Sennheiser Urbanite On Ear Review | 93 Data compared

According to Head-Fi user reviews, the Sennheiser Urbanite on-ear headphones are praised for their rugged, durable build with premium materials, a collapsible design, and a punchy, robust bass that remains clear. These headphones offer excellent passive noise isolation and are easy to drive from mobile devices, providing a functional, durable option for daily use. Conversely, reviewers highlight a significantly narrow, "in-your-head" soundstage, often attributed to the design, which limits instrument separation and results in a darker treble. Additionally, the headband's awkward, bulky profile and the potential for discomfort and slippage during extended listening sessions are frequently mentioned as drawbacks. For more detailed user reviews, visit Head-Fi.

The SoundGuys review of the Sennheiser Urbanite highlights a stylish, on-ear headphone with a mid-forward sound signature, offering even, punchy bass and an impressive 3D soundstage. Key pros include detailed, crisp highs, a durable, tangle-free cable, and specific, secure-locking compatibility options for both iOS and Android devices. Conversely, the review notes significant cons, such as stiff ear pads that cause discomfort after an hour, and a 2-3 kHz range that can make vocals sound overly harsh. Additionally, the headphones produce a crackly distortion on some mobile devices, while podcasts often sound muffled and leak more sound than the XL model.

The Sennheiser Urbanite on-ear headphones earn a strong recommendation for delivering powerful, "bumping" bass without compromising overall audio balance, clarity, or musicality. Priced at $200, these stylish and minimalist headphones feature high-quality materials, tight precision stitching, and a functional design where ear cups move smoothly along a track. They provide exceptional performance straight from smartphones, showcasing a highly dynamic soundstage, lightning-fast transient response, and excellent passive noise isolation. Additionally, they come equipped with a tangle-resistant flat cable and an integrated in-line microphone that outperforms built-in smartphone microphones for phone calls. A major pro of the Urbanite is its ability to produce deep, poignant bass with a heavy punch that never muddies the incredibly detailed treble and midrange frequencies. They are highly praised for their premium comfort, featuring plush, velvety ear pads that prevent ear sweating. However, the review highlights several distinct cons, including a rubbery headband that entirely lacks padding and can easily slip off the head during physical activities or workouts. The retail package is also criticized for omitting a standard 14one-fourth14-inch TRS adapter, and the on-ear design inherently...

The Sennheiser Urbanite on-ear headphones feature a modern, stylish look and excellent build quality, but they deliver an average sound experience for their £150 UK price tag. On the positive side, the headphones come with nice packaging and a handy soft carrying pouch for transport. They boast a durable design with a flat, tangle-free removable cable and can fold up tightly for travel. Additionally, they provide surprisingly strong noise isolation for an on-ear model, meaning they block out a lot of outside noise and do not leak much music. However, the reviewer was disappointed with the overall comfort and sound performance. The ear pads are too thin, causing the user's ears to touch the hard inner drivers, and the headband lacks enough padding for long listening sessions. In terms of audio, the headphones suffer from a heavy mid-bass slam that overpowers the other sounds, leading to recessed mids and rolled-off highs that lack detail and sparkle. The closed-back design also creates a clogged soundstage where instruments are jumbled together rather than cleanly separated.

The Sennheiser Urbanite stands out with its intentional, upscale build quality, featuring a stitched canvas headband, precision-matched ear cup finish, and a sturdy, well-engineered folding mechanism. Weighing 260 grams, it provides a comfortable fit with manageable clamping pressure and a pseudo-plastic headband padding that is easy to clean. Designed as a sturdier, more civilized alternative to the Beats Solo 2, its main pros include its superior construction, comfortable on-ear design, a tangle-resistant flat cable with media controls, and a tighter, cleaner, and more defined bass performance compared to its main rival. However, the headphone's sound signature is heavily biased toward the low end, making its bass-dominated tuning a potential con for audiophiles seeking neutrality. The review notes that the mid-range is laid back in the mix, causing vocals to sound less forward than they do on the Beats Solo 2. Additionally, while the treble offers a natural presentation with a solid impact on cymbals, it does not reach the extensions of high-end audiophile gear. On the accessory side, the Urbanite comes with only a soft carrying bag, lacking the protective...

