Phonak Audeo PFE012 headphones

If you want to properly enjoy a game while sitting on the bus, or stay up late playing Dead Space on your Xperia Play after your other half has fallen asleep, you'll probably want -no, need - to invest in a set of decent headphones.

A good pair of in-ear 'phones can make a huge difference to how immersed you can become in any game, and there's no shortage of headphone manufacturers wanting to part you with your money for headphones to replace the rubbish pair you got with your phone.

One company you may not have heard of, amongst the likes of Sennheiser, Etymotic, and Beats, is Phonak, a Swiss manufacturer with a background in manufacturing hearing aids.

Phonak has released the Audéo PFE 012 Perfect Bass headphones, which at £90 aren't cheap until you compare them with rivals that will happily relieve you of £200 or more.

For another £10 you can get the PFE022 variant, with an added microphone so you can also use them to make calls hands-free.

As the name 'Perfect Bass' suggests, quality bass is what you're promised and, although I'm no audiophile, I can certainly tell the difference between a good pair of headphones and a cheap set with tinny sound.

To get the most positive bass you'll need to fit the right silicone ear pieces, and three sizes are included in the box. I started with the smallest and the results were terrible, with absolutely no bass at all. Upon switching to the mid-sized one the bass kicked in and I was on my way to aural heaven. The large ones were far too big.

With a solid fit secured, I could enjoy punchy sound without having to turn the volume up too high, as the background noise is reduced considerably. If you buy these, don't be surprised to find people shaking you out of your own little world.

With its background in manufacturing hearing aids, Phonak is keen to point out that you can listen with all the bass you crave without having to have the volume too loud. It certainly appears to work as the volume can be turned down without cutting out the bass response.

Sound leakage is also kept to a minimum.

Phonak might not be a company with the same sexy brand identity as its rivals, but if you're after a high-quality audio experience without paying too much, you won't be disappointed.