Headphones

Comfortable and dynamic, with a nicely balanced sound, but come at a price

Premium feel, unrivalled power and weight, but overcooked bass

Superior sounding buds for your portable or smartphone. Best in-ear headphones £80-£140, Awards 2011

Great retro looks but the performance is slightly confused and shouty

The stylish AKG K540 look nice but they lack openness, detail and dynamics

Vocals sound particularly sweet through these smart Beyerdynamics. Best in-ear headphones £40-£80, Awards 2011

If you are after a bassy flavour the hard-wearing Shure SE215s could be just the thing

Available in three flashy colours and a choice of buds; serious hi-fi sound

These closed-back headphones produce a well-judged, balanced sound

Stylish and solidly engineered, with a touch of glamour