Sennheiser CX200
Price: $69.95
Rating: 6/6
As with most Sennheisers, the CX200s have pronounced bass. But far from overwhelming the balance, it complements the communicative midrange and treble. Small, light, and they block an impressive amount of noise: truly a bargain.
SoundMagic PL50
Price: $95
Rating: 6/6
Some of the best-equipped in-ears you'll find, and they offer a real taste of the high-end. The PL50s aren't for bassheads, but midrange and treble clarity is incredible at the price, and for vocals they trump buds twice as expensive.
Ultimate Ears metroFi 220vi
Price: $119.95
Rating: 5/6
These unrefined in-ears make gritty rock sound grittier and grime all the grimier. And with their quality sound isolation, eardrum-pounding bass and exciting top-end performance, they're hugely immersive. Natural? No. Fun? Yes.
Skullcandy Holua
Price: $149.95
Rating: 4/6
With Comply tips boosting performance, the wooden Holuas plump depths no others here reach. The low-end focus taints sound across the board and can get flabby, but for rap and low-tempo dance they're work checking out.
Klipsch Image S4
Price: $149.95
Rating: 6/6
Combining the bass of the feistiest buds in this test with the high-end resolution of the most refined, the S4s offer bundles of detail and insight but are as agile as a springy bunny. They just make you want to listen to music.
Bose Mobile In-ear Headset
Price: $199
Rating: 4/6
These partial sound-isolators are non-invasive, very comfy and fun to listen to, with oodles of bass. However, that's at the cost of insight and detail resolution. They're easily befuddled when music gets complex.
Phonak Audeo PFE122
Price: $249
Rating: 6/6
An all-round class act with customisable bass and treble response. The sound is remarkable: refined, detailed and natural, with phenomenal midrange fidelity. There's insufficient oomph for bass addicts, but what's there is punchy.
