Our audio gurus have collected the best in0-ear headphones from under £50 to over £500 in 2016 and reviewed them all to help you choose. From established brands like Shure, RHA and Sennheiser, to new kids on the block like DUNU and FIDUE and DITA, below you can check out our best rated headphones from the year so far.
Scroll down for reviews of our favourite in-ear headphones this year so far.
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Best In Ear Headphones Under £50
First in this year’s line-up is the Dunu Detonator, perhaps to reflect the explosion of interest in earphones..
They’re bassy, with a clear midrange and warm treble where perhaps some detail is exchanged for a vibrant sound and a low price. They come with a microphone for taking those important calls, and will suit anyone who is new to earphones other than the generic ones you receive with your new phone.
Being good all-rounders, there is ample scope for the SoundMAGIC E50 to be enjoyed with all genres but the relatively flat response or neutrality of the E50 makes it a perfect earphone for vocals; particularly when accompanied by backing vocals. Percussion gets a nice lift also, as does any distortion effect.
The A65 gives the impression of a long-lasting earphone which will be a solid performer for a good long while. As for their sound, rock music should be mentioned first as the exceptional midrange is perfect for guitars and vocals. Pop, dance and hip-hop are also well served, with an expansive bass and good detail without any danger of sibilance to get in the way.
Shure’s SE215 is the oldest design in our line-up, being released in early 2011. However it’s still popular, which means it hits the spot with a great many earphones fans. Styled for on-stage performers, the cable goes over the top, and down the back of the ears. Bass is plentiful and powerful, with midrange and treble more laid back; but still a very fun-sounding model.
Fidue’s new A73 shows that IEMs under £100 are facing challenges unthought of until recent times – there’s fierce competition within the fertile £50 – £100 section of the market and it’s getting better all the time.
The Fidue A73 can do it all, however dance genres can be enhanced very well with the tremendous bass response. Also rap music and pop for the same reasons. Older pop also does very well on the A73 with the clear midrange offering a crisp presentation of tracks which are 50 years old, further enhanced by the clear reproduction of reverb equipment and compressors which were used back in the day.
These great Bluetooth in-ears will give wire-free piece of mind for those with boundless energy. Designed to stay in the ear with the help of supplied ear fins, they should remain in place during the most strenuous workouts. The sound is well implemented with a well controlled impactful bass, a midrange which is present and clear and a treble which is detailed but smooth so your ears don’t get fatigued along with you!
If you fancy a glint in your ear as well as your eye, the T20 from Glasgow-based RHA has a lot to offer. Both the build quality and the sound are solid. The T20 was tried with a varied range of genres and does well with them all. They are as good with dance as they are with rock music with a good balance between bass presence and midrange action. Soundstage and separation prowess also lets genres such as jazz and classical shine. The T20 is a worthy successor to the T10, with several sonic improvements.
Soundstage and separation are as good as I’ve heard from a BA in-ear model, and the added clarity in the AF180 makes the space portrayed in the music very lifelike. Bass is just right in terms of power and placement – sub bass is present and gives just enough without threatening to take over. Mids are sharp and edgy but not breaking into a sweat, there is an air of effortlessness here. Detail is brought out and reverb decays can be followed right to the end, clearly heard within the mix.
Another of our favourite models, Dita’s ‘The Answer’ doesn’t wait for any questions, and gets straight on with providing some truly immersive sounds. Bass is rich and weighty, with an astonishing midrange. Treble is smooth but with clear and crisp detail, making for a wide soundstage with fantastic imaging.
Unlike the more neutral Final Audio Heaven VII, the Heaven VIII is tuned with a richer and more vibrant frequency response for a lusher sound. Like all of the Heaven range, there’s virtually no stridence or discomfort for sensitive ears, but detail is reproduced with no compromise. Bass is fully represented (thanks to Final Audio’s ‘BAM’ technology) without getting too big for its boots, midrange is crystal clear and uncluttered, with treble as smooth as silk, yet superbly detailed.
