Best Headphones for Music Enthusiasts and Adventurers in the UK

With an impedance of 38 Ohms you don't need a headphone amplifier to drive these studio headphones and you can freely connect MP3 player or older audio devices and enjoy listening to music. Not every stereo headphones sound such airily and openly. Instruments are separated very distinctively and not merged into one flow. Even when used at high volume, these studio noise cancelling headphones don't distort the quality of the sound at all.

This model was designed by Audio-Technica especially for professional monitoring and mixing in sound record studios, but it is also attractive for music lovers. ATH-M50x delivers the sound which is found in the majority of expensive models, yet it's not as expensive and it's got more comfortable earspeakers to wear. These studio headphones also come with a kit of detachable cords that can be used for different occasions.

The HD 598 series by Sennheiser offer an astonishing frequency response rate even for audio experts. These headphones are able to produce sound in a range between 12 and 38,500 Hz, exceeding the human limits of hearing. The higher pitch notes we can't hear are helpful for those who need to hear harmonics. The impedance of this model is 50 Ohms, which is higher than regular ear speakers would have. However, mobile devices don't commonly have powerful inputs so these headphones are better used with stationary devices like computers. The sensitivity here is 112 dB, providing an impressive volume level.

Sennheiser HD 598SR earphones are very convenient to carry around, which can be vital in headphones since they are originally designed for enjoying music on the go. The manufacturers packed this model with two detachable cables. The first one is a 3 m cable with a 6.3 mm jack that you can plug into devices like a guitar amplifier. The second one is a 1.2 m cable with 3.5 mm jack and a remote control button for mobile devices.

To deliver clear audio with almost no recognisable distortion, the transducers in this model use aluminium coils. Regardless of the preferable music genre, these will provide efficiency and dynamics for your favourite audio tracks. And with all the mentioned features combined, this headset still weighs only 337 g.

To ensure the usability is not affected by any inconveniences, this model is outfitted with a moulded headband to provide comfort and a solid position on your head. You will feel no tension going around your ears thanks to the cushioned ear cups. Furthermore, the closed design ensures noise cancellation to let you tune and mix the tracks with no redundant sound from the outside.

The foldable design makes it easy to put these headphones into a backpack or a purse. You will have no trouble carrying them since they are really lightweight — only 220 g. The impedance of 40 Ohms is the middle ground between strictly gadget-oriented headphones and those created for more professional-grade equipment; with the aforementioned sensitivity of 105 dB/mW, this model can be easily driven by your phone or tablet.

Finding headphones with a wide frequency range at a moderate cost can be quite a challenge in and of itself. And then you probably need good design, too, and, of course, quality and durability. The Sony MDR-V55 is a reasonably priced stereo sound solution made by a trustworthy manufacturer that leaves no doubt you will be satisfied with the audio quality and its foldable design is convenient and stylish.

The construction of this model from the Ted Baker audio collection is foldable: the cups fold inside and are thus covered by the headband. Each element is positioned the way you won't be able to damage it. This way, you can even ram it into your case if you're in a hurry. Also, you get a special travel case in the package for this very reason: the case ensures that the screws on the cups won't scratch your mobile devices and documents which could have happened if you were to slam the headphones into your backpack just like that.

This Ted Baker Rockall headpiece comes with a tangle resistant cable that is fully detachable. You also get a 6.3 mm adapter plug for high-fidelity connection to your stationary devices, letting you enjoy a clear analogue sound from a guitar amp or mix tracks on your DJ controller. When it comes to smartphones and tablets, the cord has a microphone and a 3-button remote controller fully compatible with Apple devices for convenient call control functions. You won't need to pull out your phone and mess with the cord just to answer a short call while passing along the busy city street. You can, of course, use the headset with your PC—the microphone is compatible with any device and needs no special drivers.

We tend to think that cheap devices are prone to breaking fast, and, sadly, it is often a fully grounded belief, but this model has a 2-year warranty that proves the manufacturer's faith in its reliability. The construction is not only robust thanks to stainless steel. It is somehow really light. The weight is only 281 g, which is a true balance for the materials that were used. The manufacturers did a great job designing a lightweight construction without compromising the durability and wearing comfort.

To ensure your movements will be unrestricted and you won't be inconvenienced, this model comes with a 1.2 m serrated tangle-free cord with an L-shaped gold plated 3.5 mm plug at the end for a reliable connection. The L-shape mostly prevents the risk of accidentally pulling it out when you move suddenly (for example, you've been so lost in the music that you've almost missed your stop). The double cable merges into a single cord with an easily accessible remote controller that has a single button. The drawback here is that there is no separate microphone.

To suit most mobile devices, this model has an impedance of 24 Ohms. Generally, the perfect impedance range for low-power inputs like in phones and tablets is between 16 and 32 Ohms. In this case, we have the happy medium. In combination with a sensitivity of 98 dB, you won't miss even a bit of all the instrumental and vocal spectrum your playlist delivers to your ears. Although this is an on-ear model, the sound doesn't escape all that much, people in buses or an underground will barely hear your music even if you set the volume level to maximum (which we don't recommend doing since it can damage your hearing).

To make the sound powerful yet balanced enough for the noisy city streets, each ear cup is equipped with a 30 mm ferrite driver which delivers a quality audio in a frequency range between 10 and 24,000 Hz. The stereo dynamic sound you get for such a mild price makes this option great. And you can really open up the frequency range if you plug this headset into a stationary device with a powerful input, leaving you in no need to purchase a separate device to enjoy music at home.