Top 5 budget headphones under £50

We nag, nag, nag, but still no-one listens. Burn those bundled headphones that came with your MP3 player. Invest a little hard-earned and you'll reap the benefits. We've put together a selection of the best cheap headphones for under £50 so you have no excuses... Zalman ZM-DS4F £9.50 www.quietpc.com Yes, they feel weaker than a papier-mâché matchstick – and yes, they make you look ridiculous, but on sound-per-pound criteria these are just about the best headphones we’ve heard. ?A compulsory iPod upgrade. Stuff says 5 stars Sennheiser MX660 £30www.sennheiser.comThis classic earbud design offers great performance. Their airy, out-of-head sound and superb detail with taut bass is let down only by the midrange. Not for commuters, mind – they need to be turned ?right up in noisy environments.Stuff says 4 starsGrado iGrado £40www.armourhe.co.ukWhat the iGrados lack in style ?they make up for in performance. They’re a realistic and exciting listen with a spacious delivery and detail in spades. Open backs mean they leak sound, so you won’t be popular on the train, but they’re head and shoulders above rivals. Stuff says 5 starsGoldring GX100 £30www.goldring.co.ukEffective noise dimming does come cheap, as these Goldrings prove. The balance is near neutral with a slight midrange skew, and though they suffer from a lack of outright treble definition, listening for long periods is never fatiguing. They’re lightweight and great for exercise, too. Stuff says 4 starsKoss KEB/79 £50www.koss.comA rare and successful foray away from the cheap'n'cheerful for Koss. The KEB/79s don't look or feel anything special, but they fit comfortably and isolate external noises well. Best of all they sound neutral, poised and completely believable.Stuff says 4 stars Pinching the pennies? Check out Budget services to beat the credit crunch and 5 gadgets to get you through the credit crunch