The DUNU TITAN 1 earphone is a lightweight and stylish medium priced IEM with some innovative design features. The DUNU brand appeared about three years ago with a small range of IEMs that instantly impressed. Cleverly built housings and a compelling grip on balanced yet engaging sound instantly caught our attention. DUNU have actually been building earphones and acoustic equipment for other brands since 1994, which goes a long way to explaining this Chinese manufacturers depth of knowledge and design skill. TITAN 1 are a great example of this new brands dedication to moving earphone design forward. Containing a 13mm Titanium coated driver with an angled nozzle surrounded by innovatively placed venting – which may well be the first design of its kind. We’re expecting to see similar designs in the future, as we’ll confirm later on in this review the results for an earphone at this price are sonically spectacular.
Build quality
From the moment you touch the metal driver housing it becomes apparent that the TITAN 1 has been engineered incredibly well. In terms of a sturdy build metal is a no brainer but if implemented badly an earphone can either be far too heavy – leading to fit problems – or if too thin, actually less durable than plastic. DUNU have this balance just right. The shiny and beautifully finished conical earpieces are ringed by metallic red and blue markers for left and right. With high quality 2 ply silicone tips on the nozzle side and well though out strain relief on the other, it’s very hard to pick any fault with practicality or looks here. The top portion of the cable has a soft rubberised coating which is not particularly microphonic when moving around. The Y splitter is attractive and practical with more metal and a wonderfully clever toggle (should you wish to wear them cable up) that caps the splitter like a bottle top when out of use. The remainder of the cable has a very tight nylon weave cover leading to a small and handy cable tidy and eventually a metal capped gold plated right angle jack unit. The strain relief here and at the Y slitter looks and feels sturdy without becoming obstructive.
Fit and Isolation
Fit, as always, is very much down to the users ears. Having said that, the conical housings and angled nozzle sat inside the ear snugly, feeling comfortable and anchored whilst protruding very little. I would not be surprised if this were the case for the vast majority of users. The angled nozzle prevents you from rotating the housings in the ear but the lengthy strain relief means the cable is happy curving round over the top of the ear or dangling down. Unfortunately the clever venting (we will get round to talking about how impressive that is later) does mean there is a little more leakage of sound, in and out, than traditionally expected. We found the supplied silicone ear tips provide an excellent seal and are comfortable too.
Sound
The TITAN 1 has a balanced type EQ which doesn’t purposely favour top or bottom end. There is a sense of the typical gentle smile curve with lightly recessed mids, a bit of bass punch and thump and some lovely air and silver to the top end.
Lows
Despite giving the feel that they can reach really low this isn’t overplayed, bass roll off is really well managed. Bass is deep but textured and subtle, there really isn’t much flab to speak of. Free of mud and cardboard tones as they transition to the lower mids, it’s all clean and well defined at the bottom. It’s a good balance which compliments contemporary music whilst gently stroking acoustic instruments and older dynamic recordings.
Mids
The mids are simply superb. Vocals and instruments in this region feel realistic and natural, there’s warmth but it’s handled with care. The outcome is a really pleasant and engaging vibe that defines the characteristics of this quick and nimble earphone.
Highs
There is plenty of energy in the highs but it rolls off comfortably, you couldn’t really describe the TITAN 1 as bright but that Titanium driver is performing a bit of magic here. There’s good air and space and just enough metallic brightness to deliver a fresh realistic feel with a bit more fine detail than you would normally expect from a dynamic driver.
Soundstage, Imaging and Separation
Soundstage is surprisingly wide and a bit further back than most in ears. This gives a bit of an upside down U shape to the image adding a taller broader scale than expected.
