Bose Soundsport Pulse

£170

And now for something a little different. It’s not just that the Soundsport Pulses are wireless, either (the cable links the two earpieces). There’s no active noise cancellation here and you can’t use them wired, but there is a heart-rate sensor built in. The Bose Connect app displays your current heart rate and the information can be sent to many fitness apps, including Strava, Endomondo and Mapmyrun. At times the set failed to pick up on our heart rhythm but it’s easier to use than a chest-strap.

These in-ears use soft silicone in-ear hooks, and are surprisingly comfortable. Hook them up to your phone using Bluetooth – they also have NFC to make connection easier. Wireless performance is excellent, with great stability and real-world range bang on the claimed 9m. The downside of a tech-packed approach is modest battery life – around five hours.

Sound judgement

The sound is enjoyable – rich and smooth, with powerful bass that’s particularly handy if you’re running in a noisy environment (which can cut down the perceived bass level).

Perhaps more than anything else, this is a fun sound, one that’s going to be easy to listen to for hours on end. A focus on enjoyment rather than insight or ultra-precise detail won’t please everyone, but it’s a perfect fit for this style of earphone.

There’s some mid-bass padding that makes the Boses a little less clear and nimble-sounding than most £170 earphones, but we reckon that’s a small price to pay for all the tech benefits.

Alternatives such as the Audio Technica ATH ANC40BT have better battery life, but few sporty wireless sets like this have a more consistent, cohesive sound. The sound is fun and the comfort level better than you’d guess by looking at them.