If you’re trying to sort through which on-ear headphones are the best, it can be a difficult task. Something to keep in mind that there’s not necessarily one on-ear headphone that’s “The Best” one out there but it’s more about which one is the best for you. Whichever one you choose, there’s always going to be some tradeoff’s. For example, one choice might be the most comfortable but not have quite as much detail in the mids and highs as another option.
So in this review, I’ll share with you which on-ear headphones represent the best choice depending on what your priorities are. I’ll be comparing and contrasting everything from comfort to sound quality so that you can make a more informed decision about which one would be best suited for you.
The top headphones I’ll be comparing are Bose SoundTrue, Sennheiser Urbanite, V-Moda XS, Beats Solo 2 and the Sennheiser Momentum.
Accessories, Design & Features
In terms of weight, the Bose SoundTrue is easily the lightest of the bunch and the Urabanite is definitely the heaviest.
Regarding the accessories, one of the main differences is that the Urbanite has the shortest cable as well as just a fabric bag. The other headphones all provide something more substantial such as a soft pouch or hard shell case.
All of these headphones fold-up or are collapsable, except for the momentum which does not.
Durability
Regarding durability, the V-Moda and Urbanite are extremely well built and as a result, the most durable headphones of the group. So if having a headphone that’s built to last is a top priority or if you’re really tough on headphones, then consider either of these as a top choice.
The Momentum and Solo 2 are also well built and durable so you should definitely expect them to last. And then the Bose SoundTrue is the least durable compared to the others, but it still holds up to normal use just fine. It’s just not designed to take a serious beating the way the V-Moda and Urbanite are.
Comfort
The clear winner for comfort is the Bose SoundTrue. It’s the smallest, lightest and most comfortable. While they do put a tiny bit of pressure on your ears you can easily wear these all day. They’re truly among the most comfortable on-ear headphones in existence.
In terms of which one is the least comfortable, there isn’t really one that stood out. However, the Beats Solo 2 has the strongest clamping force of the bunch, so initially these pinched my ears pretty good, and as a result, I found I couldn’t wear them very long. However, as is the case with any of these headphone, the more you wear them or the longer you stretch them out the more comfortable they become. And that was the case w/ the Solo 2 as well.
But if you’re looking for an on-ear headphone that you can wear comfortably as long as possible, Bose would be #1, followed by the Urbanite and V-Moda XS. The Momentum is still comfortable but the velour ear pads on the Urbanite and the more loose fit of the V-Moda make both of those just a tad more comfortable than the Momentums.
Now for workout use, or any activity that you want to make sure your headphones don’t slip off your head, the Solo 2 works best b/c of it’s stronger clamping force. The Urbanite and Momentum are ok, followed by the SoundTrue. The V-Moda can possibly work for this type of use but it will be the most prone to slip because of it’s more loose fit.
So overall, these are all comfortable, especially for on-ear headphones. The SoundTrue wins for clearly being the most comfortable and lightest feeling, the Solo 2 wins for having the strongest grip which makes them a better choice for using while working out or related activities. And then the Urbanite strikes the best balance of having great comfort and having a firm enough grip that they’d work for more involved activities like working out as well.
Noise Isolation
Regarding noise isolation, if this is a priority then you’ll want to stick with the Solor 2 or the Urbanite.
The Solo 2 provides the best noise isolation followed pretty closely by the Urbanite. The Momentum and V-Moda XS both do a fairly modest job and give you a good balance of providing a nice acoustic seal while still allowing some awareness of environmental noise.
So for example, if you want to walk around town and not completely shut the world out then these would work great. The SoundTrue also does an ok job at isolating noise but you can still hear some of what’s going on around you. So ultimately, if noise isolation is a top priority then I’d definitely choose either the Solo 2 or Urbanite.
Sound Quality
Next I’ll compare the differences in sound quality. And, I want to point out that there isn’t so much of a clear winner overall, as they all have their strengths and weakness. It really comes down to the type of sound signature you prefer, and what type of music you listen to most.
So I’ll start out by sharing the pro’s and con’s of each of these relative to each other and then make some recommendations based on which headphones would work best for certain sound signatures as well as different genres of music.
Beginning with the Solo 2, it’s strength is having an emphasized bass response that’s tight and punchy. Compared to the others it has the largest quantity of bass and it has some of the most natural midrange and superior sounding vocals of the group.
The biggest weak point though is that the extra bass emphasis does bleed into the mids which produces a somewhat thick sound.
Next we have the Urbanite which has an exceptional bass response, including having the best quality of bass of the group. It also has a well balanced mid-range relative to the bass. The mid-range is liquid smooth and extremely pleasing to listen to.
The weakness of the Urbanite though, is the highs are a little veiled and rolled off.
And then with the V-Moda XS, it’s strengths are having a wonderfully balanced sound and the best tonal balance of the group. So compared to everyone else, these headphones are the most tonally neutral.
However, it’s weakness is the bass is somewhat loose sounding and the treble is a bit hazy and just slightly in-articulate.
And then regarding the Momentum, this has the best treble response of the group. You get a more articulate and resolving treble, and as a result these headphones deliver a more lively and exciting listening experience in the upper frequencies.
The biggest weakness though is the bass, which can be thick sounding with some distortion. It also has the most uneven frequency response of the group which includes a withdrawn mid-range and then a being little over emphasized in the bass and treble.
