Group Test: iPod Upgrade Headphones

I really underestimated the playback quality on these headphones and was delighted when I discovered the clarity that's available at high volumes and the improved bass on some of my more demanding (ie metal) genres. Vocals generally sounded crisp and clear and distortion was reduced compared to many standard ear buds but I noticed a distinct lack of treble on several tracks and felt that the AURVANAs focused more on the bass output, which is admittedly impressive, but should be only a part of the picture.

This is a really good set of headphones for the price, and delivered well with many different types of music, equaliser settings and locations. The main drawback is not being able to hear what's going on around you when you're on the move, which I found a bit disconcerting. The treble can get a bit hazy when overpowered by bass but they're a good all-rounder for the price and give a good amount of bang for your buck.

Okay, so they're not as obviously portable as some of the other 'phones in this test but different users will need different style headphones so if you're not averse to a bit of bulkiness around the ears, these are well worth considering.

Fortunately, they make up for their design limitations with a more than decent sound across the spectrum. The one disadvantage is that they produce it everywhere, leaking sound like a sieve, which is perhaps not that surprising since they also look a bit like one. They're fine for home listening, but less ideal for the daily commute.

The sound they convey features a great midrange which will deliver the bulk of your music extremely well, while the bass is also quite full. Despite this however, the disadvantages of comfort and design weigh heavily against this. For sound quality alone, these headphones are great but I was unable to wear them for long periods due to how uncomfortable they feel.