Sennheiser IE8

It might seem odd to spend more on headphones than on your music player, but if you want the ultimate in sound quality you have to splash your cash. To get your hands on a pair of Sennheiser's top-end IE8 headphones you're certainly doing that, but they do sound very, very good. Detail is sharp, the mid-range superb, and atmospherics and bass are good; there's even a small screw that allows you to tune the latter to your own preference. They come with a solid, hard case and a comprehensive selection of in-ear fittings; you're bound to find something that's snug and blocks out noise well. And although the price of £157 exc VAT is quite high, we think it's actually pretty good value for money for such a capable set of headphones.

Author: Jonathan Bray