Best In Ear Headphones
One of our favourite categories is the in ear sound isolating headphone, also called In Ear Monitors (IEM's) or Ear Canal Headphones (ECH's). This type of earphone is designed to seal in your ear canal, which means you can listen uninterrupted by the noise around you. The design makes this type of headphone perfect for commuting and travelling.
IEM's can take a little while to get used to and do need some perseverance with fitting, but in our opinion can offer the best experience when listening to headphones in active everyday situations.
Shure SE110
A great first step into real in-ear monitors (IEMs) is the excellent Shure SE 110 sound isolating earphone. This entry level Shure earphone (RRP £69.99) has been in production for some years now and has acquired quite a collection of awards and good reviews along the way, and for good reason.
The Shure SE110 comes supplied with Shure black olive foam ear tips, as well as three sizes of silicone tip, which ensures nearly everyone is able to get good fit and therefore correct seal in the ear. A proper seal is vitally important with IEMs as without it the sound is very thin and tinny, due to low frequency (bass) leakage. The SE110's build quality is very high with sturdy cables that are built to last.
If you're upgrading from the standard iPod earbuds, the Shure SE110 should put a big smile on your face. Highly recommended.
Klipsch Image X5
If you are prepared to spend more on your earphones then the Klipsch Image X5 is an excellent introduction to the world of higher end in-ear canal sound isolating headphones (with a RRP of £129.99).
The design of this earphone is the first thing that catches your attention, but this earphone is not just about good looks as the sound quality is excellent. The Klipsch X5 has plenty of punch at the bass end and lots of lovely mid-range and high end treble detail. The X5 earphone gives the higher end Klipsch Image X10 a serious run for it's money. It is the case that the Klipsch X5 has a larger earphone body than the absolutely miniature X10, but it is still smaller than most earphones and is comfortable for most people's ears.
The only negative thing we can say about the Klipsch X5 is that noise does transmit up the cable quite easily when brushing against clothes, which makes it less suitable for wearing while running or at the gym (although clipping the cable to clothing helps).
Excellent sound quality and easy in-ear fit make this earphone a winner.
Sleek Audio SA6
The innovative Sleek Audio SA6 secured a first in earphone design with the possibility of customising the audio response to match the individuality of your ears and musical tastes. Sleek Audio call it finding your audio fingerprint. It's a great idea and it actually works. These miniature earphones are also very comfortable and easy to fit due to their diminutive size.
The SA6 also comes with a wireless option that makes this earphone even more unique.
It's at this price point where ear canal headphones get really interesting, the sonic improvements become dramatic and of course the headphones get more expensive. The Sleek Audio SA6 comes in at a RRP of £179.99.
In contrast to the approach taken by dual driver designs such as the Ultimate Ears Super.fi Pro 5 and Shure SE 420 , the Sleek Audio SA6 is a single wideband driver design (the Klipsch Image X10 is another single driver design). The result is a very balanced sounding earphone. In fact we feel that the sound from the SA6 is more balanced than the similarly priced dual driver designs. Sleek Audio claim this is due to the lack of crossover electronics, which is required for dual driver designs.
The Sleek Audio SA6 sounds very impressive, with an excellent level of musical detail in the mid-range and a punchy bass response. The SA6 is an great choice for upgrading an iPod or MP3 player and can be driven without a dedicated headphone amplifier, although reports on the Head-Fi forums suggest that a headphone amp extends the bottom end and highs very nicely.
The SA6 is very comfortable for everyday use, with robust replaceable cables, and offers well balanced sound reproduction across the entire audio range. In our opinion the SA6 definitely deserves the title of best mid-priced in ear sound isolating headphone.
Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro
The top of the range Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro is a truly incredible set of in ear sound isolating headphones, but don't come cheap with a RRP of £229. The three drivers of the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro provide amazing clarity and definition, from the deepest bass notes right through the upper registers.
The UE 10 Pro earphones are fitted upside down with the cable running over the ear. The cables are malleable and hold the earphones securely over your ear. This fitting system works really well for most people and means they can even be used for sports such as running and jogging. The cables can also be detached and replaced in case they get damaged - a very useful feature when you are spending so much money on your earphones!
If you are serious about your music then the UE Triple.fi 10 Pro should satisfy your craving for the best possible quality earphones you can get your hands on. In our opinion the Triple.fi 10 Pro is equally as good as the top end Shure SE 530 , and also offers slightly better value for money.
Best HiFi Headphones
If you are listening at home or in an office then a pair of full size headphones is worth considering. The major choice when buying full size headphones is whether to go for a pair with open back ear cups (for a more open sound, but the sound leaks in/out) or closed back ear cups (for better noise isolation, good bass, but a more boxed in sound).
