On the cutting-edge of headphone development

Our expert Chris Haslam gives advice on buying the latest hi-fi equipment

- Chris Haslam

On a shelf in my office you'll find the very best in wired audiophile headphones, premium Active Noise Cancellation and true wireless earbuds... and a pair of Sennheiser HD-420 headphones from 1980 that I ‘borrowed’ from my father. Back in the '80s they were at the forefront of audiophile innovation, with open-air drivers and a new adjustable suspension strap for comfortable listening, and despite the degraded foam ear cups, they still look and sound great.

It's fair to say that, in the 40+ years since my dad invested, headphones have evolved beyond the imagination of even the most inventive sci-fi writers. For instance, Nothing’s Ear (1) true wireless earbuds (£149; nothing.tech) weigh just 4.7g each, have Active Noise Cancellation for peaceful commuting and a maximum battery life of 34 hours. They also sound superb, and don’t require a bank loan to enjoy. But thanks to rapid advances in microchip technology audio, brands now have so much more to offer than just music.

EarFun might not be a brand you're familiar with, but their soon-to-be-launched Air Pro 4+ (myearfun.com) boast noise cancelling, 54-hour battery life and Al-powered language translation - connected with a smartphone app, you'll be able to enjoy real-time language translation into your ears... though whether they can translate Puccini remains to be seen. Before long, Al is going to be built into virtually everything with a microchip, offering an assortment of added features. I've heard rumours that a noted audio brand is working on a pair of headphones that combines Al with heart rate and other biometric monitoring, giving your headphones the ability to choose a playlist based on how your body is feeling. It’s not that far fetched, as the Powerbeats Pro 2 (£250; beatsbydre.com) already has heart rate tracking for fitness. There’s also research being done into using headphones as hearing aids, and even being able to focus on one person's voice in a crowded room.