Best earphones

Earphones, eh? We love 'em. They let us blast out our favourite tunes on the bus without having to suffer the awful ambient noise created by other humans, and they're no larger than a tangled up length of yarn.

But with so many earphones to choose from, and each set having its own unique sound, how do you choose which ones to buy? CNET UK's here to help. Over on the right you'll see our favourite earphones, from the best budget set to the cream of the audiophile-tickling crop.

Tastes differ when it comes to earphones. While our reviews are a great go-to guide, we always recommend plugging the 'buds in question into your own lugholes before throwing down your cash. Here's what to look for.

Balanced sound is important, no matter how much money you're looking to spend. Listen to a song you're really familiar with, and listen to the different parts of the sound mix. Does the bass sound suitably boomy? Can you feel it thumping inside your ears?

Listen to detail in the high end -- how crisp do the vocals sound, and do instruments like cymbals sound clear and precise? Avoid earphones that are too bassy -- a bottom end with too much clout will obscure the rest of the song.

All in-ear earphones should provide a decent level of sound isolation, but there are other design details to take into account. For example, how do the earphones attach to your ears? Models with loops that fit around your ears can be fiddly to attach but they'll feel more secure once you've strapped them on.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, check out some earphones that have an in-line remote. They'll let you control music playback or take calls without having to fish your phone or MP3 player out of your pockets.