Sony and Monster have recently released headphones and earphones-the Sony MDR-XB300 and the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour High Resolution In-Ear Headphones -that enhance low-end frequencies to levels that not everyone will love.

Strong, balanced frequency response; Comfortable supra-aural design; Doesn't distort at high volumes

Projects sound outward; Can be overly sibilant on some vocals

Let me start this review by getting a few things clear: I am not, or was not anyway, what I would consider a true audiophile. I also am not (or was not) much of a headphone user. All this changed when I got the chance to spend a couple months with the Sennheiser HD 238 Stereo Headphones.

Simply outstanding headphones. Bought these and a pair of HD228s after accidentally destroying my beloved PX100s on a flight from Hong Kong to Chicago. While the HD228s sound good, the HD238s are simply amazing. I've owned about four pairs of PX100s simply because the sound was so amazing.

Outstanding sound; bright and airy; very accurate

Everyone else can hear what you are listening to

Sennheiser's HD 238 Precision headphones are made with good quality components and are comfortable to wear in almost all conditions. The headphones have detailed sound reproduction but we found they seemed flatter than other models, requiring some equaliser adjustment for rich audio.

Good build quality; comfortable ear-cups and headband

Slightly distant mid-bass; "leaky" open nature

These high performance headsets feature premium metallic components and exchangeable earpads for superior performance, Advanced acoustic system with powerful neodymium magnets and lightweight diaphrams for lifelike stereo sound experience.

Plenty of punchy bass; good amount of detail; extremely comfortable; lightweight

Very little isolation; uninspired high frequencies; not the most travel-friendly

The surprisingly awful HD 228 isn't the only pair of Sennheiser headphones to be endorsed by a superstar DJ as there are two more models in the range: the HD 218 and the HD 238.

Comfortable to wear; even after several hours; Light but well-made design; Good coverage of frequencies accross the spectrum

Terrible cable and connector; Can't be fully folded; Not very well insulated for use out and about

Having started using my laptop for watching films whilst staying away in hotel rooms, I recently decided to invest in a pair of decent headphones to replace the standard iPod ones I have been using for years.

Spent months casually searching for the ultimate portable headphone for iPod use. The earbuds are heinous to all but those who know no better. Finally took the iPod to a decent audio store and went through their considerable selection of Grado, Sennheiser and others I do not recall.

Sennheiser HD 238 My partner and I share a lot of loves though music is not one of them. Due to this, I felt it time to buy a set of headphones in order to stop my other half complaining loudly every time I wanted to listen to some music on my computer.