Sound Conclusions
The TITAN 1 have weight and authority but also enough bright power to sound refreshing and airy. Imaging better than more expensive earphones, they could still have a darker background and better detail retrieval but the combination of the Titanium driver and the completely individual venting system seems to be performing a minor sonic miracle. This venting is the subject of much discussion online, some believe the sound escaping here is vibrating the surface of the outer ear mirroring the way the ear receives normal room sound. The superb EQ and natural yet fun presentation prevents you from noticing the finer shortcomings. Sound-wise they conjure an exciting, easy going and vibrant presentation which is hard to criticise.
Accessories and Packaging
Packaged in a sturdy and attractive box, DUNU include some interesting information about themselves and their manufacturing ideas. Accessories are generous with three pairs of narrow bored silicone ear tips with red cores and three pairs of wide bored tips with blue cores and three pairs of what look like Sony hybrid tip clones. There’s also a 3.5mm to 6.3mm jack adaptor, a useful shirt clip and a smart hard case to keep it all in.
Conclusion
The TITAN 1 are shockingly good for their price. They’re a superb example of how far medium priced headphones can be pushed by an innovative manufacturer with big ideas. Although they don’t scale the heady heights of today’s crop of high end IEMs, they more than hold their own in the under £100 category. With their good looks, a beautifully implemented Titanium driver and totally individual take on venting, the TITAN 1 finds a natural, exciting and fluid sound which may make them the very best buy for anyone shopping at this price point.
Best in-ear headphones to buy in 2015 – Expert Reviews – See more at: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/reviews/best-in-ear-headphones-2015-review-2015/#sthash.SkMK3Ygf.dpuf
Our audio gurus have collected the best in ear headphones from under £50 to over £500 in 2015 and reviewed them all to help you choose. From established brands like Shure and Sennheiser, to new kids on the block like DUNU and FIDUE, below you can check out our best rated headphones from the year so far.
Scroll down for in depth reviews of our favourite in-ear headphones this year so far.
We had to keep reminding ourselves that the DUNU DN-12 in-ears cost less than £50. The packaging is nicely finished and when you get inside you find a good quality leatherette bag, plenty of different eartips, a cable clip and even a Karabina belt clip.
The headphones themselves are extremely well built. The driver housing is made from titanium which feels great and has a good amount of weight. The cable feels tough and isn’t flimsy, this ends in a smartly designed angled jack connection – you even get a cable tidy designed by DUNU included
Bass is deep and punchy without being boomy, midrange is slightly recessed with high frequencies well balanced; there’s a slight roll-off for those who like a warmer sound signature.
Hifiheadphones verdict:
Punchy with tight bass and crisp detail, the DUNU DN-12 looks and sounds incredible for the price. A real budget winner!
DUNU DN-12 Trident In-Ear Isolating Headphone Review – See more at: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/reviews/dunu-dn-12-trident-in-ear-isolating-earphones-review/#sthash.k4fb5q4C.dpuf
DUNU DN-12 Trident In Ear Isolating Earphones – Review – See more at: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/reviews/dunu-dn-12-trident-in-ear-isolating-earphones-review/#sthash.k4fb5q4C.dpuf
DUNU DN-12 Trident In Ear Isolating Earphones – Review – See more at: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/reviews/dunu-dn-12-trident-in-ear-isolating-earphones-review/#sthash.k4fb5q4C.dpuf
From the start it is hard to believe that the E10S is under £40. The packaging is smart and of a very high quality – once opened you find plenty of spare ear tips and an attractive hard case. Holding the earphones you can feel how well made they are and the innovative switch on the jack plug will let you set the earphones to work with any smartphone – you would not expect technology like this on such a modestly priced earphone.
The E10S comes with ‘Smart Switch’ (Hense the added S to the Model Number) making it compatible with all smartphones, the E10S incorporates this ingenious user adjustable switch enabling control of Apple as well as Android smartphones. Owners of multiple smartphones can easily swap between devices to control call answer and end functions without compromise, and to top it all it comes in a choice of colours.
And for those with a little more to spend, consider the new SoundMAGIC E50. The E50 is a very similar design, but with improved driver (giving more detailed sound) and Comply tips supplied as standard.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
If you have £40 to spend on some new earphones then go for the SoundMAGIC E10 – if you need an in-line microphone then go for the E10S. Easy! These earphones are our default recommendation at this price point.
