WIRED OVER-EAR HEADPHONES

FOCAL CLEAR MG $2,199, focal.com

Simply sumptuous, with soft microfibre on the earpads and a headband that you can sink into; then comes the rich, warm sound to totally lose yourself inside. They’re just fantastic in that regard.

GRADO SR325E $649, gradolabs.com

When you factor just how good these sound, they’re a bargain. In a quiet room, they sound as good as headphones that cost five times more. They’re among the leakiest we’ve tried, however.

AKG K52 $69, au.akg.com

These have absolutely no right to sound half as good as they do. For at-home listening they offer a massive soundstage, impressive balance and a ludicrous amount of detail.

SENNHEISER HD 660 S $649, en-au.sennheiser.com

One look at the

HD 660 S tells you everything you need to know about them: clear and open earcups for air movement; big plush pads that wrap around your ears for comfortable listening.