The Reference On-ears strike you with a beautifully bold headband comprising a half-inch or so of thick padding bulging beneath sheath of buttery leather. The earpads are equally luxurious, too. The headphones unfold with a minimalist touch of elegance that serves to complement an ergonomic design. You can tell the Reference On-Ear will be extremely comfortable long before you put them on.
There’s also some solid build quality at work here. We have some minor concern that the metallic name plates on each earpiece might be subject to chipping over time, but otherwise the headphones feel pretty robust. Thick cuts of plastic support metallic facades along the arms, allowing for a light but resolute frame, and the earpieces extend from the band along a heavy track to keep them locked in place.
We’re surprised the flattened cable isn’t removable, though it does a decent job of staying out of the way when the headphones are folded in for travel. Like the rest of the package, the cable feels resilient, and sports a robust three-button iOS in-line microphone.
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