Enjoy the sound of music with these top-notch headphones and speakers

Steve Dinneen road-tests the best headphones and speakers for your travels

Remember the days when the little white headphones you got free with your iPod seemed cool? The world of portable audio has moved on, and if you’re still listening to tinny noise on badly fitting headphones, it’s high time you invested in some new cans. But if you expect anything approaching decent quality sound, don’t expect change from US$150 – even that price tag represents the lower end of the market.

Before you splash the cash, decide what you need – are you more likely to relax in a hotel listening to Bach or pelt it through the park in the driving rain? If the former, invest in a pair of over-ear headphones designed for comfort and clarity, or perhaps a small, wireless speaker. If the latter, you need a pair of in-ear buds that won’t give up the ghost in a spring shower.

If you have a little more to spend, you could opt for the convenience of wireless Bluetooth headphones. Or to drown out the world, choose noise-cancelling headphones. Here are some of the best headphones and speakers on the market.

MASTER AND DYNAMIC MH40

US$399, masterdynamic.com These stunning headphones are designed to be the ultimate office audio machine, allowing you to drown out the chatter and get some serious work done. When someone needs your attention, you don’t even have to take them off, simply hit the mute button on the side. The sound quality is excellent and the attention to detail unparalleled – not only do you get lamb’s leather ear pads and woven cables, it also comes with a leather cable box and canvas carry case. Available in three colours. If you’re feeling particularly flush, buy a stand to hang them from when you’re away from your desk (US$59). PROS Great attention to detail CONS Everyone in the office will be jealous

VERTU V

US$750, vertu.com Vertu is best known for its astronomically priced Android smartphones, which start at US$6,900 for an entry-level model. For its first foray into the audio world, then, the US$750 asking price for the V headphones sounds like a bargain. The fact that Vertu teamed up with audio legend Bang & Olufsen certainly bolsters its audiophile credentials, and the sound quality doesn’t disappoint. Slide up the volume and the outside world fades away, replaced by a haven of crystal-clear sound. Build quality is excellent, with aircraft-grade aluminium offset with lamb’s leather. The woven wire cable seems immune to getting tangled. PROS Stunning design CONS Expensive

SAMSUNG LEVEL-OVER WIRELESS OVER-EAR

US$349.99, samsung.com Samsung isn’t best known for its headphones, but this pair with both wireless and noise-cancelling technology should be taken seriously. A touchsensitive panel enables you to control your music by swiping a finger over the outside of the unit. Lightweight and well padded, they are ideal for long-haul flights; you’ll be the envy of other passengers when a baby starts screaming and you engage the noise-cancelling function. They’re reasonably priced and the sound is decent enough, although lacking compared with more expensive rivals. PROS Touch controls CONS Slightly flimsy build quality

BEATS BY DR DRE STUDIO WIRELESS

US$379.95 beatsbydre.com Last year Apple snapped up Dr Dre’s Beats Music and Electronics brands for US$3 billion, proving that it takes serious moolah to be down with the kids. The Studio Wireless model does away with wires and connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to stray up to nine metres from your device before it cuts out. Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology cuts out ambient sound by creating a second sound-wave to neutralise it. The distinctive Beats look is available in eight colours. They fold up, too.

PROS Sound-wise, expect high-quality thumping bass

CONS Expensive, a bit bling

SENNHEISER MOMENTUM ON-EAR

US$199.95, sennheiser.com You can’t have a discussion about quality headphones without mentioning this stalwart German manufacturer. The Momentum cans look slick, with a flexible stainless-steel band topped with Alcantara (a sort of suede substitute). Ample padding makes them comfy for long periods and the sound quality is excellent, with great performance on both high and low notes. The main drawback, as with all “on ear” headphones, is that outside noise inevitably leaks in, so they’re best for indoor use. Nevertheless, at US$200 they are remarkably well-priced. PROS Great build quality, rich sound CONS Some external noise leakage

BOWERS AND WILKINS T7

US$350, bowers-wilkins.net This portable speaker from the makers of the popular Zeppelin Air iPod dock is lightweight and slimline (11.4cm x 21cm x 5.4cm, 940g), but feels like a quality product. Unlike some of its rivals, the T7 is designed solely to create beautiful sound, with remarkable performance even at high volume. The bass is deep but doesn’t overpower the mid-range, making it perfect for unwinding after a long day’s travel. It connects via Bluetooth and the battery lasts for 18 hours. For quality this good, US$350 is a bargain.

