Shut the World Out and Enjoy

Where you want to stream radio over your smart phone, or listen to extensive catalogue of downloaded music on your audio system in your home, a top quality set of headphones can enhance the experience.

It’s much easier than ever to get audio onto our devices. Whether we have AOL broadband or superfast Virgin Media broadband, we can download songs without much delay. The number of online catalogues selling audio have increased massively over the years. Jump into iStore, Google play, Amazon or anywhere else, and you are sure to find music you like.

You have to decide upon your budget before you move out into the marketplace. As with purchasing anything the budget comes first. The options for headstones that we present here are really good quality and vary in price between £119 and £300. Spend less than this and your audio experience is likely to suffer.

Our Top Headphones Picks

B & W P3

Price- these headphones come in at £169.

Specifications- these headphones offer 34 ohms and a frequency range of 10 to 20,000 Hz is very good. The length of cord is somewhat average at 1.2 m.

What We Like- these are lightweight and compact but certainly a premium set of headphones. You can choose either a white set or a black set.

What We Don’t Like- sometimes the headphones can be a bit tight around the head.

Our Verdict- these headphones have absolutely superb sound quality, and are nice and light weight. We consider them a highly refined choice. 5 out of 5.

KEF M500

Price- these come in and are slightly more expensive £250.

Specifications- these offer 32 ohms, a frequency range of 20 to 20,000 Hz and a cord length of 1.3 m.

What We Like- the sound quality on these headphones is really detailed. They are comfortable too, with the memory foam acting to both increase comfort and reduce sound leakage. They are a classic design.

What We Don’t Like- these are quite expensive and sometimes the headband can slip on your head.

Our verdict- the build quality and material used are really, really good. The audio quality is accomplished, and all in all they are worthy of the £250 cost. 4.5/5

Sennheiser Momentum

Price- these cost £260.

Specifications- they offer impedance of 18 ohms, and a frequency range of 16 to 22,000 Hz. The cord length is 1.4 m.

What We Like- the sound quality is great, as is the build quality. There’s not much slippage on the head and they are extremely comfortable.

What We Don’t Like- these are quite large dimensionally and quite expensive; the carry case you get with them is also oversized.

Our Verdict- these are strong and robust yet lightweight. They are some of the most comfortable headphones you’ll find and will not slip off. Very good for listening to music on the go. 4.5/5.

Focal Spirit One

Price- these headphones cost £199.

Specifications- the impedance is 32 ohms, the frequency range 6 to 22,000 Hz, and the cord length 1.2 m.

What We Like- these headphones have a well-balanced sound with a punchy nature. The design is compact and foldable, and there is very little sound leakage.

What We Don’t Like- these are very chunky headphones which have a very high price, perhaps a little too high for what you get. Premium price, fairly premium headphones.

Our Verdict- these are the very nice sound and attractive style. They are good all-rounders that are durable enough to take with you on the go. 4.5/5.

Parrot ZIK Design By Stark

Price- these are the most expensive on our list at £300.

Specifications- the impedance of these is 32 ohms. They are the first wireless headphones on our list, and have a frequency range of 10 to 20,000 Hz.

What We Like- these headphones offer great audio. You can pair reliably with Bluetooth and they also have good noise cancelling technology. The controls on the ears are really well placed and easy-to-use.

What We Don’t Like-the battery life could be better than they are heavy as well as quite expensive for what you get. Having said that they are definitely premium quality and feature packed.

Our Verdict-these are an innovative set of headphones with superb controls and functionality. The design is classic and the sound quality is superb. You can’t get much better when it comes to wireless headphones. Only the price kept these down from five out of five. 4.5/5.

Phillips Fidelio L1

Price- these come in at £134.

Specifications- the impedance of these headphones is 26 ohms. They offer a frequency range of 10 to 25,000 Hz. The cord length is a somewhat miserly 1.1 m.

What We Like- the bass on these headphones is very meaty, and the audio transparent and clear. The style is retro and will appeal to many. The cord is also designed not to tangle, which is a nice feature, and will stave off a fair bit of potential frustration.

What We Don’t Like- the sound is easy-going. This won’t be to everyone’s taste. Not everyone likes “nice”.

Our Verdict- these are very comfortable and have extremely high quality audio. You can get them at a real bargain price below the recommended retail price these days. This makes them excellent value, but it just depends whether you like all the nice soft tones.

Other Possibilities

Some other possibilities you might like to consider are the PSB M4U 2 at £269, the Beats By Dr Dre Executive, also at £269, the AIAIAI TMA-1 at £163, or the cheapest on the list, the Sennheiser CX 890I at £119. These are all 4/5 headphones with good sound quality and nice designs.

It really is worth investing in a good set of headphones if you enjoy your music. You can shut out the world, cut out distractions and have maximum enjoyment in your home, and or on the go.

Phil Turner has just signed up with AOL broadband as his Internet provider after a thorough search on uSwitch and similar comparison sites.