Shure’s addition to the sub £50 earphone range is very impressive. They are very well built with a tough cable and solid speaker housing. The sound rolls off slightly at the top which takes away any harsh frequencies and the bottom end has plenty of punch!
The Shure SE112 are a great alternative to the award winning SoundMAGIC E10 – especially if you prefer a mellower presentation.
For a more professional in-ear monitor design we also recommend the Shure SE215 – tight bass, crisp mids and great soundstage.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
The Shure SE112 has punchy bass and smooth top end detail. They are very comfortable with great isolation and they are tougher than most. IF you ned a built in Mic you Shure have now produced the Shure SE 112M+ for all smartphone options.
When it comes to the sound, the Momentum In-Ear compares well with its full-size Momentum sibling. Detail is high without sibilance or discomfort; harmonics are brought out for a very real sense of musicality.
Soundstage is surprisingly broad for an in-ear model and imaging is coherent and sharp. Overall, the sound is fairly typical of Sennheiser’s recent offerings; in terms of full size headphones at least. When compared to older lines such as the soon to be axed CX300, the sound is drastically improved and shows that this old dog still has some new tricks!
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
Momentum in-ear – For the asking price, the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear is incredible value; giving great sound as well as swish styling and all in a very rugged and classy looking case.
This is a very special earphone that challenges the big brands with both finish and sound quality. We think the DUNU Titan 1 is arguably the best in ear headphone available under £100.
An ideal solution for fans of the wide sound of open-backed headphones, but who require more isolation. The bass is tight and solid, providing thumping drive when needed.
Soundstage is greatly enhanced by the innovative vented design. One theory is that the energy coming through the holes in the earphone housing (not through the eartip) is felt by the concha, or bowl of the ear. Just as in real life, when sound energy is focused by the ear into the ear canal, it creates a light sensation on that part of the ear which the Titan 1 design mimics with great success.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
Yet another triumph from DUNU-Topsound. Bright crisp and clear with big bass. These shiny little IEMs are comfy as well as crisp and airy sounding, The finish and materials are high end making this earphone a solid choice for those looking for something special.
Heaven IV achieves the truest possible expression of live concert hall sound.With the incorporated balancing air movement mechanism the earphone body design has evolved into an uncomplicated, slender structure.
Final Audio Design’s special BAM (Balancing Air Movement) mechanism, optimises air movement inside the housing, has pushed the evolution of earphone body design to the next level with a simpler structure and slimmer body. The result is a balanced, natural sound that reduces unwanted sibilant high-frequency sounds.
The Heaven IV is handmade by Japanese sound engineers with a full-focus on ideal sound with no compromises.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
Final Audio Design have managed to create an earphone that not only looks great, but sounds it too! You get a refined sound with clear and textured detail as well as deep, tight bass. The flat cable design has also been well thought through, it is very durable and eliminates tangles and microphonics.
Fidue is another of those makers who are peppering the market with all sorts of models at various pricepoints, and the A83 occupies their top spot just now. Despite sharing its name with a minor road up in Scotland, the Fidue A83 is warm, fast and hardly ever congested. The Fidue A83 can however bring you to ‘The Mull of Kintyre’ as well if you really want to go that far.
The left and right sides are denoted by the blue and red housings of the Fidue A83; they simply beg to be worn and seem to offer a fun experience just by looks alone. Supplied tips are what can be expected for a model in this price category; there’s a good range along with the nearly ubiquitous free Complyfoam tips and the accompanying carry case is a chunky ‘Pelican’ style along with a hard foam winder/storage insert that will certainly protect the earphones.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
Great sound quality, superb cabling- this hybrid driver earphone has come from nowhere to capture the hearts of audiophile listeners in 2015.
