Experts pick the 3 best headphone sets

The question Headphones as we know them were invented in 1910 by Nathaniel Baldwin, a Mormon from Utah who, as one story goes, wanted to hear church sermons better. Baldwin crafted his first pair at the kitchen table, using a mile of coiled-up copper wiring. Today, thankfully, headphones are more portable and make great gifts. But which are worth buying?

The basics Which? experts have tested more than 140 pairs of headphones. It has been a varied bunch: the cheapest being £25 by JLab and the priciest £500 by Apple.

The method Audio pros at Which? assessed the headphones using objective tests: they measured battery life, calculated charging time and used a model with artificial ears to monitor sound and noise-cancelling quality. They considered practicality, too: whether items were waterproof, stayed put during exercise and were comfortable for glasses wearers. In subjective tests, a five-person panel (of varying ages and ear size) used the products to listen to a range of tracks across genres including rock, jazz and classical.

The thing to remember Which? is a not-for-profit organisation, so all the money it makes goes back into making life simpler, fairer and safer for consumers.

See the full range of expert-recommended headphones at which.co.uk/headphones

BEST OVER-EAR

What works? Everything, really. They have great sound quality, plus noise-cancelling so good they’ll stop irritating sounds, from other people’s phone calls to children crying, interrupting your listening. Testers found them comfy, secure and easy to use. They have a long battery life, too – once charged they last for over 35 hours.

What’s the catch? A massive price tag.

BEST IN-EAR

What works? Testers said these felt very secure – they’re not likely to fall out of your ears. They have excellent sound quality and minimal ‘sound leakage’, so no one else can hear what you’re listening to.

What’s the catch? The battery life is only about 7.5 hours (though you do get 20 hours extra from the charging case).

BEST BUDGET

What works? These are impressive for noise cancelling and testers reported very little sound leakage, too. They’re durable and easy to use with a battery life of up to 10 hours 20 minutes (plus a 15-minute boost from the charging case gives you another four hours). And, they’re cheap.

What’s the catch? The sound quality is good but not great.