Labs

We'd have loved it if Tesco's budget Technika TA-708 headphones had outperformed their more expensive rivals, but unfortunately their quality reflects their price.

Their sound, although warm, is muddy and indistinct. Even when we turned up the volume, our music lacked clarity and fine detail. Build quality is poor, with flimsy size adjustors. The headphones are light and not too uncomfortable to wear for long listening sessions, although their foam pads can get a bit warm after a while.

At a budget price of under £8, these headphones just about serve their purpose, but you're not going to uncover any new subtleties in your favourite music with them. Their audio quality is inferior to that of many of the earphones that come free with MP3 players. If you want a cheap pair of headphones, then Maxell's HP-550F set is a better buy.