Best for portability

Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800 £70

In-ear phones, too small to incorporate wireless technology such as Bluetooth, get round the problem by including the bulkier components in the neck-cord — in this case, a 20in cable with a power button in the middle. Consequently, the alloy-bodied in-ear buds themselves are as small and light (2oz) as their wired equivalents. Their approximate five-metre range is fine if your music player is in your top pocket or backpack, but they won’t work across a room. Playing time between recharges is four hours; the mains charger connects to the phones using an unusual USB socket, so don’t count on being able to borrow other people’s kit if you need to recharge your earphones while on the go. But that’s the only downside to the Sonys: pairing (see panel) was a breeze, and their sound was crisp and open, with impressive bass response, delivering the goods in everything from jazz to rock.

Verdict: Faultlessly made and flawless in operation, these are a great, fuss-free way to enjoy mobile music.

www.sonyericsson.com

Best for features

Philips SHB9000 £70

Weighing only 5½oz, these over-ear phones are made from good-quality plastics, and with their padded headband and earcups, they felt comfier than the Intempos, yet secure. Decent controls included an easily located play/pause button, and even handy mobile-phone buttons. Recharging is via USB or the supplied charger, and you get 15 hours of use. The 15-metre range impressed (they can also be used wired), as did the digital noise cancelling, and their lively sound suits pop, although it may be a touch harsh for audiophiles.

Verdict: A decent all-rounder, with well-thought-out features and good build quality.

www.philips.co.uk

Best for value

Intempo BTH-01 £35

These compact over-ear phones have plenty of features, with buttons for play, pause, track search and volume. Charging is easy and can be done from a laptop. Battery life was an impressive eight hours, and the range was 30ft (less if line of sight is interrupted). On the downside, they were neither the most comfy nor the most robust on test. The non-adjustable headband felt flimsy and the foam earpads don’t have the grip to stay in place during exercise. They gave a light and breezy sound when playing compressed music files, although volume was limited and there was some hiss.

Verdict: Fine, as budget Bluetooth phones go, but don’t expect the style or durability of more expensive models.

www.intempodigital.co.uk

Best for sound

Sennheiser MM 200 £79

These in-ears were the only models to match the audio quality found in comparably priced wired phones but miss out on Best Buy status because of their fiddly lanyard. The Bluetooth module is far larger than the Sony’s and there is too much cable. The phones weighed just 1oz and charging could be done via USB, giving 10 hours of playback. A choice of earpieces is provided for a secure, comfy fit. Sound was the best on test: tuneful bass and a silky treble worked with everything.

Verdict: The performance more than justifies the price, but there’s an awful lot of wire for so-called wireless phones.

www.sennheiser.co.uk

Best for comfort

Nokia BH-604 £65

The aluminium-look frames are plastic but the Nokias still have a high-quality feel. They’re big but surprisingly easy to wear, considering their 9oz weight, and the headband’s grip was the best on test. Controls were accessible and felt robust. The charger was a standard Nokia and the battery lasted more than 16 hours. Bluetooth worked at more than 30ft and seemed less distracted by obstructions than most. Sound quality wasn’t bad — punchy enough for pop and smooth enough for jazz — but the Sonys are better if classical is your bag. Bass was deep but lacked detail.

Verdict: Chunky, well-fitting phones that worked seamlessly and sounded strong.

www.nokia.co.uk

Jargon buster

Bluetooth A short-range, radio-based communications system designed to work with small devices such as headsets and computer peripherals. The original standard was mono and of low quality, but several updates — including version 2.0, which tripled the data rate, and A2DP, designed specifically for stereo — now make it suitable for the transfer of high-quality music. It is a common feature of music-playing mobile phones.

Pairing Unlike wi-fi, where multiple devices co-exist on a single network, Bluetooth devices need to be individually linked to each other (paired). With these headphones, pairing is controlled from the mobile phone.

USB The universal serial bus is a computer data-transmission interface that also provides recharging of suitable peripherals connected to it. Although USB wiring is standardised, the shape of the connector can take several forms, so it is not quite as “universal” as suggested.