Discover the best headphones to buy in 2015, and read our headphone reviews, as rated by our team of expert reviewers. From Bluetooth headphones to earphones, the following kit will deliver sweet music to your ears. Whether you want a top-notch set of earphones with sound isolating tips to block out ambient noise, a pair of headphones for exercising or wish for Bluetooth headphones that don't ruin your music, this guide will help you choose the best headphones on sale today.
Headphones buying guide
On-ear Headphones
If you're looking for a pair of on-ear headphones, also often referred to as 'cans', then there are a few considerations you'll want to make. On-ear headphones can be supra-aural or circum-aural, meaning they sit on top of your ears or they completely envelope them. The latter provide greater isolation by sealing your ears in but also mean that the headphones are larger and bulkier, which can sacrifice some portability. Supra-aural headphones are often smaller and some will allow you to fold them up for easier transportation.
Whether or not you want a pair of portable on-ear headphones is also a consideration. If you're looking for a pair you'll predominantly wear at home you might not care about size and weight. A lot of audiophile 'hi-fi' headphones will use a 6.3mm jack rather than the 3.5mm jack used on most portable devices. So keep this in mind.
You'll also need to consider 'open' versus 'closed' headphone drivers. Open driver headphones generally produce sound with a wider soundstage as well as tighter bass due to the ability to move more air. Having an open back does mean that sound will 'leak' out of the headphones, as you almost have two exposed speakers pressed against your ears. This means that open headphones aren't a great choice for public use. Closed headphones, on the other hand, seal in the sound, which also helps to isolate you from ambient noise but generally produce a more claustrophobic, narrow sound compared to open headphones.
Noise cancellation is also another consideration. Closed headphones tha surround your ears will have a degree of passive noise cancellation simply by blocking the ambient noise. However, active noise cancellation is also an option. These are powered headphones that use electronic noise cancellation to 'cancel' ambient sound by using a built-in microphone to monitor ambient sounds, the headphones then produce a waveform that is out of phase to that of the ambient sound, which masks (or 'cancels' it out. This only really works well on consistent ambient sounds, like the drone of an airplane.
In-ear Headphones
You need to keep a few things in mind when buying in-ear headphones as well. In-ear headphones are typically more portable and convenient for most users. These are sometimes referred to as in-ear monitors (IEMS). They provide a degree of isolation from ambient sounds as the earplugs are inserted into your ear canal, which blocks outside sound. They will typically come with an assortment of earplug sizes so you can find a pair that fits. The best fit and isolation will typically be with memory foam tips that expand in your ear canal. It will be important to get a good fit firstly to ensure the headphones are secure and won't constantly fall out but also to improve sound quality. A good fit will ensure the best listening experience as bass in particular will suffer if a solid seal isn't achieved.
Sports Headphones
If you're looking to listen to music while partaking in sporting activities, ideally you want a pair of headphones designed for sports. You might see people in the gym or running in the street wearing big cans or the headphones that came with their smartphones but they're increasing the risk of damaging them, as well as likely having to contend with comfort. Headphones designed for sport are often wireless, removing unwieldy and distracting cabling, as well as sweat resistant. Moisture can be terrible for headphone drivers and sweat is a sure-fire way to shorten their life. Many sports headphones can even be washed down when they get grubby from all of that exercise.
Best Headphones 2015
Rock Jaw Alfa Genus
The Rock Jaw Alfa Genus comes with three different tuning filters that have a tangible effect on the sound produced. While we weren't fond of the Enhanced Bass tuning filter, the Reference and Neutral filters produce sound quality far beyond what we would expect for earphones at this price. This makes the Rock Jaw Alfa Genus great value for the money.
The build quality for an inexpensive pair of headphones was also very respectable and there's an integrated remote that works with iOS and Android devices. The Rock Jaw Alfa Genus is our favourite reasonably-priced in-ear headphones.
Price when reviewed: £43. Read our full Rock Jaw Alfa Genus review for details.
Headphones subtype: In-ear headset, Plug type: 3.5mm headset jack plug, Weight: Not disclosed, Cable length: 1.2m
Philips Fidelio M2BT
The original Philips Fidelio M1BT were one of our favourite closed, Bluetooth wireless headphones and the M2BT improve on that formula. They're not only supremely comfortable but they also sound fantastic with decent battery life. Integrated controls in the earcup make changing volume and tracks super convenient and there's also an excellent microphone built-in for convenient hands-free calling.
Price when reviewed: £194. Read our full Philips Fidelio M2BT review for details.
Headphones subtype: On-ear Bluetooth, Plug type: 3.5mm headset jack plug, Weight: 190g, Cable length: 1.2m
Blue Microphones Mo-Fi
As Blue Microphones’ debut pair of cans, the Mo-Fi sounds fantastic and the built-in amplifier really makes your music shine. They will, however, bring out the distortion in any low-quality encoded tracks you might have in your collection. They sound far superior to the Beats By Dr. Dre Studio headphones, which are available for the same price.
Price when reviewed: £299. Read our full Blue Microphones Mo-Fi review for details.
Headphones subtype: On-ear, Plug type: 3.5mm headset jack plug, Weight: 466g, Cable length: 1.2m/3m
BlueAnt Pump HD Sportbuds
If you're fitness-inclined, you'll appreciate the Pump HD Sportbuds' extremely secure fit and great bass response to really get your heartrate racing. They're sweat and water resistant so there's no worries about them getting damaged after a strenuous exercise session. They're an excellent choice for anyone looking to support an active lifestyle.
Price when reviewed: £100. Read our full BlueAnt Pump HD Sportbuds review for details.
Headphones subtype: Neckband Bluetooth, Plug type: N/A, Weight: 32g, Cable length: N/A
Soundmagic E10
We originally gave the E10s a Best Buy, because they sound almost as good as the Shure SE215 in-ears but cost significantly less. Now that you can pick up a pair for less than £30, there's literally no reason to use the bundled earphones that came with your smartphone. The E10s are fantastic earphones for the money, particularly if you add a set of sound-isolating ear foams that would increase their ability to block noise; the E10s are compatible with the T-400 Comply fitting, although Soundmagic doesn't include any in the box. They ship with standard silicone tips, which generally do a good job, but for around £15 more you can turn them into superb isolating in-ears.
Price when reviewed: £30. Read our full Soundmagic E10 review for details.
Headphones subtype: In-ear, Plug type: 3.5mm jack plug, Weight: 11g, Cable length: 1.2m
Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear
The Sennheiser Momentum On-ear sound fantastic, much like their bigger siblings the Sennheiser Momentum. The Momentum On-ear are reasonably old now but are still a fantastic choice and can be had for a bargain price of £129. The design is incredibly classy and comes in various shades and the sound quality match the stunning looks.
Price when reviewed: £179. Read our full Sennheiser Momentum On-ear review for details.
Headphones subtype: On-ear, Plug type: 3.5mm headset jack plug, Weight: Not disclosed, Cable length: 1.4