Sennheiser's brand new Urbanite line of headphones is visually reminiscent of the Beats lineup, with bright colors and sharp design. The less expensive of two options, the Sennheiser Urbanite is a $199.95 on-ear pair that offers a substantial amount of bass response without ever sounding unnatural.

Excellent, balanced audio performance with crisp highs and rich, powerful bass response; Comfortable, handsome on-ear design

Light on accessories; Not for those seeking super-mega-bass sound

Sennheiser has just released the new Urbanite on-ear headphones that-according to the box-allow you to take your club music with you, providing an emphasis on "massive bass and clear treble." The headphones are designed with fashion in mind, and they fold for easily storage and travel.

Sennheiser's brand new Urbanite line of headphones is visually reminiscent of the Beats lineup, with bright colors and sharp design. The less expensive of two options, the Sennheiser Urbanite is a $199.95 on-ear pair that offers a substantial amount of bass response without ever sounding unnatural. Compared with the other option—the recently reviewed, over-ear Sennheiser Urbanite XL ($189.95 at Amazon) —this on-ear pair offers a richer, bigger bass sound, but neither will deliver the kinds of lows Beats headphones are known for. Consider the on-ear Urbanite a headphone pair for those who want a solid balance and a strong, but not overpowering, bass response. For the price, it's one of the best-sounding on-ear pairs we've heard, earning it our Editors' Choice award. DesignFrom a design standpoint, both iterations of the Urbanite have the same basic look, with the obvious exception of size and shape of the earcups. The circumaural (over-ear) Urbanite XL is significantly larger than...

Sennheiser's Urbanite on-ear headphone pair offers a rewarding, rich sound signature, with a perfect balance of slightly boosted bass and well-defined mids and highs.

Excellent, balanced audio performance with crisp highs and rich, powerful bass response; Comfortable, handsome on-ear design

Light on accessories; Not for those seeking super-mega-bass sound

The Urbanite hits on all cylinders. The headband rests at the top of your head, but the headband cushion is very soft and the contact patch large enough to disperse the modest weight of the headphones.

The folks at Sennheiser make some of the finest headphones around. They have for quite a while. But some of the most visible headphones in the world today come from a brand with a big "b" on the eardrums. Do they sound better than Sennheiser's newest slick-looking set of headphones, the Urbanite?

The Sennheiser Urbanite On-ear take the lifestyle angle the company started playing with in the great Momentum and Momentum On-ear headphones and move it a step further. These headphones aren't just style-infused, they are – as the name suggests – positively urban.

Comfortable; Good looks; great build; A more refined approach to bassy headphones; Very good sound quality

Thick; dark sound not for everyone; Evil hinge hurts fingers

Sennheiser's Urbanite beat Beats at their own game. Once bass-heads get their ears on these headphones, they'll never turn back.

Incredibly detailed treble and midrange; Just the right boost in bass; Highly dynamic; Awesome stereo separation and soundstage; Comfortable and stylish

Headband lacks padding; can slip while active; No ?-inch adapter included

I am not an audiophile and didn't test 25 headphones as part of my selection process, sorry. I purchased these for my college age daughter, and she loves them. She thinks they are the right size, look cool, are really comfortable and sound great - I agree.

Style; comfort; build quality and sound quality

None

The Sennheiser Urbanite headphones sound very nice, but the comfort isn't up to par with the Urbanite XL.

- Nice; balanced sound; - Fairly stylish; - Light

- The stiff earcups can be uncomfortable after a while; - Fans of heavy bass will be disappointed; - Proprietary cable is hard to replace

Headphones have become more flamboyant in recent years. These days it's not just about the sound, but also the looks. Increasingly, we see headphones not on people's heads, but around their necks. Sennheiser is keenly aware of this – hence the Urbanites, which promise "urban style on the move".

Strong; well-defined bass; Solid build; Stylish design

Midrange could be more open and expressive; Could do with more subtlety and greater rhythmic precision