home on-ears £300+, Awards 2015 Once the music starts you’ll focus on the expansive, beautifully balanced sound. There’s agility, enthusiasm and genuine musicality too. Type Closed Connection 3.5mm Weight 286g

AKG K812 £1100

October 2014 For outright insight you’d have to spend thousands more than this on speakers before you get close to the resolution and agility on offer here. Type Open Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 390g

Beyerdynamic T1 Generation 2 £800

August 2016 Six years on and the T1s are just as stunning and have a few refinements. These ‘phones are insightful, comfortable to wear and a joy to listen to. Type Semi-open Connection 3.5mm/6.3mm Weight 360g

Sennheiser HD800S £1200

June 2016 If the price invites doubts, rest assured the performance is absolutely worth it provided your source and amplification are up to the job. Type Open Connection 6.3mm Weight 330g

AKG Y50BT £150

Best wireless headphone under £250, Awards 2015 By wireless standards, they’re excellent. Clarity and insight are particular strong points, but it’s also a great design. Folding Yes Quoted battery life 20hrs+ Wireless range n/a

Philips Fidelio M2BT £185

Janaury 2015 Bluetooth here is the superior aptx version. There’s also NFC connectivity and – most important – a rich, balanced, musical sound. Folding No Quoted battery life 10hrs Wireless range 15m

B&W P5 Wireless £330

Best wireless headphones £250+, Awards 2015 All the characteristics of the P5 Series 2 without the wire. The Bluetooth connection works well and the sound is nigh-on as good as the Series 2. Folding Yes Quoted battery life 17hrs Wireless range n/a

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless £380

Best noise-cancelling headphones £250+, Awards 2015 5 Take the Momentum 2.0, add aptx Bluetooth and active noise cancellation and – Very desirable. Folding No Quoted battery life 22hrs Wireless range 10m