Top 10 Headphones

1. Sennheiser PXC 450
£200, www.sennheiser.co.uk
PERFORMANCE A first-class set of headphones that ensures Sennheiser remains the king of quiet
LOVE Very plush audio, noise cancelling and comfort
HATE Over-sized and expensive
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2. BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 3
£299, www.bose.co.uk
PERFORMANCE Shrunk down from previous incarnations but don’t miss out on any of the features
LOVE Lush audio and comfy, relatively discreet
HATE Somewhat pricey
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3. GRADO GS1000
£845, www.gradolabs.com
PERFORMANCE A smidge on the expensive side, but if you’re serious about sound then there’s no denying the seer quality of these cans
LOVE Astonishing fidelity and stunning wooden finish
HATE You have to be serious about sound to spend this kind of money
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4. CREATIVE AURVANA
£60, uk.creative.europe,.com
PERFORMANCE These buds fit like a glove and the sounds none too shabby either
LOVE Very good sound for the eminently reasonable price tag
HATE Unpleasant, cheapo looks
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5. DENON AH_D7000
£800, www.denon.co.uk
PERFORMANCE A strong solid performance from Denon, comfortable to wear and look good to boot
LOVE The sonics and the lovingly crafteddesign are beautiful
HATE The price tag is perhaps
slightly less beautiful
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6. Sennheiser HD485
£50. www.sennheiser.co.uk
PERFOMANCE Big cans pack the best sounds and the HD485s are no exception. Superb bass, clear mid range, this comfy set is superb for home listening, or showing off your impeccable tech taste out on the street.
LOVE Rich, wide ranging sound, powerful bass
HATE Best suited to home use
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7. AKG K601
£150, www.akg.com
PERFORMANCE Ugly as sin but comfier than an old pair of trainers, the Austrian audio specialists have create a pair of headphones that produce warm, natural sound best suited to serious HiFi equipment
LOVE Comfortable and impeccable sound
HATE Not a great iPod partner
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8. Etymotic HF2 Earphones
£100, www.etymotic.com
PERFORMANCE Some earphones nestle politely outside your ear canal, but Etymotics go in deep to create an air tight fit. Although it sounds intrusive, that makes for audio quality that is second to none and extremely practical for portable listening.
LOVE Punchy bass, defined mid-range, restrained high frequencies
HATE Can be difficult to fit perfectly
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9. Sony MDR-NC60
£100, www.sony.co.uk
PERFORMANCE Sony combines good quality sound for the generous price, with smart looks and noise cancellation thrown in to boot. Be proud to wear them in public and enjoying crisp bass without killing your lugholes.
LOVE Stylish design
HATE The S word will never appeal to audio purists
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10. Shure SE420
£250, www.shure.co.uk
PERFORMANCE At the top end of the in-ear spectrum you’ll find the Shure SE420; these £250 monsters squeeze into your ear seemingly defying physics. But once in you’ll be revelling in pristine sound with zero distortion.
LOVE Tough build and impeccable sound
HATE Absurdly expensive
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