HEAD BANGIN'

Earbuds are fine but headphones are cooler. These fancy ‘cans’ are the go-to accessories for DJs, sound engineers and Princess Leia (What? You think she wasn’t listening to bangin’ techno from inside those super-sized cinnamon hairbuns?). Try these on for size.

WESC BIRDY NAM NAM

BEATS BY DR. DRE STUDIO BY MONSTER

The price might be off-putting but listen to this: these headphones accurately reproduce the same fidelity as a studio recording session. The sounds are crisp, with a good solid bass and excellent mids and highs, but the downside is you can’t utilise the noise-cancelling function of the ear cups without batteries.

Priced at $699, Beats by Dr. Dre Studio by Monster headphones are available at HMV.

PHILIPS SHL 5000

These headphones are perfect for the dollar conscious! This modestly priced device provides crystal clear sounds, good bass and cushion-padded ear cups that don’t hurt the ears after prolonged usage. You’ll look good in the red-black colour combo without having to spend an arm and a leg.

Priced at $69, the Philips SHL 5000 headphones are available at Courts.

AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH PRO5MS

We all love a guy in uniform but in order not to look too regimented, you need to don the Audio-Technica ATH PRO5MS. Sure, the army camo-motif is pretty much useless in this urban jungle but it’s not meant to blend in, it’s meant to stand out. The headphones deliver good sound and the 15,000 to 28,000 Hz playback frequency response is fantastic.

Priced at $138, the Audio-Technica ATH PRO5MS headphones are available at The Headphones Gallery at Funan Mall.

MARSHALL MAJOR HEADPHONE

These awesome-looking headphones are easily folded for storage. You can see Marshall’s signature amplifier material lines the exterior of the headband and the square-ish ear cups make the headphones stand out. You might complain about the somewhat plain packaging but you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

Priced at $122, the Marshall Major Headphones are available at www.marshallheadphones.com/product/major

COLOUD HELLO KITTY

Coloud does a pretty good job giving Hello Kitty that edgy spin. The negative image of Hello Kitty imprinted onto Twelve model headphones and a triangular plug, allows for an easier grip, which means that design-wise attention is paid to even the most mundane details. We’re sure if Hello Kitty had a mouth, she would be smiling right now.

Priced at $49, the Coloud Hello Kitty headphones are available at www.coloud.com/category/hello_kitty

NIXON THE TROOPER

Did Nixon name these headphones after an Iron Maiden song? If so, extra points to this minimalistic-looking device. The design might look flimsy but it’s sturdy and you’re able to pack it away safely. While just barely lacking in the bass department, The Trooper delivers a nice, clear sound. And you know what would sound great? A little bit of Iron Maiden.

Priced at $90, Nixon The Trooper headphones are available at all Billabong outlets.

SKULLCANDY HESH LURKER POISON

Imagine a world where Skullcandy created caps instead of headphones… the Nazis won WW2, Facebook was never invented and pigs can fly. It’s a good thing here on Earth Prime, Skullcandy stuck to what they were meant to do: produce awesome headphones like the Hesh Lurker Poison – each ear cup is emblazoned with Skullcandy logos with crossbones, adding a healthy hit of menace and badassery.

Priced at $129, the Skullcandy Hesh Lurker Poison headphones are available at all Tangs outlets.