The 10 best headphones you can buy right now

Buying your next set of headphones isn’t as easy as picking the cheapest pair. Sure, they might match your hat, but you’ll soon regret your hasty purchase when your cut-price cans give you a headache on the way home. Save yourself the pain by perusing this list of the 10 best headphones you can buy. Yes, some are expensive – but your ears will doubtless thank your wallet.

10) SENNHEISER PXC 550

If the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless are for the style conscious traveller, their cheaper PXC 550 siblings are for those that put functionality first. They’re understated in their design, lighter and more compact, with a longer battery life (a whopping 30 hours) than their prettier sibling. They also offer a clean, clear and precise sound, with a midrange that’s king. The treble sits on the bright side of neutral but keeps itself reigned in enough that it’s never annoying. There are absolutely no grumbles when it comes to comfort, either, and the noise cancelling on offer here is almost on par with its Bose competition.

9) SKULLCANDY GRIND WIRELESS

The Skullcandy Grind Wireless headphones don’t get rid of that ubiquitous skull insignia, but they do seem like an altogether more grown-up offering. You get nice, soft Bowers & Wilkins-style pillow pads and relatively light headband tension. The sound is a huge departure from the Skullcandy of old: you get tasteful but not excessive bass, providing power without pulling focus. Mids are a tad recessed but are nicely textured given the price and the treble is well resolved. Their battery lasts for up to 12 hours, and don’t shy away from using the cable should it die, as wired listening cleans up the light artefacting of the non-aptX Bluetooth stream.

8) LINDY BNX-60

Ten points for guessing what Lindy is doing here. Actually, make that 5 points as it is pretty obvious: the Lindy BNX-60s are a low-cost copycat of the pretty wonderful Bose Quietcomfort QC35s. They pack a serious array of features for the price, including wireless, active noise cancellation and even aptX, the most common higher-quality streaming codec. When you first put them on they feel sumptuously soft and comfy, although as the pads are quite wide they do sit only partly on your ears, rather than fully enclosing them. They may tire your ears a tad after a few hours, but they beat most – just not Bose. Keep your expectations realistic and you’ll love these Lindys.

7) AKG K92

If you’re after a mid-price set of headphones, you’re going to be listening to most of your music at home, and just want a great-sounding, sturdy and comfortable pair of cans to hook up to your laptop or hi-fi, then the K92s fit the bill perfectly. The colour finish might not be to everybody’s taste, but once these wonderful headphones are clamped around your dome the last thing you’ll be thinking of is gold. Unless, y’know, you’re listening to some Spandau Ballet. With stellar sound that’s smooth and detailed, they’re built to last and comfy, too.

6) BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35

The QuietComfort range has long been the frequent flyer’s best friend, thanks to its combination of marshmallow-like comfort and screaming baby-blocking noise-cancelling. With the new 35s you can add freedom-enhancing Bluetooth to the list of features that will make you the envy of business class. While they might not look very special with their plain matte finish, these are some of the best noise-cancelling ‘phones you can buy – and a 20-hour battery life tops them off.

5) SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 2.0

Expensive, yes, but also well worth it: Sennheiser’s Momentum 2.0 headphones will have you smitten with their lively, transparent sound, pocket-friendly portability and comfortable class. The headband’s stitched leather is fit for a king, and the ear cups’ buttery smooth, shimmery finish will no doubt attract a few jealous glances on the tube – not that you’ll be paying any attention, given just how good they sound.

4) AKG Y50BT

These booming beauties are proof that you don’t have to pay a pretty penny for great wireless sound and are easily good enough to pass for a solid wired performance. With none of the horrid hiss and whine, crack and pop that’s often a glitch of Bluetooth headphones, they’re clear as a bell, serving up truckloads of detail. A full charge promises 20 hours of juice, although a flat battery doesn’t mean game over: the included headphone cable lets you carry on listening passively, which is a slightly more refined experience.

3) B&W P7 WIRELESS

B&W has never made a disappointing pair of headphones yet, and the P7 Wireless aren’t going to buck the trend. In fact they’re absolutely excellent, setting a lofty standard that rivals in this price range will struggle to emulate. B&W has built a pair of Bluetooth headphones that impress with their stunning sound quality, elegant looks, premium comfort and slick, user-friendly Bluetooth controls. There’s really no downside to these cans at all – unless, of course, you’re operating on a tight budget.

2) SONY MDR-1000X

Sony might be a noise-cancelling newbie but the MDR-1000Xs should have more established rivals sweating. The MDR-1000X’s noise-cancelling tech goes above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to extinguishing exterior babble, while sound quality is smooth and refined – without sacrificing on precision. Factor in the elegant, thoughtful design and you’ve got a serious contender for the best wireless noise cancelling headphones on the market.

1) URBANISTA SEATTLE

Offering understated style and fantastic sound quality at the right price, Urbanista’s Seattle headphones are an unexpected triumph. They fold up, feel sturdy and their chunky memory foam pads do their best to keep ear ache away. The battery lasts for up to 12 hours and there’s a standard 3.5mm cable included to let you carry on urban’ing when it’s dead. The best bit? These headphones have a far more expansive and involving soundstage than most budget wireless pairs – they’re full and rich-sounding, with the sort of tasteful bass drive that will please the masses without instantly turning off the chin-stroking crowd.