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700
The full size headphone market if often dominated by Sennheiser with it's HD range, but there are other options. A solid performer in the full size headphone category are the Audio -Technica ATH-AD700 open back headphone, which have a very open and natural character to their sound and come highly recommended (RRP is £139). The equally good closed back model, the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 is also well worth considering.
Audio-Technica are the number one headphone brand in Japan, and for good reason. The AD700's are very well engineered and offer a very detailed, neutral sound. With full over the ear cups and velvet pads the AD700 is a very comfortable headphone for long term listening sessions.
The soundstage is truly immense on the AD700, i.e. you are able to discern instruments all around outside (and inside) your head. The AD700's give good depth to bass notes, without being overpowering, and are particularly detailed in the upper midrange. This is a superb pair home listening headphones that compares well with many much more expensive 'cans'.
Grado SR80
Next up we have to mention one of the Grado SR range. Choosing the best Grado headphone is a little tricky as they are all excellent, but the sensibly priced Grado SR80 headphone is a worthy contender for best mid-priced on ear Hi-Fi headphone (RRP is £110). The Grado SR225 is another highlight in the Grado lineup.
The SR80 is a energetic sounding headphone, with excellent clarity through the mids/highs, highly detailed resolution and a solid bass kick. Grado's have a very up-front sound that can bring music to life. The SR80 is an on-ear headphone, so they can require a bit of re-adjusting after some use to get them comfortable again.
Unlike some audiophile class headphones, both the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 and the Grado SR80's are sensitive enough to give good response without any dedicated amplification, as they are both rated at a very efficient 32 ohms.
All of the Grado range are fully open back, which means sound can leak in and out of the ear cup. If this isn't a problem then the SR80 is a very solid choice for a home Hi-Fi headphone.
Sennheiser HD650
Probably the most often recommended pair of full size Hi-Fi headphones on the planet are the extremely refined Sennheiser HD650 headphone. The HD650's have an excellent reputation among audio enthusiasts for good reason. Providing a beautiful silky smooth response across the entire audio range the HD650's really do make your music come to life, with every last detail present.
The HD650 earpads are circumaural, which means over the ear, and are very comfortable indeed for long term listening.
We often recommend a dedicated headphone amplifier with the Sennheiser HD650's as portable devices, such as the iPod, and even many Hi-Fi integrated amps will have trouble driving these 300 ohm headphones with any authority.
Best On Ear Headphones
The on ear headphone category contains a mixed selection of headphones that suit a many applications, including upgrades for standard iPod headphones, high quality Hi-Fi headphones for listening at home and even sports headphones.
Generally speaking on ear headphones are not great at isolating you from external noise as they do not seal on the ear, so the majority of headphones in this category are open back.
Koss PortaPro
A very worthy mention in this category is the inexpensive, but high performance, Koss Porta Pro headband headphone. The Portapro has incredibly been in production since the 1980's, which definitely shows in the retro styling. We love the way the PortaPro's sound and can definitely recommend them as an upgrade from the cheap standard headphones supplied with an iPod, MP3 player, laptop/PC, portable CD/DVD/MiniDisc player, or portable radio.
The headphone fit is very good, thanks to the headband that has extra supports which sit just above your ear. The Koss PortaPro's are perfect for active listeners. If you like the retro look of the open back PortaPro they are excellent value (RRP of £39.99) and are ideal for listening on the move.
Sennheiser PX200
If you are looking for something a little more modern looking than the Koss PortaPro and also need better sound isolation then the closed back Sennheiser PX200 headphone is another great choice. The sound quality is excellent for the price (RRP is £39.99). The extremely lightweight PX200 conveniently folds away for storage and sits very comfortably on most ears.
Although the noise isolating properties of the Sennheiser PX200 do not compare well with a full size sealed headphone or an in ear sound isolating earphone, the closed back design does help reduce outside noise to some degree. The sealed back also reduces the leakage of sound from what you are listening, so you can listen to the headphones sitting on a bus or train without annoying people sitting nearby.
Grado iGrado
Without doubt the best pair of street style headphones currently on the market are the incredible sounding Grado iGrado Neckband headphone (with a reasonably RRP of £39.95). The drivers used in the iGrado are the same as those used in the Grado SR60, so you can expect a lively delivery of your music across the entire frequency range. The iGrado's sound every bit as good as their home listening cousins. The styling of the iGrado's is not too everyone's taste, but who cares what you look like when the music sounds this good!
The only downside for commuters is that the iGrado's have open backs, so sound leaks out and in. This is fine for walking on the street (as long as the traffic isn't too loud), but is no good for travelling on underground trains or while sitting next to someone on a bus.
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