Sennheiser PX100

The AU$99.95 Sennheiser PX100 miniheadphones feature a unique fold-and-flip design that allows the earpieces to be turned 90 degrees. The entire headphone then collapses into a tight bundle that'll fit in a shirt pocket or inside the provided sturdy transport case.

Besides the twist-and-fold design, the PX100s feature several other noteworthy characteristics. Metal joints on the padded-steel headband help ensure maximum durability, while Sennheiser's Duofol diaphragms and powerful neodymium magnets are intended to produce low-distortion sound. Even the cable is special; the four-foot oxygen-free copper span is superflexible, despite being reinforced with Kevlar. It's fitted with a standard 1/4-inch stereo minijack plug. The ear pads are replaceable, and Sennheiser provides a two-year warranty.

We used our 15GB iPod for all of our PX100 evaluations. The little 'phones produce a rich sound, with laid-back treble detail. While some listeners will appreciate the lack of harshness, it sounded awfully sweet on acoustic jazz and John Mellencamp's new blues-infused CD, Trouble No More. We would have liked a bit more treble detail with more-aggressive music; the White Stripes' gritty sound was a touch too mellow. On the upside, the PX100 can play loudly without breaking up, a feat beyond the capabilities of most headphones of this size.

Our issues with treble detail notwithstanding, the PX100 is a good choice for travellers seeking a compact headphone design that doesn't sacrifice comfort and overall sound quality.