SINGAPORE — It looks like you cannot escape from bass-boosted music, and thus bass-focused gear, but to fully appreciate such music would require headphones or earphones which can handle the bass without making it sound bloated or muddy.

Many well-known brands do not quite cut it, but Sennheiser has released the new Momentum On-Ear that attempts to fuse style and good bass in one portable package.

A smaller sibling to the Sennheiser Momentum, the On-Ear shares the same beautiful retro-influenced looks. While it is not lined with leather, the velour-esque material called Alcantara both looks and feels great — they can truly sit on your ears for a long time, even in humid Singapore.

The stainless steel headband can be tight, but that means it will not fall off while you head-bang to the music.

The headphones also come with an in-line mic with controls for use with your iPhones and iPads.

While you might not always trust good-looking headphones to sound great, these definitely do. Sennheiser’s expertise in sound engineering comes into play here, especially with the warm, liquid bass. People who love a clinical music presentation might baulk at first listen, but subsequent listens show that they still present great detail and the bass notes and beats hit fast and hard.

While the soundstage is not the widest here, there is enough resolution for a good depth to the music.

The only real problem is that its bass can overwhelm in certain songs, and at times the cymbals do end up sounding artificial.

The highs could also do with a bit more brightness but, overall, it has a good, integrated sound presentation.

Furthermore, these are on-ear headphones: If you feel weird having your ears pressed down, or if you wear glasses, these might not suit you. They also do not entirely isolate you from external sound.

Still, with good looks and sound, it will suit you especially if you are into modern, bass-focused music.

The Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear is available at S$299 in blue, green, pink and ivory. ALVIN CHONG