Sennheiser’s Urbanite headphones — not only all about the bass

SINGAPORE — Most headphones on the market these days play up “enhanced bass” and the Sennheiser Urbanite on-ear headphones are no exception. But with these headphones, it is not only about that bass, it is also just as much about the treble.

While the bass is strong, it is well-proportioned and not overwhelming, and there is no loss of detail in the mid and treble ranges. The headphones work best with anything that takes advantage of the low range — hip hop, rap, pop and dance — in which there is exceptional clarity .

Whether it is tinny electro-dance such as Martin Garrix’s Animals or bass-driven funk such as Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, the headphones handle both well, keeping the sound tight and punchy.

While they deliver on sound, it also helps that they are stylish. Unlike the ubiquitous Beats headphones, which tend to be ostentatious with their loud colour schemes and shiny finishes, the Urbanites are a classy option with a fabric cover headband in five muted colours: Black, denim, sand, plum and the tri-colour nation.

They are edgy enough for the younger crowd to wrap comfortably around the neck while at a skate park, but sleek enough for the discerning older consumer.

For on-ear headphones, they are not noise-cancelling, but they do a decent job of blocking out noise. Additionally, there is little sound leakage so you won’t have to worry about bothering other people.

If anything, the Urbanites are great grab-and-go headphones. Not only are they made of durable material such as tough aluminium sliders and exposed stainless steel hinges, they also have a nifty mechanism that allows them to fold inwards and compactly for storage.

The velour material over the ear cushions is comfortable enough for long periods of wear and springs back to form.

The Urbanite range also comes with a detachable cable — there is a dedicated version for both Apple iOS devices and Windows/Android devices — with an integrated in-line remote for making hands-free calls and controlling music.

The headphones come with a very basic drawstring pouch, but the materials are sturdy enough, so you do not have to be too cautious about chucking them in your bag.

Other than occasionally getting your fingers caught in the folding hinges, the headphones are German engineering and affordable audio quality at their finest.

Sennheiser Urbanite headphones retail at S$269 at the Sennheiser concept store at Marina Square and authorised retailers.