Klipsch's latest entry into its Reference headphone lineup is the Reference On-Ear, a $199 pair with leather and brushed metallic accents. Bass lovers who like their low end powerful, but articulate, and balanced by crisp high-mids, will find plenty to like about these headphones. Purists seeking flat response will likely find them too boosted, and everyone will find them a tad light in the accessories department considering the price. Making the cable detachable and including an extra cable, as has become fairly common in the headphone realm, would have added value to these otherwise excellent headphones. The Editors' Choice Sennheiser Urbanite ($54.95 at Amazon)  is similarly light on accessories, but it remains our pick for its even better performance and removable, replaceable cable. 

Design

Offered in black or white models, the supra-aural (on-ear) design of the Reference On-Ear is simple and comfortable, with an added touch of luxury thanks to exceedingly plush, soft leather earpads and headband. Each earcup folds down at hinges between the headband and the cups, and the headband features multiple stops on each side for a precise, secure fit. The earcups themselves swivel slightly to adjust to your face, and sound is delivered through small perforations in the soft leather.

The remote control on the Reference On-Ear's cable is of the three-button variety. A central button controls Play/Pause/Call Answer/End, with multiple taps to control track navigation, and the other two buttons adjust the headphones' volume level.

It is becoming more or less standard for headphones at this price to use a detachable cable, and often to include an extra cable in the package. The Reference On-Ear's cable is hard-wired into the headphones, so you can't switch out the cable. Other than a cloth and a drawstring carrying pouch, the Reference On-Ear doesn't ship with any accessories like adapters. At this price, and particularly because the Reference On-Ear is clearly designed for mobile use, it's a bit disappointing that the cable is hard-wired.

Performance

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the Reference On-Ear delivers powerful low-frequency response matched with a solid presence in the high-mids and highs so things don't sound muddy. Bass lovers will be pleased with the deep bass response, which doesn't distort even at top (and inadvisable) volume levels.

Bill Callahan's "Drover," a song without booming low-end, gives a better sense of the Reference On-Ear's sound signature. Callahan's baritone vocals definitely receive some added low-mid presence, which they don't necessarily need. However, the boosted high-mids and highs give his vocals the treble edge and contour they need to stay clear and in the forefront of the mix. The drums on this track receive plenty of added bass presence, which makes them sound more powerful, if a bit unnatural. Again, bass lovers will be pleased, while those seeking flat response won't be disgusted.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop's attack gets enough high-mid presence to slice through the dense mix, though it's the low-mid sustain and the sub-bass synth hits punctuating the beat that receive the most boosting. The result is a powerful sound with rich lows that still let the vocals float cleanly over the mix, thanks to the Reference On-Ear's high-mid sculpting.

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, receive plenty of added bass depth that brings the lower instrumentation out of the shadows. Those looking for a flat response sound signature will likely find the boosting in the lows too strong on tracks like this, but it does add a bit of excitement to the mix, and the higher register strings, brass, and vocals remain crisp and bright.

Sonically, there's little to dislike about the Klipsch Reference On-Ear, provided the word "reference" doesn't mislead you into thinking this is a flat-response style headphone pair. If you like the sound signature described, but wish the Reference On-Ear had detachable cables, you have plenty of options, like the Sennheiser Urbanite, the Harman Kardon Soho-I , and the Samsung Level On ($149.97 at Amazon) , all of which offer rich bass paired with crisp highs—and removable cables. Finally, if all of these cost more than you're willing to spend, the Shure SRH145m+ ($49.00 at Amazon) is a great, affordable on-ear headphone pair with audio performance that will make you do a double-take at the low price. For $200, the Klipsch Reference On-Ear headphones are a sonically powerful, quality option—but it would be nice to see more accessories or a slightly lower price.

Best Headphone Picks

• Cheap AirPod Alternatives: The Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $130
• The Best Gaming Headphones for 2020
• The Best Audiophile Headphones for 2020
• The Best Studio Headphones for 2020
• More Headphone Reviews
• More from JBL

Headphone Product Comparisons

• Dampen the Din: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs. QuietComfort 35 II
• AirPods 2 vs. Beats Powerbeats Pro: Which True Wireless Earbuds Are the Best?

Further Reading

• Report: Apple's Over-Ear AirPods Feature Modular Magnetic Parts
• How to Listen to TV With Your Headphones
• Apple Powerbeats 4 Leak, Promise 15-Hour Battery Life
• Save $130 on Rose Gold Bose QuietComfort 35 II Headphones
• Apple AirPods Pro Back at Their Black Friday Price on Amazon