SO UNCOOL are these 'head-cans' that you'll rarely find someone 'chi chi' sashaying down Orchard Road with them on.

But some audiophiles believe that headphones provide the best sound quality as they cover your entire ear and prevent unwanted environmental noise from interfering with your tunes.

One of these self-confessed 'soundaholics' is 37-year-old Matthew Williamson.

Said the sales manager: 'I find that muffs provide the best comfort. They not only enclose your ears and channel music directly into the (ear) canal, but also cushion your ear lobes, making it very comfortable to wear it for hours at a time.'

Professional earphone makers trumpet the fact that headphones can offer high quality audio comparable to that of sound-isolating ear buds.

Said Benson Low, product manager of IT distributor Ban Leong: 'It depends on the driver and technologies used.'

But he observed that headphones can be more damaging to the user's hearing.

'Headphones use a much bigger driver to drive its power and volume so that ambient noise, which is not effectively filtered out, will not interfere with the listening experience.

'More often than not, users will increase the volume in order to block out the ambient noise. In the long run, it may damage the ear drum,' he explained.

Here are some cans to look out for, if you want them for reasons other than keeping out the cold.

Bose Quiet Comfort 3
$699

The cushy muffs wrap around your entire ear, effectively cutting out unwanted noise and providing great comfort.

The cans also belt out meaty and muscular tunes with pitch-perfect bass and treble.

The stainless steel material means that this lightweight gizmo is a perfect exercise partner.

Bose Quiet Comfort 2
$599

The noise-cancelling ear muffs not only isolate the unwanted sounds, but also actively emit soundwaves to remove noise from the music.

Note that this gadget comes with adapters to fit anything from laptops to mobile phones and music players.

The muffs are also changeable - simply pull them out to replace with new ones.

Panasonic RP-HTX7
$89

These pretty khaki-coloured cans exude retro charm in spades, and will appeal to the fashion-forward.

For one, the leather headband and metallic finishing scream old-school chic.

The headphones also blast out crystal clear music and boast bass enhancers and stereo widening technologies.

Philips Nike Duro
$49.90

You may be sweating out on the treadmill but that doesn't mean you can't look cool at the same time.

Meet the ultra-stylish Nike Duro headphones. With their lightweight rubber material, they aim to be the perfect partner for gym bunnies. The rubbery covering also means that they are waterproof, so no worries about sweat seeping in.

The bronze finish adds a hint of glamour.

Philips SHH3911
$24.90

Made especially for the Nokia music phones, the pristine white widget's 32mm speaker driver promises high performance sound.

The ear cushions are also shaped to align perfectly with the user's ear lobes.

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Apr 8, 2008.