Machined from solid aluminium, the capsules are designed to avoid adding their own colouration to the sound, and are weighted to lean into the ear for greater comfort and a better seal. They aren’t heavy but just weighty enough to let you know they mean business, and the cable is reassuringly stout.
The Answer Truth Edition is a dynamically driven IEM with a single 10mm driver; Dita Audio wanted to go for the simplest design in order to deliver the purest audio. Since balanced armature technology requires crossovers, multiple drivers and all the related gubbins, Dita went for the less complicated dynamic route. And why not? We’ve all been shown the power and finesse of the dynamic principle through Sennheiser’s excellent IE800s.
Soundstage and imaging are first class, and the use of a headphone amp can really add the cherry to the cake in terms of realism.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
The Truth Edition is not cheap, but then the best things in life often aren’t, these are incredible earphones with a crazy over engineered cable. Aluminium monsters that are powerful yet precise.
Also available is the Dita Audio Answer IEM, using the same driver and housing as the Dita Truth Edition but with a simpler cable option.
This is a very special earphone that pushes the boundaries of in-ear headphone design.
The FAD Heaven VIII is tuned with a rich and vibrant frequency response for a lusher sound. Like all of the Heaven range, there’s virtually no stridence or discomfort for sensitive ears, but detail is reproduced with no compromise.
Bass is fully represented (thanks to Final Audio’s ‘BAM’ technology) without getting too big for its boots; midrange is crystal clear and uncluttered, with treble as smooth as silk, yet superbly detailed.
A special effort is required to keep any dignity the wearer might want to hang on to; the temptation to start dancing is great with the Heaven VIII! Soundstage too is incredible; for IEMs, the Heaven VIII comes close to full-size headphones. Imaging and separation are razor sharp also, instruments leap out and reverb decays really give an idea of real space.
Also check out the Heaven VIII’s little brother the Heaven VII.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
Final Audio has earned itself a fanbase the world over, thanks to the wonderful IEMs and full size headphones it produces; the Heaven VIII is a shining example (literally) of the sort of talent they have. Both stunning to look at and even prettier to hear, these handcrafted beauties are among the best earphones you will ever be able to buy.
The IE800 are Sennheisers new flagship audiophile earphones. Featuring a linear-phase driver system that achieves distortion-free audio even at high sound pressure levels. Surely Sennheisers most innovative portable music solution, the IE800 meets the demands of portable audio with truly superb sound and comfort.
The extra wide band transducer system, with a diameter of just 7mm is the smallest wide-band driver system currently available in dynamic earphones. Innovative vent holes in the housing of the IE800 direct the air flow resulting in minimal distortion levels. Sennheiser’s revolutionary dampened two chamber absorbers eliminate the masking of low volume frequencies by absorbing the energy from the louder low-frequency sounds.
Build quality is amazing, scratch-resistant ceramic housing, stainless steel air vents and Kevlar coated audio cable, the IE800 is built to last. Two special meshes protect the IE800 against residue and contamination.
The package includes 5 pairs silicone eartips in different sizes, premium leather carrying case, a cleaning tool and instruction manual.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
Brimming with ground-breaking technologies the IE800 are the ultimate IEM for bass lovers. Big warm and powerful sounding, beautifully engineered with an ergonomic and attractive design, these are very special IEMs.
John from the sales team gives you a visual rundown of our top 10 best in ear headphones of 2015:
An ideal solution for fans of the wide sound of open-backed headphones, but who require more isolation. The bass is tight and solid, providing thumping drive when needed. Details are excellent for a half open in ear headphone.
Intro
Prolific in-ear maker Dunu-Topsound is back with more bad news for other manufacturers; the Titan 1. Perhaps taking inspiration from several similar designs which give a wider sound through porting, the Dunu Titan 1 headphones come with eartips which seal, and to great effect!
Key Features
Eleven holes on each capsule housing allow any internal sound reflections to escape, making the audio feel clear, light and fast. A titanium coated diaphragm greatly improves treble on this open style in ear while a range of eartips provide a decent seal to give you deep insightful bass, plus the branded hard case will provide protection while also being a practical pocket size.
