Sennheiser Urbanite
- £120
- en-uk.sennheiser.com
If it’s all about that bass, you can’t go wrong with Sennheiser’s ultra-stylish Urbanite range, which produces a wonderfully deep, natural sound. The headphones are beautifully made, with minimalist lines, a range of bands (denim is my favourite) and comfortable padding. Foldable, they have stainless steel hinges and come with a pouch. If you’re on a trip to Europe this month, head to a branch of Freitag to pick up a limited-edition pair incorporating recycled truck tarpaulin (e190; available in-store only).
PROS Great bass CONS Moderate noise leakage
KEF M500
- £250
- kefstore.co.uk
British company KEF is known for its high-quality audio equipment, and these beautiful on-ear headphones are no exception; crafted from lightweight aluminium, they have more than a hint of Apple about them. Features include a “smart hinge”, which allows you to rest them flat on a table or fold up to store in their accompanying case, breathable ear-pads that are comfortable enough to wear on a long-haul flight, and a choice of two detachable cables, one of which is equipped with a mic for making phone calls. They have a nice, clear sound with big bass.
PROS Very luxurious finish CONS Not the snuggest fit
AKG N60 NC
- £230
- uk.akg.com
Made with flights in mind, don the on-ear N60 NCs and enter a world blissfully free of the sound of engines. The noise-cancelling technology is first rate, giving you clear, crisp audio and, when the battery runs out, you can use them in passive mode – a must-have feature for extended use. They come with a dual headphone jack adapter so you can plug them into those annoying ports that plane seats still have. They’re crafted from aluminium, memory foam and leather, and are lightweight, folding into a tiny pouch.
PROS Brilliant noise cancelling CONS No volume control on the wire
Audeze LCD-4
- £3,299
- audeze.com
Audio Technica ATH-MSR7
- £170
- audio-technica.com
Sony MDR-HW700DS
- £399
- sony.co.uk
B&W P5 Wireless
- £330
- bowers-wilkins.co.uk
Denon AH-MM400
- £246
- denon.co.uk
RHA T10i
- £150
- rha-audio.com/uk
These stainless steel headphones from RHA feature mouldable over-ear hooks, giving a super-snug fit. They have a real air of quality, as well as conveniently colour-coded bands for distinguishing left from right. The audio quality is high for in-ear plugs, with good detail and nice solid bass. They also allow you to change the sound style by using screw-in tuning filters.
PROS Exceptional build quality CONS Heavy for in-ear buds
Jaybird Bluebuds X BBX1MB
- £100
- jaybirdsport.com
If you’re a gym fanatic, you probably already know about Jaybird, the wireless headphone manufacturer that makes workout-friendly products. The Bluebuds X Bluetooth earphones are lightweight, comfortable and come with a range of ear-plug options. They’re rain-resistant and sweat-proof, and the Bluetooth works up to ten metres from your phone.
PROS Sweat and rain resistant CONS The USB charging port is delicate
Bose QuietComfort 20
- £230
- bose.co.uk
If you need a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for running, as well as sitting on an aircraft, these should be at the top of your list. They give great sound, come with a range of moulded ear plugs and are understated. The noise cancellation works for up to 16 hours from a two-hour charge and, when it runs out, you can use them like regular headphones.
PROS Extremely comfortable CONS Battery unit on cable is annoying
Shure SE846
- £799
- shure.co.uk
These in-ear headphones produce incredibly detailed sound that really requires high-definition audio files to do them justice. They will block out background noise, although not as much as a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. A nice touch is the ability to fine-tune your music by choosing from three different filters (small rubber tubes that come with the product).
PROS Customisable sound options CONS Need high-quality audio files to justify the expense