Group test: iPod upgrade earphones pt3

Overview Price: £80 More info: Sennheiser Accessories: Silicon ear tips (varying sizes), carry pouch Sennheiser CX95 The CX95 is Sennheiser's flagship in-ear model, yet still manages to be the most affordable here. The silicon ear-tips fit perfectly and the buds are engineered in such a way that they'll stay in the ear to great effect even when on the move, while effectively blocking out ambient noise too. At £80 these were never going to match pricier models for sound quality; and like most of the cheaper earphones here, overall tonal presence is where the gap is most evident. At louder volumes too, the sound can start to become unbalanced. That aside, the CX95 generally punches above its weight, with meaty mid tones and a really satisfying, warm bass response. And considering there's just a single driver in each ear bud, both separation and soundstage are impressive. Sennheiser has more expensive models in its range, but if you don't want to splash out loads, you'll be hard-pushed to find a better pair than these for the money.

Verdict Plus points Fantastic value, excellent fit, good bass response Minus points Sound quality is very good, but not great

Overview Price: £100 More info: Shure Accessories: Silicon and foam ear tips (varying sizes), carry pouch Shure SE-210 Though nestled at the lower end of Shure's revamped in-ear range, the sleek SE-210 looks and feels top-notch. As usual there's a plethora of ear tips; the rubberised foam tips in particular striking a fine balance between sound isolation and comfort. It's a real fuss having to hook the wires round the back of the ear and twist the buds into position, but it does make for a secure fit. The SE-210 performed well for the price: while lacking the tonal accuracy of more expensive models, sound is nonetheless full, powerful and well controlled even at ear-bleeding volumes. High-end notes and in particular, vocals, lack a little sparkle but that aside, Shure has done a fine job here. These are more than decent earphones, and the reason they don't score higher is we feel the lower-priced Sennheiser CX95 pretty much matches these for sound.

Verdict Plus points Powerful, rewarding sound, extremely effective sound isolation Minus points Unwieldy to fit, not class-leading performance

Final verdict Any of these headphones will serve you well; there's simply not a single one that could be called a duffer. That said, we uncovered a few flaws here and there. Denon's AH-C751 were great for heavy stuff but lacked a little in the way of tonal accuracy. Conversely, Audio Technica's ATH-CK9 deftly handle quieter music but really struggled for bass. Shure has done a fine job with the SE-210 but we didn't reckon they outperformed the cheaper, and therefore better value Sennheiser CX95. So at the top, Etymotic's ER-4P just gets edged out by the q-Jays - while there's really nothing really to split them in terms of audio performance, we reckon the latter is easier to fit and so ultimately, a better all-round choice.

< Page 1: Audio Technica ATH-CK9, Denon AH-C751
< Page 2: Etymotic ER-4P, Jays q-Jays

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