BANG & OLUFSEN A2 PORTABLE SPEAKER

US$399, beoplay.com This stylish Bluetooth speaker from audio master Bang & Olufsen is compact (25.6cm x 14.2cm x 4.4cm, 1.1kg) and classy. It’s constructed from tough extruded aluminium and should survive being lugged around in a suitcase. The sound is designed to spread evenly through a room, ideal for when you have company. And, crucially, for those of us on the go, the battery will last up to 24 hours. You can even use it to charge your smartphone.

ATOMIC FLOYD SUPERDARTS TITANIUM

US$399, atomicfloyd.com This dinky in-ear option exudes quality, from the titanium build to the woven cable. They’re light for metal buds, at only 2.8g each, making them comfortable to wear for long periods. The way the wires poke horizontally from the buds looks a little precarious but you’re able to bury them pretty deep into your ears using the exchangeable silicone tips, which also aid noise reduction. Even so, they’re not quite anchored enough to be used while running. Sound quality is good but not mind-blowing – the more delicate treble gets a little lost in the squelchy bass. PROS Small and lightweight CONS The bass can be overpowering

MONSTER ISPORT VICTORY IN-EAR US$149.95 monsterproducts.com

If running is your thing then these are for you. They hook firmly into your ears, ensuring your workout isn’t interrupted. The waterproof design makes rainy-day runs a breeze and you can wash them after a sweaty session (an “anti-microbial formulation” keeps them fresh). Sound quality is decent for the price but audiophiles should probably look elsewhere. At about half the price of many rivals, they are a serious contender for your cash. PROS Good value, waterproof CONS You get what you pay for in terms of sound quality

JAWBONE MINI JAMBOX

US$129.99, jawbone.com

This eye-catching portable speaker (5.8cm x 2.5cm x 15.4cm, 255g) produces surprising and impressive sound that would work perfectly in a hotel room. It’s crafted from lightweight aluminium, comes in a range of colours and patterns, and is compatible via Bluetooth with both iOS and Android (look for the app too). It provides ten hours of battery life on a single charge. It is also suitable for conference calls, so you might even be able to justify it as a business expense.

JAYBIRD BLUEBUDS X

US$170, jaybirdsport.com

Love in-ear headphones but hate wires? These wireless beauties may just be for you. They fit comfortably into your ears and are designed to stay put while you work out. For such a tiny unit, the eight hours of battery life is impressive, the Bluetooth signal is flawless and the sound quality is good enough to enjoy over the sound of traffic. They come in a choice of colours (black, white or camo) and are finished in a sweat-proof rubber. Their tiny form affects the quality of audio, but it would be unreasonable to expect Bluetooth buds to sound as good as over-ear cans. As an incredibly portable, versatile set of headphones, these are right up there. PROS Great for working out CONS Easy to lose as so small

BOSE QUIET COMFORT 20 NOISE CANCELLING ACOUSTIC IN-EAR

US$299.95, bose.com

These in-ear headphones are the most comfortable I’ve tried. They come with three sizes of flexible silicone tips that sit neatly in the ear and help to block out external sound. The noise-cancelling technology, which will last for 16 hours on a single charge, is industry leading, appearing to place the rest of the world on mute. When the battery dies, they continue to work as regular headphones; you can also switch to “aware mode” if you need to cross a busy road. The biggest drawback is the lithium battery that hangs on the end of the cable – it tends to swing around if you use them for running. For watching movies on an iPad, these are my numberone choice. PROS Great noise-cancelling technology CONS Battery on cable is a little annoying