Sennheiser Urbanite XL review: A Beats competitor with quality bass and good clarity

Meet the Urbanite XL, Sennheiser's new, hipper, more fashionable over-ear headphone that retails for $250 (available in the UK for £200) and comes in a few different color options. In Australia, the XL goes on sale in mid-November and will cost AU$399.

The Sennheiser Urbanite XL is a well-designed Beats competitor that costs less and sounds as good or better.

The Sennheiser Urbanite XL is a well-designed, comfortable to wear over-ear headphone that offers exciting, dynamic sound with quality bass; There's an integrated remote/microphone for calls (both an Android and iOS version of the headphone is available).

The nylon carry "pouch" is skimpy.

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Wireless review

If you can afford the price, the Sennheiser Urbanite XL Wireless headphones provide great sound over Bluetooth, offering punchy bass without going over the top. There are handy features such as NFC, a smart touchpad for controls, and a microphone for calls. Some might find the build is a little on the plastic side, and these headphones are pretty bulky – but that's the street style that Sennheiser is aiming for.

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Wireless Review

At $299.95, the Sennheiser Urbanite XL Wireless headphones have a lot to offer: a cool design, powerful drivers, and an included audio cable that allows for wired, passive use and even has an inline remote for mobile devices. The audio performance itself is crisp and articulate, but those seeking the massive bass response Sennheiser promises on this product's webpage might be surprised; the Urbanite XL Wireless, like the wired Urbanite XL ($189.95 at Amazon) , offers a far more refined, moderate bass presence than most competing, bass-forward headphone models. DesignVisually, the Urbanite XL Wireless ($189.95 at Walmart)  looks quite similar to its wired predecessor. The canvas-covered headband, matte plastic design, and simple white accents offer a minimalist take on the bulky headphone trend. The adjusting mechanism for the headband is a cable that retracts into the headband itself, allowing the earcups to slide up and down the ends of the band. The Urbanite XL Wireless folds d...

The Sennheiser Urbanite XL Bluetooth headphones deliver a balanced sound signature, but the wireless control panel suffers from design flaws.

Powerful, balanced audio performance with crisp highs and rich lows; Detachable cable with inline controls for wired, passive use

Control panel on right earcup isn't laid out very well; Not for those seeking massive bass response

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Review

The Beats revolution has been good for audio fans. Prior to Beats, most people didn't care about their headphones and now, due to their popularity, several companies have redesigned or introduced entirely new lines to cash in on the craze. Sennheiser, the venerable manufacturer of both affordable and pro-level headphones, has recently begun releasing more fashionable options like its Momentum series. Now we have the Sennheiser Urbanite XL, a $249 over-ear pair that is obviously positioned to compete with Beats. Before the audio purists start shaking their heads in disbelief, let it be known that this is not a booming bass headphone pair. There's certainly low end, but the most Beats-esque part of the Urbanite XL is its physical design. The sound signature is incredibly crisp, and only reaches for deep lows when they are already in the mix. If the trendy style isn't a factor for you at all, the Editors' Choice Sennheiser HD 558 remains one of the best headphone pairs in this categ...

The Sennheiser Urbanite XL headphone pair offers a refined audio experience in a stylish design.

Crisp, refined audio performance with a clear, distortion-free bass response; Extremely comfortable; Stylish design

Light on accessories; Not for those seeking booming bass