From tiny in-ears to full-on hi-fi
cans, we’ve gathered together the top headphones on the market. Go on, bag a
pair. Your ears deserve it…
Headphones. We sure do buy a lot of them. Of course, that means everyone wants a piece
of the action – you can’t blink without another audio company, rapper or Aston
Villa footballer releasing a new pair.
So how do you sort the wheat from the
chaff? Well, you could do a great deal worse than peruse the next 16 pages, in
which we present the 50 very best headphones available right now.
From affordable in-ear buds to high-end
hi-fi cans, by way of Bluetooth, sports clips and hands-free mics, we’ve got it
covered. Prepare got it discover the headphones your ears have been waiting
for…
The return of the king – AKG K451
Ratings: 5/5
Price: $120
Thanks
to their versatile sound and compact build, these are perfect portable cans
In a category as overpopulated as headphones, it takes a monumental effort to get
one of our Awards, and to become Product of the Year takes an extra step – but
that’s exactly what AKG achieved with its K450 headphones.
We were sad to hear that they were being
discontinued, but before the K$50s were cold we were already fondling their
replacements, the K5451s.
Little has changed in the physical design,
and rightly so. Thanks to their compact, lightweight and foldable construction,
the K451 headphones are supremely portable. They also include two cables – one with
an in-line mic and three-button control unit for iPhone users, and one without
for everyone else.
So, they’re perfect for listening on the
go… they’re also perfect for the kind of music you’re likely to have on your
portable. That’s right, they won’t overly expose those low bit-rate recordings
you carry around.
But that’s not to say they don’t reward
lossless fans. On the contrary, a FLAC of Sigur Ros’ Eg Anda is reproduced with
all of its delicate detail, rousing dynamics and deep bass intact. In short,
then, this is a pair of headphones suited not only to just about anywhere, but
anyone, too.
Excitement on a shoestring – SoundMagic E10
Ratings: 5/5
Price: $52.5
The
SoundMagic E10s offer much more than you would expect for your $52.5
There was a
time when it seemed the sub-$60 in-ear market had been completely wrapped up by
Sennheiser, such was its dominance.
No-one, though, had told small Chinese
company SoundMagic, which went and produced a pair that stormed ahead to top in
our 2011 Awards.
Sennheiser may have mounted a come-back
since then (see opposite), but these E10s ensured that it had to raise its game
to get there.
The secret to the SoundMagic’s success
isn’t really a secret at all – they just offer much more than you would expect
for your $52.5. Not only is the metal casing far too stylish and well-made for
that kind of money, too – all excitement, attack, definition and precision. Add
in very effective noise-isolation from the snug buds and you’ve got yourself a
real gem of a pair of earphones for the price of half a tank of petrol.
As we have mentioned, Sennheiser is back to
reclaim the budget in-ear crown it wore for so long, and if it’s smoother, more
refined grooves you’re after, you may be better off spending your money on the
CX 495s opposite. For thrill-seekers, though, the SoundMagic E10s remain the
top choice.
Best for looking great and sounding better – Panasonic
RP-HTX7
Ratings: 55
Price: $52.5
The
HTX7s come in a range of six glossy, retro-cool colours – and they sound great,
too
Choosing a pair of headphones simply because they look cool is one of the ultimate
sins as far as we’re concerned.
Buying a cool-looking pair of headphones
that also sound awesome, on the other hand, is all sorts of brilliant,
especially if you can do it for very little money. That’s why we’re such big
fans of these Panasonic cans.
Looking like the off-cuts from a Smeg
kitchen – but in a good way – the RP-HTX7 headphones are a slice of glossy,
retro cool in any of the six available colours.
They fit brilliantly, too, the soft, thin
cushions surrounding your ears and doing a good job of blocking outside noise
while the lightweight headband keeps them firmly attached to your head as you
dash for the bus.
And once you’re aboard your glorious public
transport chariot, you can continue listening to your tunes at near-deafening
volumes safe in the knowledge that the closed-back design means your fellow
commuters will remain blissfully unaware that you’re rocking out to Mika.
Now we won’t go as far as to say the HTX7s
will make any genre of music worth listening to, but play anything half decent
and they’ll deliver it in style.
The secret is balance: treble that sparkles
without becoming overbearing, and vocals that emerge clearly ‘twixt the two.
Add impressive detail and punch for the money, plus a 2m extension cable and
6.2mm adapter so you can continue listening on the home stereo, and you’ve got
a real winner of a budget headphone.
Best for taking it cheap and easy – Sennheiser CX495
Ratings: 5/5
Price: $52.5
They’re
punchy and purposeful
Look familiar? They should: these CX495 buds are nigh-on identical to the CX300-II
pair they replace, themselves indistinguishable from the original CX300s before
them. Considering how many Awards those two pairs won, it’s no surprise we felt
a tingle of déjà-vu as we removed these from the packaging.
And we’re happy to report that the family
DNA is also present in the sonic delivery from the CX495s. there’s excellent
balance throughout the frequency range, with everything nestling comfortable in
its own sonic space, and not even a hint of overbearing from any part of the
bass, mid or treble.
Where they improve upon their predecessors’
delivery is in the expansiveness and control they exhibit over every track you
play. Where once a trebly pop song could become tiresome over time, the CX495s
are listenable for as long as you require them to be.
They’re punchy and purposeful, too, and
there’s no denying that for $52.5 they’re an absolute steal – but bear in mind
that just a little bit of excitement and drive is sacrificed to achieve that
impressive, budget-busting control.
They’re far from boring, but when it comes
to deciding where to spend your $52.5, consider whether your musical tastes
lean towards the frenetic or the fluid. If it’s the former you might be better
off with the SoundMagic E10s; for those with a taste for refinement, the CX
495s have the edge.
