BEST FOR: AUDIOPHILES
AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-CK9 £130
These expensive earphones fit neatly and inconspicuously into the ear, aren’t fussy to handle and play music beautifully and naturally. Icy clarity and dizzying response make them ideal for expansive orchestral music or powerful rock, but their talents are wasted on processed pop. Unfortunately, they’re a little too good for some portables, as they show up the poor sound of the iPod Nano, for example. And even with a top player, your music needs to have been saved at high bitrates (192kbps or more) or it will just sound thin and compressed. Not for casual listeners, then. They have only a 47in cable, plastic bodies and a basic selection of silicone eartips but can sound great.

Verdict:Supremely capable, but they don’t suffer poor players gladly. www.atheadphones.com

BEST FOR: BUDGET SOUNDS
GOLDRING GX200£40
These soberly styled phones cost a bit more than basic earbuds, but offer improved build and sound quality, plus a choice of fittings and colours. The satin-plated diecast zinc bodies and chunky alloy plug are tough, and the silicone tips are snug, although the Comply foam canal tips are a better fit for when exercising. Although cleaner-sounding than most cheap earbuds, the Goldrings don’t have the musical thrust of the premium models on test: while breezy pop is tuneful, jazz and drum ’n’ bass lack guts.

Verdict:Excellent budget earphones, but it’s still worth spending more. www.goldring.co.uk

BEST FOR: BLOCKING OUT SOUND
SHURE SE310£110
One listen to these earphones explains why Shure is a cult brand in its native US. They remove almost all ambient noise and let superlative sonics shine through. As detailed as the Sennheisers and as punchy as the Skull Candys, the Shures’ finesse means they’re almost the most natural-sounding here.But they don’t flatter poorly recorded pop and aren’t that easy to use: it’s a faff finding the right fit from the supplied bag of foam sound-isolating sleeves. Nor are they very well made, their plastic-and-rubber bodies lacking the classy feel of even the budget Goldrings. Hi-fi addicts will put in the time to set them up right, but many people will find the Shures a chore.

Verdict:Wonderful sonics but fiddly to fit. www.shure.com

BEST FOR: ALL-ROUND QUALITY
DENON AH-C551£65
These Denons feel upmarket, and sound it. Their machined aluminium bodies are the best-finished here, and the silicone earpads fit straight in without fuss. The cable is only 20in long, but there’s a 31½in extension lead too. Sonically superb, they combine plentiful punch with polished treble, so they communicate the warmth of classic jazz as capably as dance music’s rhythmic snap. Only two things blot the copybook - the lack of a volume control and the absence of spongy foam eartips, so they’re more prone to slipping out of the ear.

Verdict:A near-perfect package, offering fine sonics, super build and top value. www.denon.co.uk

BEST FOR: STREET STYLE
SKULL CANDY FMJ£40
The Full Metal Jackets (FMJs) are hewn from tough but light aluminium in five different colours, right down to the handy inline volume control and plug. An iPhone model is also available, with inline mic and call button. The FMJs give impressive performance at the price, with large, bouncy bass, but the sound is also clean,sophisticated and detailed enough for jazz and classical.Bulky earpieces make the FMJs tricky to keep in the ear, so use the bundled Comply foam eartips, which give a super-snug fit that seals out the world’s noises.

Verdict:Enjoyable earphones with a style all of their own. www.skullcandy.com

BEST FOR: NOISY ENVIRONMENTS
SENNHEISER CX95£55
These plastic-bodied earbuds don’t feel as good as the Goldrings, but they’re tough and supplied with a 39in extension cable. A choice of silicone tips and the phones’ lightness and good shape make them easy to wear. Sensitive acoustic design lets them go loud even with modest-output players, so they’re ideal for headbangers or noisy environments. They sound upfront and ultra-detailed, which, with light bass, makes them unsuited to soft soul music.

Verdict:A thrilling listen - perhaps too thrilling for some. www.sennheiser.co.uk

SOUND KNOWLEDGE
Fit:In-ear headphones rely on a secure fit. If the tips don’t seal properly inside your ear, sound quality will suffer. All the sets tested came with various sizes of silicon tips. The Goldring, Skull Candy and Shure models also supply foam tips, which slip out less often

Cables:Some designs have a single, long cable. Others have a shorter lead and an extension lead. This gives more flexibility over where you keep your music player

Safety:In-ear headphones seal out the outside world and require less volume, which reduces the risk of hearing damage. They can be dangerous when, say, crossing the road

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