Sony has just released a new range of sports headphones that differ according to your needs and style of workout. For example, if you wear your MP3 player in an armband, some models are made with shorter cords for less tangles.

I tested the MDR-AS40EX Hanging Ear Ex Sports Headphones, which Sony claims are designed for "fast movement and high-impact workouts". They can be used either as bud headphones or you can add on the detachable soft hangers if you require extra "hold" around your ears.

For moderate to fast paced activity, I actually found the buds alone to be fairly sufficient. Once you get them in there, they fit very snugly. Sony has also provided a moisture guard around the buds to remove moisture as you sweat. This significantly adds to the life expectancy of your headphones as moisture can denegrate the drivers.

In terms of sound, I was very pleased with the bass which can sometimes be lacking in cheap headphones. However I found that guitars in particular tend to sound slightly muted.

One complaint would be the length of the cord, which is slightly shorter than usual. This has been done deliberately to eliminate the chances of tangles however sometimes if I am walking I prefer to hold my MP3 player in my hand. The cord is not quite long enough to do this comfortably.

The MDR-AS40EX headphones retail for $89.

By Caroline Warnes