The K 530 headphones perform well when given a clean audio source. They may be a little cheaply built but they are very comfortable and sound great.

These headphones are fantastic for listening to high-quality audio. They're balanced, even, and reproduce all frequencies admirably. Their only stumbling point is that they're too good at exposing the inadequacies of compressed MP3s and poor recordings.

AKG's K701 headphones are some of the best on the market. They aren't as bass-heavy as some of their competition but the low-range notes are still impressive and when combined with the detailed mid-range and sweet highs, you get a fantastic, smooth audio experience.

Considering their price tag, TDK's ST-PRO300 headphones are a decent buy, but their hollow bass and shrill highs combined with the airy, open design mean they aren't necessarily suited to DJs.

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.