Best for all-round ability

Sennheiser HD 555, £77

Like all the sets on test, these are largely made of plastic, but living-room headphones don’t need to be as durable as portable designs, which can spend much of their life scrunched in a backpack. The big advantage of plastic is that it keeps the price down. Although the HD 555s are large, the earcups, which are covered in velour foam padding, were surprisingly comfortable over long periods. The headband is adjustable over a wide range but the fit is always firm — a little too firm, perhaps, for some. The 10ft lead is long but slim, meaning it won’t curl and twist annoyingly. Soundwise, if it is clarity you’re looking for, this open-backed design (see panel) is the best on test. Music sounded bright and wide, and the headphones pulled a lot of detail from the mix without descending into harshness. That expansive sound reproduction also makes them a good match for film soundtracks. Bass is inevitably lighter than in closed-back rivals, but the HD 555s still make music fun — whatever its type.

Verdict Immaculately presented headphones with all-round ability, these are hard to fault.

sennheiser.co.uk

Best for rock music

Sony MDR-XB700, £70

These huge headphones have oversized earcups and a thick aluminium headband. The sound was equally large: masses of bass (even for a closed-back design), great depth and crisp treble. There was a lack of subtlety and detail — classical lovers should look elsewhere. Feed these cans rap or rock, however, and they are in their element. They also go extremely loud with portable players, should you want to take them on the move. Despite their size they were comfortable, although the sealed vinyl pads became sweaty with extended wear.

Verdict Big, bold and great value; best with unsubtle tunes.

sony.co.uk

Best for build quality

AKG K 172 HD, £109

The AKGs are ruggedly built and their two-piece headband makes them easy to adjust for any wearer. They clamp the head firmly but the result is that the closed-back design truly seals the music in and the world out. Despite their brutish looks, they were surprisingly smooth and delicate sonically, making them an excellent pairing for most types of music. There’s nothing remarkable about these ’phones — bass and treble were right in the middle of the range — but what they do they do well. They have no weaknesses, provided you don’t mind the firm fit.

Verdict Poor comfort spoils an otherwise fine all-round headphone.

akg.com

Best for balance

Audio-Technica ATH-910 Pro, £89

As a “studio” design — a no-nonsense accessory that a pro musician would use — the Audio-Technicas are devoid of gimmicks. The earcups, with vinyl-covered foam padding, are comfortable, thanks to the loose fit of the headband. Tonally they were the most balanced on test; their closed-back design gave strong, firm bass; treble was soft but clean; the mid-range was detailed. The result was a delicate, even sound that was faithful to a recording. Classical music fans will love them, but their neutrality also makes them great for electronic music.

Verdict Polished, fuss-free performers, but visually unexciting.

eu.audio-technica.com

Best for rhythm

Grado SR80i, £99

“Broadsword calling Danny Boy ...” The Grados look like throwbacks to the second world war and are more plasticky than you would expect at this price; the foam earpads also feel cheap. Nonetheless they were comfortable to wear. The open-backed design gave a light, breezy feel to all types of music, unlocking the rhythm better than any other. With low-powered portables they are quieter than most — the bass was light and the treble hard — but if you simply want tunes to sound fun they are a good choice.

Verdict Seat-of-the-pants sound.

gradolabs.com

Prices are the best found online at time of going to press

Jargon buster

Closed back

A design that makes an airtight seal between the headphone’s internal speakers and the ear. This stops ambient sound leaking in and the music you’re playing getting out. Generally speaking, closed-back designs give strong, firm bass, but their close-fitting, enclosed nature can make them less comfortable than other designs to wear for long periods.

Open back

With no seal between the headphone cups and the ear, the sound can travel out of headphones and some ambient sound can get in — annoying in a crowded train carriage, but less worrying in the living room. Generally these designs are more comfortable to wear, but they lack the powerful bass of closed-back designs.

Sensitivity

All headphones play music at slightly different volumes, so it is worth choosing a sensitive pair — one that plays loud from a quiet source — if you are intending to use it with a portable player, which will put out sound at only a modest level. iPods and iPhones in particular call for sensitive headphones.