Full-sized headphones equal full-sized sound - especially if you buy a decent pair. Many little earbuds have weak bass output, while a larger set of headphones can deliver richer, deeper bass and a more rounded, realistic sound.

Apple’s in-ear buds may consititute the iPod uniform, but they have left some listeners wanting. In-ear replacements are plentiful - there’s a set for every budget - but there’s nothing quite like a big ol’ set of headphones. Nothing says ‘music fan’ like walking down the street with a massive set of phones on, and they’re often more comfortable than sticking a hunk of plastic or metal deep into your ear.

There are other features that may also appeal to some people - such as noise-cancellation for use on planes, or wireless headphones that can be used if you need the freedom to move around. So here’s our choice of some of the best over-ear headphones currently available in different categories and price brackets.

Buying Advice

All of the headphones reviewed here produce good sound quality, yet they also have other features that might appeal to different groups of people.

If you’re on a tight budget then Sennheiser’s reliable HD 212 Pro headphones are a good choice at a mere £30. At the other end of the spectrum are the QC3 from Bose. Priced at almost £300, the QC3 headphones produce a lovely warm sound, but you do have to pay a premium for their noise-cancelling features and bulging bag of accessories.

Nokia’s BH-604 wireless Bluetooth headphones are something of a niche product for people who really need the ability to move around unencumbered by wires - and who don’t mind sacrificing a little bit of audio quality in return.

However, the three sets of headphones with widest appeal will be the AD700 from Audio-Technica, the Aurvana Live! from Creative Labs and the c-Jays from Jays. These are all fairly conventional headphones that provide really good quality for less than £100.

We recognize that audiophiles might prefer the slightly more expansive sound produced by the AD700’s ‘open’ earpieces. Alternatively, for a completely ‘closed can’ design you could opt for the Aurvana headphones.

However, the ‘semi-open’ design of the c-Jays provides the best of both worlds. Their punchy sound is a delight, and we really like the versatile design that allows you to switch from ‘on-ear’ to ‘over-ear’ simply by using the different earpieces. When you take into account the portable design and the handy accessory kit the c-Jays emerge as a definite Star Buy.