Ask the expert: headphones

Q. I couldn’t live without my iPod, but everyone always says how rubbish the earphones are. What I want to know is what sort of headphones should I buy to make the most of my music machine?

A. Admitting you’ve got a problem, sir, is the first step to solving it. Sometimes. Anyway, you’ve got a number of choices to satisfy your aural desires. There are in-ear, on-ear, noise-cancelling and Bluetooth to name a few. Here’s what you need to know…

Solution 1: In-ear headphones
The in-ear beauty (geddit? In-ear? Inner?) of these headphones is that they’re more discreet and portable than other jobbies. Make sure you have the right sized buds fitted and they’ll also stay firmly in your ears. The downside here is that they can tend to compromise on sound quality and comfort can vary wildly.
Best option: Shure SE530 – £234.98

Solution 2: On-ear or Over-ear headphones
There’s no hiding the on-ear variety. They’re usually much larger than their more discreet in-ear cousins, but they do tend to have improved sound and an increased comfort. Many of them come with noise-cancelling technology, drowning out the sound of screaming as your Easyjet biplane threatens not to take off.
Best option: Denon AH-D5000 – £499.95

Solution 3: Bluetooth headsets
Not all Bluetooth headsets are the same. Basic ones, designed for mobile phones, are for speech only with just a single speaker and sticky out mic that makes you look like a plank. Stereo Bluetooth headsets, using A2DP, can be used with mobiles and PMPs for full stero playback and also remote-controlling your music.
Best option: Sony DR-BT10CX – £69.99

Get chatting about headphones on the PriceRunner forums.

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