On test: noise-cancelling headphones

On test: noise-cancelling headphones - Features | Galleries | Technology | Gadgets - MSN Tech & Gadgets UK: "No matter what music player you listen to, there’s one simple way to utterly transform its performance. Invest in a decent pair of headphones.

The free ‘phones you get with most devices tend to be of the cheap, low-quality variety. Ditch those, get some proper ones and your music will totally open up.

There's another way to do your ears a favour too, and that's to listen at a lower volume. Trouble is, that's not always a viable option, especially if you're trying to drown out throngs of early-morning commuters, or escape roaring aircraft engines.

Some headphones and earphones can help you turn down the volume of the outside world, using either noise-cancelling or sound-isolating technology. By using these, you can hear all the detail of your music while the volume dial remains down. In this feature, we'll rate a variety from each category."