And finally, the Bose SoundTrue does a good job of creating a pleasing listening experience. But nothing about it’s sound signature is superior in regards to the rest of the group.
It’s weak points are having a congested mid-range including too much lower-mid bloat. This helps give these their warm sound but it also reduces the clarity. So vocals can sound a bit muffled and the soundstage can come across a bit clogged.
So now that I’ve covered some of the basic strengths and weaknesses relative to the rest of the group I now want to talk about which sound signatures and genres of music each headphone would be best for.
I’ll start off with the bass lovers. If you want a bass leaning headphone then you’d want to choose between the Momentum, Solo 2 or Urbanite, as these three are all bass leaning headphones. From here you’ll want to decide whether you want better bass extension or better treble response.
For example, if you prefer contemporary genres of music that are more complex, you might appreciate the more articulate and clear treble of the Momentum. Compared to the Urbanite and Solo 2, the Momentum sounds more lively and exciting in the upper frequencies.
But otherwise, if you’d prefer the bass to be the star of the show then you’d want to choose between the Solo 2 and Urbanite. Bass is much tighter and more impactful with both of these over the Momentum. So then it comes down whether you want a greater quantity of bass with better mids to treble transition, which the Solo 2 gives, or if you prefer higher quality bass and a better bass to mids transition which the Urbanite provides.
Because the Urbanite has the better bass to mids transition, you don’t get a thicker sound like you do with the Solo 2. For me personally, I prefer the better quality bass of the Urbanite, since the bass is not that much less than the Solo 2.
But in either case, both of these headphones work best for more contemporary genres or anything that can take advantage of the wonderful low-end emphasis. If you do like to mix up your music styles though then that can affect which headphone might work best.
For example, Yo Yo Ma sounds awesome on the Urbanite b/c the exceptional bass extention really brings his Cello to life. However, on the Solo 2 b/c of the thicker sound, it doesn’t come across as appealing. So ultimately the Urbanite is better suited to anyone who likes to a broader range of music including contemporary genres.
Next, if you’re not after emphasized bass but would rather have a more neutral, balanced sound the V-Moda XS is the clear winner. It’s the most tonally balanced of the group and is more clear and clean sounding except for the treble which the Momentum does a better job of.
You could say the V-Moda is the safe, conservative choice, sound signature wise because although it doesn’t share the strengths of the other headphones, it also doesn’t share their weaknesses. The Bose SoundTrue would also fit best into this category. Even though the sound is colored, it’s more neutral leaning compared to the Solo 2, Urbanite and Momentum.
Finally, if you want the headphone with the best treble response then the Momentum is the one to get. With these you’ll have the nicest and cleanest sounding treble. That can make these headphones a great choice for classical and jazz genres, but particularly anything that can take advantage of it’s incredible treble response. But b/c of the emphasized bass response these can sound great with more contemporary genres as well.
Pros and Cons Summary
Starting with the Bose SoundTrue. It’s biggest strengths are that it’s super lightweight and portable. It’s the most comfortable of the group and it offers a pleasing, warm leaning, lush sound. It’s downside is that for the money, it doesn’t give you as much value sound quality wise compared to the other headphones.
But the bottom line is this is an excellent headphone for the “non-audiophile,” who just wants something extremely comfortable, super lightweight and relaxing or fun to listen to.
Next, the Beats Solo 2 stand out as having the most bass emphasis of the group. It’s also very durable, has excellent noise isolation and a firmer grip against your head, which means it won’t slide off very easily. However, the downside is that it has a thicker sound as a result of the additional bass. Also, b/c it has a firmer grip these might not be as comfortable to wear compared to the others.
The bottom line is this is an excellent headphone for anyone who wants as much bass as possible, yet still have a really nice sounding headphone. Or for anyone that has noise isolation and little to no sound leakage as a top priority.
Then we have the Momentum which stands out as having the best treble response of the group which gives you a more lively and exciting listening experience in the upper frequencies. It has great durability and a “U” shaped sound signature, so the lows and highs are emphasized with a slightly withdrawn midrange. The downside is that it has the most uneven frequency response of the group.
But the bottom line is this an excellent choice for anyone who listens to more complex contemporary music or for someone who enjoys a slight bass emphasis and wants the best treble response possible.
Next is the V-Moda XS which is exceptionally durable, more loose fitting and as a result very comfortable, and it has one of the smallest profiles of the group making it very light wearing and excellent for portable use. The XS is the most tonally balanced of the group and is the most neutral leaning. It’s downside is that the bass is a bit loose and the treble is a tad hazy.
The bottom line though, is this is the most balanced sounding headphone, exceptionally durable and the perfect choice for someone who listens to a wide variety of music or wants the most balanced and clean sounding headphone.
Finally, we have the Urbanite which is also exceptionally durable, has excellent noise isolation, and balances a moderately firm fit with still being very comfortable. The Urbanite provides the best quality of bass of the group and has a remarkable sounding midrange that is exceptionally balanced relative to the bass. It’s downside is that it’s a little rolled off and veiled in the highs.
The bottom line is this is the ideal headphone for any bass lover, who wants the best bass experience possible without compromising the quality of the mids and highs. And for anyone who has noise isolation, durability and comfort as top priorities as well.
So as you can see, these are all incredible headphones and each has their strengths and weaknesses. But once you know what your priorities are, you can narrow it down to the best choice. And remember, if there’s anything I missed that would be helpful to know, please leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to provide any other details or information.