It’s time to do some serious shopping before the new term starts. Among other things, it’s time to replace those headphones you treated so shabbily over the summer break.

What are you going to get? This can be a tough question, because no single pair is going to suit every situation.

We have come up with a list of three types of headphones that might interest you. Your job is to decide which to buy.

1. Earbud or in-ear headphones for when you’re on the move.

Whether you walking from class to class, relaxing out on the grass or taking some exercise, you’re going to need some portable earphones. You need to be able to stuff them in your pocket, purse or backpack.

And you for sure need something a bit better than those earbuds that came free with your player. The sound is poor and they have a habit of falling out when you’re running.

We have reviewed plenty of earbuds and in-ear headphones, and there are some good ones in every price range.

Find our earbud headphones picks here...

2. Get yourself some good gaming headphones.

If you like to play video games in between long stretches of studying (or the other way around), you should get yourself a good gaming headset. This is particularly true if you are rooming with other people who are trying to study or sleep.

We have reviewed a number of different gaming headphones over the years, some of them wireless and some of them not.

Find our gaming headphones picks here...

3. Block out the noise with noise cancelling headphones.

It can be tough focusing on your work when there is a lot of chatter and other noise around you.

Noise cancelling headphones do a great job of blocking ambient noise and are available as over-the-ear headphones and ear canal headphones.

BTW, you shouldn’t wear noise cancelling ear canal headphones when you are out on the street. They block out too much noise and put you at risk from cyclists and cars. Put simply, you don’t hear what’s happening around you.

Find our noise cancelling headphones picks here...