Lab

Headphones

A good pair of headphones can transform the way you listen to music, whether you're connecting them to a classic valve amplifier or the latest MP3 player. Some affordable modern headphones use technology that used to be found only in the stage equipment of professional musicians, so you can get close to a professional sound without spending a fortune.

At the lower end of the price scale, you can still get a light, comfortable pair of headphones that outperforms the mediocre sets that come with most popular MP3 players. If you spend a bit more, you can get a noise-cancelling set that blocks out the noise of the commute.

We've gathered 18 sets of headphones with a range of styles. We have not included dedicated gaming headsets or wireless headphones, and have instead focused on sets that will make the most of your music. However much you want to spend, there's a pair of headphones here for you.

Before you buy a pair of headphones, consider when you'll be using them. You can get headphones or earphones. Earphones are designed to be inserted into the ear canal or rest just outside it. They're light and portable, so they are ideal for listening to music on the move, although low-quality versions can be uncomfortable to wear.

Headphones are usually larger, and held in place by a headband or hooks behind the ears. However, they can be hot, sweaty and inconvenient to wear in public, so are better suited to home use.

Sound design

Comfort is as important as audio quality when you're buying a pair of headphones that you may want to wear for hours on end. If you buy an MP3 player, you'll inevitably get a pair of earphones with it. These are usually the in-ear type, which rest in the folds of the outer ear. They can be comfortable to wear, but most don't block much outside noise.

The amount of sound let in depends on whether your headphones have an open or closed driver. The driver is the internal transducer that creates the audio output. Headphones with open drivers have vents in the rear housing. This allows sound waves to travel away from the transducer in all directions, and prevents distortion caused by sound resonating with the housing. This means that people around you will be able to hear your music. This is referred to as a sound leak. It also means there's nothing to prevent you hearing outside noise. This can be useful if you want to be aware of your surroundings, but in loud environments you'll have to turn the volume up to drown out other sounds, which can damage your hearing.

Closed headphones provide a more personal listening experience. Without any gaps in the housing, external noises aren't as audible, so you can listen comfortably at lower volumes. Furthermore, your music won't be heard by those around you. Although some closed headphones can suffer from slight distortion, a well-designed pair should present no such problems.

The sound of silence

If you work or travel in a noisy environment, you'll want to block out ambient noise and external distractions. Active noise-cancellation uses microphones to pick up ambient noise and circuitry to generate an interfering sound wave to cancel out the background noise. This works best with regular, low-frequency sounds, such as engine noise, but does little against other sounds.

Passive noise-cancellation headphones can block out a wider range of sounds. They're usually sound-isolating earphones designed to block the ear canal, preventing most sounds ever reaching the eardrum.