In Conclusion...

After our marathon of testing and listening, a few models clearly stand out. Our two favourites, taking all types of models together, are the Sennheiser PXC250 and the Koss PortaPro. While very different technically - one is a closed-back model with noise reducer, the other a standard semi-open model - they're both capable of top performance, though one or the other may be better suited to your tastes and the way you listen.

Other models, naturally, are capable of very good performance. If you're looking for a model that's both very affordable and very small, you have a choice between an intraaural like Koss's The Plug and an earbud model like the Sennheiser MX500. Here again, they're very different, and in practical terms it's a matter of taste and circumstances. We should make it clear, though, that this type of earphone can't come close to our two stars for pure listening.