Ten of the best... noise-isolating earphones

Can't hear you...

By Cliff Joseph • Get more from this author

23rd February 2009 09:02 GMT

Shure SE310

Shure’s top-of-the-range SE530 earphones have had rave reviews, but at well over £200 they’re out of most people’s range. However, the SE310 provides an attractive and affordable alternative. Mind you, they don’t make a great first impression, as we had to fiddle with them for quite a while to achieve a comfortable fit and an effective seal. Fortunately, Shure does provide several sets of earpieces in different sizes and materials, so most people should be able to find a set that fits them comfortably. Once properly inserted, the SE310 earphones do a good job of blocking out background noise and produce a powerful sound that is most notable for the solidity of the bass output.

Reg Rating 90%
Suggested Price £170 Find the best online price here
More Info Shure's SE310 page

Sennheiser IE 7

Miracle of miracles – Sennheiser’s IE 7 earphones not only produce excellent sound quality, but they manage to do so without you having to jam them uncomfortably into the very depths of your aural orifices. The triangular shape of the earpieces may look a little cumbersome, but it helps to hold the earpieces in place so that you don’t have to keep poking them back into your ear in order to maintain the seal. As a result they fit comfortably and produce a rich, warm sound that really lets you wallow in your music. The sound isolation works well too, and there’s a good set of accessories, including earpieces in eight different sizes, a hard carrying case and even a little tool for removing waxy nastiness.