MRP: Rs 5750 (Available for Rs 5306 (Rediff Shopping), Rs 4756 (bitFang.com), Rs 5750 (Flipkart.com))
I occasionally receive headphones that appear to be different from the crowd in some ways. This time, I have received the Urbanear Plattan, which is one such model with looks that mix casual simplicity with style. It is available in several colours, with most colours named after fruits and vegetables. I had never tried this Stockholm-based Swedish brand until now and was a bit sceptical about its ability to perform. However, I was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered. Read on.
Design And Features
The Urbanears Plattan headset is a compact headset with on-ear pads. This is a stylish vintage-looking headset available in several different colours — I received the mocha coloured, which is not listed on the website. Following a design that embodies Scandinavian minimalism, these don't exhibit extravagance, making them very presentable and elegant. The plastic back of the cans (area facing outward) are given a plain matte treatment with no design except an accentuating white ring. The colour scheme is followed throughout, from the cans and ear pads to the cable and plug, and even the 3.5 mm adapter jack that comes along.
I must mention here that this headset comes in an excellent cardboard packing, which is much better than the usual blister packs. The packaging method is also very good and can be compared to Apple products. The packaging has latitude and longitude coordinates, and if you are curious, these point to the Stadsteatern (Culture City Theatre) in Stockholm.
The soft foam ear pads are encased in soft leather covering that is resistant to sweat and should therefore last long even in Indian summers. Microfiber covering protects the 40 mm handmade drivers present within. The cans are attached to the headband via metal clips that can slide to adjust to different head sizes.
The clips cradle the can to allow vertical angling for comfort.
Hinges are present where the metal clips meet the headband so that the cans can collapse on the inside of the headband to reduce the size of the Plattan to make them compact and portable. The headband that is also padded with soft foam and covered with cloth, contains a curved tensile steel strip that maintains its shape and also the grip of the Plattan when it is worn.
A 150 cm long cloth-covered cable emerges from the left ear can and ends in a nickel coated plug that is compatible to be used as a handsfree with the iPhone and mobile phones from other manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung, HTC, and Blackberry. Thanks to the cloth cover, this cable is tangle-free. An in-line remote control is present with a microphone and a button that allows you to take and end calls as well as play, pause, forward, and rewind songs. Volume control is not present here. The Plattan also comes with an adapter that converts the mic/earphone plug to a normal 3.5 mm stereo plug for use with music sources that may not be compatible with the former.
The right ear has what the company calls a Zoundplug. This is actually a 3.5 mm stereo jack where your friend can plug in his headphone and you can together listen to the same music.
Performance
The headset performs really well, although there is a very slight lack of clarity. However, the overall experience is good and enjoyable and that is what matters the most when it comes to music. It is able to reproduce the bass, mids, and highs well. Care has been taken not to make the bass overwhelming, opting to make it sound natural instead. The sound The sound staging performance is spot-on.
Due to the natural seal of the leather ear pads, not only does it isolate you from ambient sounds, but you also won't have to worry about disturbing your neighbour with the sound from the Platten. While it doesn't completely block the sound, the leaked audio level is low enough to make it difficult for people around you to discern what you are listening to.
The Zoundplug is indeed useful when you want to share your music with a friend. Contrary to what I had suspected from my earlier experiences with other brands sporting similar connectors, plugging in a headphone over here doesn't affect the volume level of Platten. The volume level of the other headphone was just as loud.
My Verdict
The Urbanears Plattan look different from other headphones and I mean that in a good way. Its minimalistic approach should appeal to those like to keep things simple. Performance-wise, these do very well across all frequencies that a human ear can handle. If I were to nit-pick, I think that the audio clarity is not what would make audio purists proud, but it nevertheless is pleasing to the average listener, and that's what matters the most. All said and done, the Urbanears Plattan are still a bit too expensive at Rs 5750, but you can get them for as low as Rs 4756 as mentioned at the start of the article, which makes them a decent buy.
Pros: Good performance, Comfortable fit, Compact and look good.
A 150 cm long cloth-covered cable emerges from the left ear can and ends in a nickel coated plug that is compatible to be used as a handsfree with the iPhone and mobile phones from other manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung, HTC, and Blackberry. Thanks to the cloth cover, this cable is tangle-free. An in-line remote control is present with a microphone and a button that allows you to take and end calls as well as play, pause, forward, and rewind songs. Volume control is not present here. The Plattan also comes with an adapter that converts the mic/earphone plug to a normal 3.5 mm stereo plug for use with music sources that may not be compatible with the former.
The right ear has what the company calls a Zoundplug. This is actually a 3.5 mm stereo jack where your friend can plug in his headphone and you can together listen to the same music.
Performance
The headset performs really well, although there is a very slight lack of clarity. However, the overall experience is good and enjoyable and that is what matters the most when it comes to music. It is able to reproduce the bass, mids, and highs well. Care has been taken not to make the bass overwhelming, opting to make it sound natural instead. The sound The sound staging performance is spot-on.
Due to the natural seal of the leather ear pads, not only does it isolate you from ambient sounds, but you also won't have to worry about disturbing your neighbour with the sound from the Platten. While it doesn't completely block the sound, the leaked audio level is low enough to make it difficult for people around you to discern what you are listening to.
The Zoundplug is indeed useful when you want to share your music with a friend. Contrary to what I had suspected from my earlier experiences with other brands sporting similar connectors, plugging in a headphone over here doesn't affect the volume level of Platten. The volume level of the other headphone was just as loud.
My Verdict
The Urbanears Plattan look different from other headphones and I mean that in a good way. Its minimalistic approach should appeal to those like to keep things simple. Performance-wise, these do very well across all frequencies that a human ear can handle. If I were to nit-pick, I think that the audio clarity is not what would make audio purists proud, but it nevertheless is pleasing to the average listener, and that's what matters the most. All said and done, the Urbanears Plattan are still a bit too expensive at Rs 5750, but you can get them for as low as Rs 4756 as mentioned at the start of the article, which makes them a decent buy.
Pros: Good performance, Comfortable fit, Compact and look good.
Cons: No volume control; Somewhat pricey.
Design And Build: 4.5/5
Features: 4/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Design And Build: 4.5/5
Features: 4/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
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