From Left, Sol Republic Tracks HD, AKG Q 460, Bowers & Wilkins P5, Beyerdynamic T 70 p , Sennheiser HD 25 Originals and Audio Technica ATH-ESW9  Headphones as fashion statement makes total sense. Like a hat, a scarf or sunglasses they can add a surprising sartorial punch to an outfit whether on your head or effortlessly draped around your neck. But unlike other fashion accessories, this one needs to perform. It's one thing to sacrifice comfort for style (we'd wear sweatpants all day if we didn't) but that's not acceptable when it comes to your music. Looking cool means nothing if "Exile on Main St." sounds like it's coming out of an old clock radio. Any of these six headphones will make a statement both aesthetically and audibly—wear them loud and proud.  Some headphones have a more subtle and delicate sound that takes heightened senses to fully appreciate—like, say, Japanese cuisine. Others are as instantly satisfying as an oozing cheeseburger. That would be these Sol Republics, the Double Double of headphones. They are big and brash, designed to make you feel your music, offering up clear highs, big, booming lows and everything in between. The cord is durable and has just the right amount of stiffness and thickness to keep it from getting tangled in your bag; the headbands, which come in various colors, are made out of a new super-resilient polymer that you'll have a hard time breaking. $130, solrepublic.com  Compact and foldable, the Q 460s (the Q stands for music producer Quincy Jones, who helped in their development) are wonderful, stylish travel headphones. While they're light and comfortable enough to leave on and ignore, they come with a slick carrying case for when you're ready to toss them into your carry-on. Despite being small, they deliver loads of punchy bass, without ignoring all of the finer details of a track. Available in white, matte black and, for the more daring, lime green. $170, akg.com  Although these headphones are new, the simple materials—metal and leather—make them feel as though they come from a different era. It's like wearing a Corbusier chair (but more comfortable). The P5s aren't just about manly materials, however. The sound is purposefully natural—you won't find any guttural lows unless the producer of the track put them there—and they have a relatively tight fit to keep out most unwanted ambient noise. $300, bowers-wilkins.com  It may be a cliché to say that the best headphones let you rediscover music you thought you knew inside and out, but these do just that. Hand claps, the slight twang of guitar strings, the tiny inhale a vocalist makes before starting a song—the T 70 p magically reveals all of these hidden nuances, making the most familiar track pleasantly unfamiliar. While these headphones are heavier than most—the body is primarily constructed of metal—they compensate for it in comfort. The crisp sound and ultra-soft velour earpads mean you could wear them for hours and not realize it. $570, beyerdynamic.com  Long popular with the DJ set, these legendary Sennheisers are a special collaboration with Adidas, hence the sporty blue accents. For an on-ear headset, they isolate sound extremely well thanks to a tight fit and a headband that articulates so you can get that perfect fit. But when you need to listen in on a conversation or tell the flight attendant you'd prefer the chicken to the fish, you can simply flip the left earpiece out of the way. The light, plastic construction may deter you at first, but don't let it. These have a reputation for being super durable. $360, sennheiserusa.com  Maybe it's the African Padauk wood housing messing with our minds, but these headphones have a warmer sound than most. And the lambskin cushions (ordinary leather is so pedestrian) feel luxurious on the ears. While these Audio Technicas aim for a balanced sound, they have incredibly tight bass—if you prefer to play your music super loud, you'll get virtually no distortion. $220, audiotechnica.com
Rock out with headphones that make some noise on your head and in your ears, with models from Bowers & Wilkins, Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser and Audio Technica.