Price: $125
Verdict: Fantastic sound, noise blocking
and comfort at an excellent price, they're the perfect PMP upgrade
Ratings: 5/5
It's not easy creating the perfect
headphones. Music is so subjective that one human's perfect pitch is a little
lacking in bass for another, and too bright-sounding for pedant no.3. The PFE
012s do about as good a job of satisfying disparate tastes as any in-ears we've
tried. Building on the success of the pricier 111s, they dig up bags of detail,
deliver sweet vocals and a palpable soundstage, and up the bass to party worthy
levels. They're also barely-there lightweight and subtly attractive. They could
easily sell for twice the price.
Bowers & Wilkins P3
Price: $270
Ratings: 5/5
Superb sound and a very solid and achingly
stylish design make these the best portable on-ears around. The fact that two
cables come in the box one with a Mic and remote for iPhones and one without only
sweetens the already candy floss-like deal.
Sennheiser MM 450-X
Price: $420
Ratings: 5/5
With Hi-Fi quality aptX Bluetooth, noise cancelling,
great sound and a Mic for use with smartphones, the awesomely portable MM 450-X
cans might be the only pair of headphones you ever need. Now we're just hoping
the next iPhone has aptX built in.
Powerbeats by Dr Dre
Price: $205
Ratings: 5/5
We never had Dr Dre down as a fitness fan,
but the headphones he's designed for sweaty gym sessions are seriously
impressive. Expect powerful, weighty and dynamic sound, then be pleasantly
surprised by the in-line mic and three button iPhone remote.
Klipsch Image X10i
Price: $295
Ratings: 5/5
The X10s were our favourite in ears for
years, but the X10is now look too pricey for the no. 1 spot. Built-in
iPod/iPhone controls are useful, but it’s their sound and size that really
impress the buds are slim as lolly sticks but sound thrilling and insightful.
Bose QuietComfort 15
Price: $370
Ratings: 5/5
Bose’s latest long-haul headphones are its
finest yet. Wearing a pair is as comfortable as binding pillows to your head
with silken thread, and both sound and noise cancelling are exemplary. For a
louder, more rocking listen, try Monster’s Beats Studio.
Skullcandy Lowrider
Price: $30
Ratings: 4/5
Skullcandy’s try-hard product styling and
marketing might rub anyone other than teenage surf-wannabes the wrong way, but
the Lowriders are surprisingly good. Actually, they’re better than good crisp,
clear and detailed. Well worth the price.
Sennheiser Momentum
Price: $410
Ratings: 5/5
Classily styled, cushion-comfortable and
smooth sounding, the Momentums are the perfect pair of on-ears for the dapper
man about town. There’s no noise-cancellation, but they do isolate nicely.
While they don’t fold down, there is a neat case included.
Focal Spirit One
Price: $315
Ratings: 5/5
French speaker company Focal has hit the
nail on the head with its first ever set of headphones. Beautifully made and
superbly stylish with aircraft-grade aluminium, the real success is the sound all
natural detail and punch, especially on heftier tracks.
AKG K702
Price: $320
Ratings: 3/5
With a swanky headphone amp, these
reference quality, open backed headphones create a sound to rival Hi-Fi
speakers ten times the price. Got more dosh? Try the supremely revealing
Sennheiser HD 800s or breathtaking Grado GS1000is.
Instant expert
Ratings: 5/5
If there's been one gap in Sennheiser's
otherwise exhaustive headphone range, it's been the lack of a really great,
fashionable pair of on ears. Well, Gap Be Gone: here are the »Sennheiser
Momentums (US$410, sennheiser.com). I'm aware that I'm far from the
authoritative voice on fashion, but to me the Momentums look superb in their
bronze finish. The leather headband and earcups are very comfortable and at the
same time add a bit of class and the soft but snug fit helps to isolate outside
noise. Even the mic/remote unit has a premium feel. In action they're really
nicely judged - smooth and balanced from top to bottom, with plenty of detail
and space. A little extra punch would be nice, but these are great nonetheless.
What to look for
Anti-noise
Headphones dampen background kerfuffle in
two ways: noise cancelling and sound-isolating. The former uses powered
electronics to monitor the outside world and generate a neutralising sound
wave. It's normally integrated into comfy over-ear cans, great for long-haul
travel. The latter creates a physical barrier, often in the form of tiny but
invasive ‘in-ear monitors' (lEMs), jammed into your lugs.
Open day?
Open-backed cans let noise in (and out).
The plus side is, they're less claustrophobic and have a pleasing, airy sound.
Drivers/armatures
These create the music. Most headphones
have one per ear, but IEMs have up to three. The main benefit of extra drivers
is usually increased frequency response.
At the gym
Avoid in-line volume controls if you're
working out as they bounce around. Look for lightweight, water-resistant
designs.
