Sennheiser IE 8 headphones review as one of the best in-ear headphones on the market, but with an eye-watering Australian price tag of $540, near perfection doesn’t come cheap.

Yes, these Sennheiser headphones are truly ones for the rabid audiophiles who want the best performance possible.

The Sennheiser IE 8 sits at the top of the manufacturer’s range. They’re noise cancelling headphones with an emphasis on bass performance. Sennheiser has equipped the headphones with small screws on each phone you can adjust the bass to your liking, whether that’s more or less. The IE 8s come with a screwdriver to accomplish this.

These headphones boast a sturdy design, including cables that detach from the headphone enclosures so you can replace them in the future if needs be. They come with a range of tips which you can select from according to your comfort and performance requirements.

But it’s what’s inside that makes the Sennheiser IE 8 headphones worthy of their rather large price tag. They use a single dynamic speaker driver to provide wider frequency response ranges, better resistance to damage and lower distortion at loud volumes (according to Sennheiser).

Frequency response is between 10Hz and 20Hz, sensitivity is 125dB/mW plus a low impedance of 160hms. That’s all basically tech talk to say these headphones are suitable for any portable audio or video player on the market.

The Sennheiser IE 8’s performance is nothing short of exceptional, for music of all genres. The price tag may be beyond most of us, but if you’re a true audiophile looking for the best headphones your money can buy for a portable player, then they should be on your shortlist to review.

Buy cheap headphones on sale

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re a regular exerciser you may have found that standard headphones don’t really cut it with your more vigorous workouts.

Standard headphones - especially the earbud style - tend to fall out of your ears quite easily when you’re running or making quick movements. Investing in a pair of sports headphones can be well worth it.

Sony has just released a new range of sports headphones that differ according to your needs and style of workout. For example, if you wear your MP3 player in an armband, some models are made with shorter cords for less tangles.

I tested the MDR-AS40EX Hanging Ear Ex Sports Headphones, which Sony claims are designed for “fast movement and high-impact workouts”. They can be used either as bud headphones or you can add on the detachable soft hangers if you require extra “hold” around your ears.

For moderate to fast paced activity, I actually found the buds alone to be fairly sufficient. Once you get them in there, they fit very snugly. Sony has also provided a moisture guard around the buds to remove moisture as you sweat. This significantly adds to the life expectancy of your headphones as moisture can denegrate the drivers.

In terms of sound, I was very pleased with the bass which can sometimes be lacking in cheap headphones. However I found that guitars in particular tend to sound slightly muted.

One complaint would be the length of the cord, which is slightly shorter than usual. This has been done deliberately to eliminate the chances of tangles however sometimes if I am walking I prefer to hold my MP3 player in my hand. The cord is not quite long enough to do this comfortably.

The MDR-AS40EX headphones retail for $89.

Click here to find offers on headphones from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

There’s a lot of competition in the Bluetooth headset market these days.

After all, with everything going wireless, who wants to be literally tied up with numerous cables going from your mobile phone to your ear and vice versa?

The BlueAnt X5 Bluetooth stereo headset will do a passable job for most of us, however audiophiles will not be quite satisfied with the sound quality.

However if you’re listening to an average music file and you’re not an expert you will likely be satisfied with the sound.

Working in their favour, the X5s are very comfortable to wear, which is a plus if you’re going to be wearing them for long periods of time. While they’re on the large side, they come with comfortable headphone coverings.

Another bonus is the ease with which the BlueAnt X5s can be paired with devices, which is a strength of most BlueAnt products. They have no problems picking up most devices within range.

One standout feature is the inclusion of a standard audio connector so you can also use these headphones with non-Bluetooth devices, such as older model iPods.

Click here to find offers on BlueAnt products from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re sick of getting tangled up in cords when you’re listening to your iPod or MP3 player, Bluetooth wireless headsets are the way to go.

They’re especially useful for when you’re exercising - you can clip your music player onto your belt or armband and the headset connects with the player via Bluetooth without the need for a cord.

The FreePulse is Logitech’s most affordable Bluetooth headphones to date and while they won’t win any awards for sound quality from serious audiophiles they provide an above average performance for the average consumer. And best of all, you can pick them up for just under the $100 mark.

In terms of design, the Logitech FreePulse also excels - comfort has obviously been a consideration (which surprisingly it often isn’t with some headsets. These headphones use adjustable silicon straps over your ears, which proves to be very comfortable, and the whole set it very lightweight - once again, ideal for exercising.

Click here to find offers on Logitech Bluetooth headsets near you.

By Caroline Warnes

For many people today it’s a case of the fewer wires, the better.

Bluetooth headsets are becoming increasingly popular with anyone who wants to make and receive hands-free phone calls on their mobile phone without having an annoying headphone cord running from the headset to the phone.

The Motorola S9 Bluetooth headset can be paired with a Bluetooth mobile phone to make and receive mobile phones, however because it’s a stereo headset, it’s also designed to be used with music devices as well. The sound quality is better than what you’ll find on Bluetooth headsets that are intended for use with voice calls only.

Currently the S9s are being sold bundled with a Bluetooth iPod adaptor, which means you can also pair them with your iPod - great news for use at the gym or during any other physical activity.

Click here to find offers on Motorola products near you.

By Caroline Warnes

If you use your laptop to make phone calls, you’ll love the Plantronics Audio 480, which claims to turn your PC into a “virtual phone booth”.

Essentially, the Audio 480 is a compact headset and microphone. The included noise-cancelling technology makes it ideally suited for making VoIP phone calls, though it can also be used if you listen to music or movies on your PC and don’t want to be disturbed by background noise (although performance is somewhat better for phone calls than it is for multimedia applications. For noise cancelling multimedia headphones, you really can’t go past Sennheiser).

This is great news for any business users who make lots of phone calls while out and about in noisy areas, such as in airports and on public transport.

The Audio 480 is extremely compact and portable so you can store it easy while you’re travelling, and there’s even a carry case supplied.

It comes in two packages: one RRPs for $119 and connects to your PC via standard 3.5mm audio plugs, while the more expensive bundle (RRP $149) also comes with a USB adaptor.

By Caroline Warnes