The Beats EP headphones were released late 2016 and have quickly become a favorite of many, including a few of us here at Roadmap+.

a pair should be left at your desk or workspace

Two properties make these great productivity enhancers. The first is they are among the most comfortable headphones within the price range and in comparison to the next model up, the Solo, which means you can wear them for hours without pressure pain. The second big plus is while they aren't active noise cancelling headphones and don't require batteries, they do block out a lot of noise, making outside distractions almost non-existent.

Being comparatively reasonably priced for this level of sound quality is another attractive characteristic of the EPs. Although they can't compete with higher end – and higher priced – audiophile headphones, EDM, hip hop/R&B and similar electronic music come through spectacularly.

In terms of build quality, the EPs feel durable. While they don't fold like their more expensive siblings and only come with a thin cloth pouch, carrying them in a backpack in the included pouch hasn't caused any issues so far. Another factor that differentiates them from other Beats headphones is the cord can't be removed or replaced, and there are a few online reports of broken headphone jacks.

Despite its limited shortcomings in terms of build, the positives of the EPs far outweigh the potential issues. For us, they easily come out on top as one of the best headphone options of the moment in sound quality, mobility and concentration enabling at a fair price point. But if the lack of a solid case and inability to fold could be an issue for you, we still believe they are best suited to all-day use and a pair should be left at your desk or workspace.

Pros

• Super comfy for all day use


• Acoustically sound


• Block out lots of noise


• Inexpensive and great value for money


• Lightweight


• Feel durable


• iOS remote


• No battery required

Cons

• Don't fold


• Included carry case is a soft pouch


• Wired / attached cord


• Reports of headphone jack breaking

Beats EP headphones are available from most good retailers and Apple.