There are four main types of headphones: earbuds, in-ear, on-ear and over-ear.

There is also an element of personal preference.Earbuds: small and cheap, earbuds are often bundled with MP3 players and smartphones.

They fit snugly inside the ear canal to provide a tight seal so minimise sound leakage.

However, some models fold down into fairly compact carry cases, and could be used on your daily commute.

In addition to the four main types, there are specialised headphones for specific purposes, such as sports models that have additional features to help keep them in place during exercise.

Some headphones use standard AAA batteries but these days most have a built-in battery that can be recharged using a USB connection.These headphones don’t come cheap though – expect to pay around £50 for an entry-level model, to more than £300 for a top-end pair.