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Picking one pair of headphones from Sennheiser's extensive range is never easy, but we finally settled on the HD485s. While not as high-end as the much-admired HD5xx series, the HD485s are slightly more appropriate for portable use and are also known for being easier to drive with an iPod or other MP3 player. In the flesh, they're a solid well-constructed set of open cans, the thickly-cushioned earpads fitting over rather than on the ears and held in place by a tough, adjustable headband.

The fit is rather tight, which is worth bearing in mind if you don't like pressure on the side of the head, but the 485s do relax their initial vice-like grip a little given time. They're not in the same league, comfort-wise, as the Audio Technica ATH-AD500s, or even the Grado SR60s for that matter, but they're certainly not uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the heavy duty ball-sockets joints that hold the pads in place, the well-reinforced connection between headphone and cable, the thick, cable and the very solid, gold-played plug - with screw-on 1/4in adaptor - all speak of decent build quality. The only thing I'm not sure about is the colour; champagne might have seemed like a prestige colour when the HD485s made their debut, but it no longer seems like the last word in luxury style. Which is a shame, as Sennheiser includes a handy headphone holder which you can attach to a shelf and put your cans out on display when not in use.

Like the Grados, the 485s are just about small and light enough for use on the move, and they actually leak less sound - both in and out - than either of the other two sets. Plus, while the 3m long headphone cable provided doesn't ideally lend itself to travel, you can easily detatch this - it literally unplugs - and use a shorter 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack cable instead. Like the Grados, the 485s are just about small and light enough for use on the move, and they actually leak less sound - both in and out - than either of the other two sets. Just be aware that, as with the other two pairs, the 3m long headphone cable doesn't ideally lend itself to travel.

The sound is classic Sennheiser; smooth, clean, well-balanced and detailed, with a wide but not exaggerated soundstage. The HD485s actually push out more bass than some Sennheiser 'phones I've listened to and it's not a brash, shouty, in-your-face bass, but rather a crisp, refined, controlled low-end noise. This and the restrained mid-range mean that the Sennheisers don't lend themselves to rock quite as much as the Grados - the guitars of Jet's Are you Gonna be My Girl sound slightly muted in direct comparison to the SR60s - but there's certainly enough punch here to make classic rock or the slick, treated sound of Smashing Pumpkins work.

If you don't like your sound too bass-heavy and you don't find the Sennheiser sound a little clinical, then you can bask in the way the HD485s handle more intimate, acoustic music or more challenging classical tracks. The Sennheisers worked wonders on Ralph Vaughan-William's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, allowing the gorgeous, medieval themes to glide over their delicate backing. I also heard plenty of detail in the brass and woodwind of the Gotterdammerung funeral music. Bill Evans' piano in Blue in Green sounds incredible, and the music sounds hushed, intimate and melancholy, just as it should. Of all the sets on test, the HD485s are probably the most versatile across a broad range of musical genres.

On balance I prefer the rich sound of the Grados and the comfort of the Audio Technicas, but I can appreciate why others might love the balance and accuracy of the Sennheiser sound. Available now at a touch under £50 the 485s are also cheaper than when we initially had them in for testing, and while volatile pricing means that this might change, that makes them incredible value. If you're looking for a pair of headphones with a less upfront character than the Grados, then the HD485s will give your ears many years of pleasure.

Verdict

Not everyone will like the sound (or colour) of the 485s, but if you value balance and accuracy over bombast they're definitely worth a listen.

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