First Impressions
DUNU’s designs are varied, and this one is a first for me – the impression when holding them is of luxury bathroom equipment. Maybe it’s the solid stainless steel construction, or the smattering of tiny holes in the housing making it look like a shower head. They could have named this model ‘Triton 1’. But there is nothing wet about these earphones, they just scream excellence.
Sound Quality
The Titan 1 seals very well in the ear, due to the design there’s a limit to how deep in the ears the Titan 1 can be inserted. Bass is very well balanced and puts a weighty feel under everything, the midrange is clear and cohesive and treble is crisp and clean without causing problems with sibilance. There does appear to be a gap or dip between the low-mid and bass regions; this is not a problem where clarity in the midrange is concerned but might be missed by some.
Soundstage is greatly enhanced by the design. One theory is that the energy coming through the holes in the housing (not through the eartip) is felt by the concha, or bowl of the ear. Just as in real life, when sound energy is focused by the ear into the ear canal, it creates a light sensation on that part of the ear which the Titan 1 design mimics with great success.
Summary
Yet another triumph from DUNU-Topsound – the Titan 1 gives a very convincing spacious presentation while also isolating the wearer from outside noise. They have a fun sound signature which has a slight bass enhancement, without losing the detail or sparkle in your music tracks, so they never seem to lose their balance.
For the asking price, the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear is incredible value; giving great sound as well as swish styling and all in a very rugged and classy looking case. They are available in versions compatible with Apple devices as well as Android, so you needn’t be cutting down your choice of handsets with the Momentum In-Ear.
Pros
Very nice looking
Decent well thought-out case
Versions for Apple and Android
Right Angle Jack
Cons
Bundled accessories are high quality but low in number
Designed to be worn down from the ear only
Hot off the press at Sennheiser, the Momentum In-Ear promises to give music fans a taste of what this esteemed company is capable of in its 70th year. This particular old man is not doddery in the least however; the old CX300 and similar models have been updated, the new Urbanite is impressing young music fans all over the place and now we have the Momentum In-Ear.
Key Features
The first thing which is noticeable is the case, since the Momentum In-Ears are tucked away in the case when bought. Fishing them out gives a very good impression however – the case is semi-rigid with an internal caddy around which the cable can be wound. This will certainly protect the Momentum In-Ears well when not in use. The nozzles have been updated from previous similar Sennheiser in-ears, with the Momentum In-Ear these are now ‘custom machined stainless steel sound tunnels’ – they give a nice impression of build qulaity. Then there’s the buttons, either for Apple or Android, depending on which version you buy.
First Impressions
In terms of styling, it’s more reminiscent of the Urbanite model. The flat two-tone cable and understated shiny design is attractive but not showy, much like the Momentum In-Ear‘s sound. The case is new too, and is an excellent design as it affords protection against the contents being squashed or stressed. A separate ‘caddy’ comes out, around which the cable can be gently wrapped and it goes back into the case to be zipped up. Very neat.
The capsules themselves remind me somewhat of the Brainwavs S5, with their off-centre nozzles. They fit very well indeed when worn like this, but it may make the ‘up and over’ wearing style a little awkward. It can be done though!
Sound Quality
When it comes to the sound, the Momentum In-Ear compares well with its full-size Momentum sibling. Detail is high without sibilance or discomfort; harmonics are brought out for a very real sense of musicality. Soundstage is surprisingly broad for an in-ear model and imaging is coherent and sharp. Overall, the sound is fairly typical of Sennheiser’s recent offerings; in terms of full size headphones at least. When compared to older lines such as the now axed CX300, the sound is drastically improved and shows that this old dog still has some new tricks!
Summary
A very good in-ear from this venerable old timer. Despite all the in-ear competition coming from young companies keen to impress, Sennheiser can still pull a rabbit from the headphone hat; the Momentum In-Ear is a real treat!
