The GrooveStyle aren't the best sounding headphones by a long shot, but their stylish design means they are a slight upgrade on many of the standard ear buds packaged with portable music players.

Audiophiles won't be impressed, but if you're after a solid upgrade to your regular iPod headphones, then the GrooveAtomic is an ideal, low-cost choice.

TDK's EB-300 in-ear headphones aren't anything special but considering the price tag that is to be expected. They are a decent, cost effective alternative to your stock MP3 player earbuds.

For the price, Creative's HQ-1400 headphones offer good sound quality, though they can be slightly uncomfortable to wear over long periods of time.

A high quality pair of headphones from Creative, the Aurvana Live! sounds impressive and are comfortable, making them a good choice for users looking to spend a little more.

Creative's new HQ-1900 headphones, while slightly expensive for their sound quality, offer a comfortable solution for casual listeners. A simple, classy design and compact format allows for them to be used in a wide variety of situations.

The Aurvana X-Fi is not inexpensive. But the nearest competitor, Bose's QuietComfort 2, costs just as much and offers half the features. Which would you rather have – headphones that merely block noise, or headphones that block noise and improve your music? The choice is obvious.

The BH-604's may offer decent handsfree calling, but their performance in streaming audio is below average.

The BH-503 won't win any awards for audio quality, but they do a fine job regardless. Handsfree calling via Bluetooth is excellent and the ergonomic design means these are comfortable to wear for long periods.

Although the sound quality is better than adequate, it's not fantastic. Our main concern is that the audio lacks substance. However, this was more noticeable in music tests than gaming tests, so it's less of an issue here. The microphone is easily positioned and the cushioning makes them very comfortable.

While these headphones are decent for bass heavy music their harsh, bloated mid range makes instrumental music difficult to listen to.

If you're after a high quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones and can do without the TalkThrough feature found on Sennheiser's PXC450, then the cheaper PXC350 are a great alternative.