The Sennheiser Urbanite On-Ear headphones deliver a warm, full-bodied, and non-fatiguing sound signature characterized by a "chocolaty, silky, and rich" presentation. Its standout feature is an exceptional, punchy lower-end bass response that remains powerful and tightly controlled without ever bleeding into or muddying the natural midrange. Built as a highly durable, lightweight, and rugged piece of German engineering, the headphones feature an adventurous denim-fabric headband design, metal hinges that fold inward, and comfortable memory foam velour ear pads. Additionally, they are highly sensitive and easy to drive from portable devices, offer excellent passive noise isolation, and actively tame harsh, sibilant recordings. However, the Urbanite falls short regarding its treble range, which is considerably recessed and leaves the upper frequencies feeling blunted, muted, and lacking in overall clarity. The soundstage is also quite deficient and intimate, making them poorly suited for competitive gaming where spacious imaging is necessary. From a design standpoint, the wide headband is physically disproportionate to the smaller on-ear cups, creating an awkward aesthetic choice for a younger target demographic. Finally, while the velour pads are highly premium,...

The Sennheiser Urbanite is a pair of fashion-inspired, supra-aural (on-ear) headphones priced at £150 that delivers a bass-heavy yet highly controlled audio experience. Built for portability and durability, they feature a collapsible design with sturdy stainless steel hinges and an aluminum rail that allows for smooth, incremental ear-cup adjustments. The audio performance features a low impedance of 18 ohms, meaning they are exceptionally easy to drive from mobile devices without maxing out the volume. Sound-wise, they offer a noticeably warmer profile than the Sennheiser Momentum range, injecting satisfying energy into genres like hip-hop and electronic music. A major pro highlighted in the review is the excellent sound quality; despite the strong emphasis on low frequencies, the bass remains tight and does not bleed into or compromise the details of the mid and treble ranges. Additionally, the flat, rubberized 1.2m detachable cable with a built-in three-button remote and microphone is noted for its high-quality construction. On the con side, the denim-textured headband aesthetic is deemed less attractive than the classier look of the Momentum lineup. Furthermore, the velour earpads fall short...

The What Hi-Fi? review of the Sennheiser Urbanite headphones highlights them as a stylish, street-friendly departure from the brand's traditionally understated Momentum range. Tested at £150, these headphones are specifically designed for "urban style on the move," offering a trendy look meant to rival fashion-forward competitors like Beats. The pros emphasized in the review include a stylish, cool design and a solid, durable build featuring a chunky metal headband and a flat, tangle-free cable. Acoustically, they excel with a strong, well-defined, and muscular bass performance that delivers a vivacious, punchy sound without completely drowning out higher frequencies. However, the review outlines several prominent cons, noting that the Urbanites are ultimately not balanced all-rounders and will not appeal to audio purists. A major drawback is the midrange, which lacks openness and expression, leaving vocals feeling less detailed and less direct than competitor models like the Philips Fidelio M1MKIIs. Additionally, the sound lacks subtlety and rhythmic precision due to its heavily exaggerated low end, making the overall audio presentation feel somewhat unnatural. There is also a minor physical design flaw, as the...

The Sennheiser Urbanite on-ear headphones, as reviewed by Trusted Reviews, are recognized for their exceptional build quality featuring robust stainless steel hinges, aluminum sliders, and durable canvas-style fabric. Offering strong passive noise isolation via comfortable velour pads, these headphones provide a mature alternative to competitors by delivering punchy, tightly controlled, and muscular bass. However, the review notes that despite impressive low-frequency performance, the midrange lacks the openness and detail found in rivals. Additionally, the design features a clunky three-button inline remote and can cause ears to heat up over extended listening sessions.

The Sennheiser Urbanite on-ear headphones deliver a rich, balanced audio experience featuring crisp highs and well-defined mids alongside a powerful, distortion-free bass. Reviewer Tim Gideon highlights the stylish, comfortable design as a primary strength, offering a tailored sound signature that avoids the muddy, overpowered low-end often found in consumer audio. However, the review notes the bass, while precise, may disappoint users seeking extreme, booming low-end performance. Additionally, the product package is sparse, lacking extra accessories like backup cables or replacement earpads.