Headphones Accessories

Urbanears Plattan

The Plattan headphones from new kid on the block Urbanears don't always produce the clearest audio, but they look stylish, are fairly affordable and seem durable. If you mainly listen to hip-hop and want headphones with plenty of bass, volume and style, the Plattans could be a suitable option

Editor's rating 6.0

Monster Lady Gaga Heartbeats

Inspired by Lady Gaga, these in-ear headphones are exactly what you'd expect: completely over the top and stylish to the point of absurdity. If you can wear the triangular earpieces comfortably, you like plenty of bass and you want to catch eyeballs, these earphones will suit you well

Editor's rating 6.5

Monster Beats by Dr Dre Solo

The Beats by Dr Dre Solo on-ear headphones can make some songs sound muddy, which is a shame given their price, but they have a stylish and durable design that makes them well-suited to use on the move. The inline controls, mic and call-answer buttons are useful features too

Editor's rating 7.0

AKG K 340

The K 340 earphones fall short in the visual-stimulation stakes, but their overall sound quality is solid and they'll probably appeal to those who like plenty of bass. A handy inline volume slider and a hard-sided carrying case for storing and transporting the headphones are welcome bonuses

Editor's rating 6.0

Skullcandy Smokin' Buds

The Smokin' Buds are a decent budget option for people looking to upgrade from stock earphones. Competing models are more comfortable and offer better sound quality, but the Smokin' Buds seem durable, come in a range of eye-catching colours and offer some useful extra features, like an inline mic

Editor's rating 6.0

AKG K 518 LE

The K 518 LEs are well worth a look if you're seeking portable earphones that you don't have to jam inside your head. They offer a compact, folding and stylish design, coming in a range of colours. They can make a few songs sound muddy, but their generally solid audio quality means they should appeal to listeners with eclectic taste

Editor's rating 7.0

Sennheiser HD 800

If huge price tags cause you to suffer nosebleeds, then you may want to ring your local hospital to arrange a blood transfusion before reading this review of the Sennheiser HD 800 headphones. You'll get an absolutely first-rate listening experience and top-notch design if you decide to invest, though

User rating 1.0

Editor's rating 9.3

Zagg Z.buds

The Z.buds in-ear headphones sport an integrated mic and controls, and provide a good balance of comfort, durability and sound quality. Bass-addicted iPod and iPhone owners who are fine with not having a bright overall response should check them out

Editor's rating 6.7

Creative EP-630

If you want to step up from stock earbuds but aren't absurdly picky about audio quality and don't want to spend a fortune, the EP-630 earphones are a solid option. Durability may be an issue, but they're compact, comfortable, relatively stylish and offer good sound quality for the money

Editor's rating 6.7

JVC Gumy

Exceptionally cheap, the Gumy earphones don't offer the most comfortable fit we've ever encountered, but they do provide better sound quality than stock earbuds, and they look better too, thanks to their colourful styling. If you're short of funds, they're a decent option

Editor's rating 5.3

Razer Megalodon headset

Hard-core gamers won't be disappointed by the Razer Megalodon PC gaming headset. Its 7.1-channel surround sound is fantastic and highly tweakable, and the headset's comfortable to wear for prolonged periods. It's fairly pricey but we reckon it's worth the investment

Editor's rating 8.0

Bose QuietComfort 15

The QuietComfort 15s are no bargain, but they're ludicrously comfortable, and deliver the best sound quality that we've heard so far from noise-cancelling headphones. In fact, the level of detail that they offer may inspire you to relisten to your entire music library

User rating 9.0

Editor's rating 8.3

JVC Marshmallow

Although they're very inexpensive, the JVC Marshmallow earphones are a huge step up from stock earbuds. They offer a secure, comfortable fit, good sound quality across all genres, and decent noise-isolation capability. Available in a wide variety of colours, they're also fairly stylish

Editor's rating 7.5

iBlink Earbuds

With most cheap earbuds more or less indistinguishable from each other, the iBlink Earbuds stand out by virtue of their built-in, music-responsive, flashing LEDs. The construction and sound quality isn't great, but they'll probably appeal to the target market of young folk

Editor's rating 5.7

AKG K 390

The AKG K 390 earphones offer a sleek design and generally impressive sound quality, whether or not the noise-cancelling function is activated. The earbuds and noise-cancelling module are fairly large, which might put off some users, but these are good earphones nevertheless

Editor's rating 6.7

JayBird Endorphin Rush Athletic Earphones

The Endorphin Rush Athletic Earphones are a good choice for fitness freaks looking for a super-secure fit and thumping, encompassing bass. The sound isolation may make them unsuitable for some types of outdoor exercise, but the solid build quality means they'll stand the test of time

Editor's rating 7.3

Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220

If you can get a good fit with the MetroFi 220 earphones, you'll be rewarded with good sound quality across all musical genres, and solid noise isolation. For users of stock earphones looking to upgrade and still have money left in their wallet, the 220s are a worthy option

Editor's rating 6.3

Nike Aero Sport Headphones

Intended for use by fitness fanatics, the Aero Sport Headphones offer a secure fit and sleek, sweatproof design. They're also extremely easy to clean. Sound quality isn't their forte, so they're not the best headphones for day-to-day use, but they're a decent option for gym goers nonetheless

Editor's rating 5.7

Shure SE115

The SE115 sound-isolating earphones are at the entry-level end of Shure's SE line, but still offer a comfortable fit and good sound quality. They don't provide a huge amount of detail, but they do deliver on the bass front, making them a solid choice for fans of reggae and hip-hop

User rating 3.0

Editor's rating 7.0

Ultimate Ears MetroFi 170

Those looking to upgrade from stock sets without dropping a big wad of cash should check out the MetroFi 170 noise-isolating earphones. If you can get a decent fit, you'll be rewarded by good sound quality across all genres. And, if you keep them in the case, they should last a while too

Editor's rating 6.7