When it comes to headphones, it’s hard to beat on-ear or over-ear cups to get the most immersive sound quality, but the trade-off tends to be a lack of portability. While larger earphones offer more power and tend to block out background noise better, they can really eat up a lot of backpack space and are usually too bulky to wear around the neck. In this case, get the Torque T103Z headphones, which are much smaller and easier to wear.
The smart folding design of the Urbanears Plattan headphones resolves this issue quite handily. And does it have good noise-cancelling capabilities compared to the best over-ear headphones? Let’s find out…
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Using thin metal wireframes to connect the earcups to the headband, the set folds into itself to be not much larger than two smartphones stacked on top of each other. This fold-in design is much like the SMS Audio Bluetooth headphones, which you can read more about with our review.
The sound quality on the Plattan is vastly superior to your average $20-30 headphones, and this combined with the plush, snug-fitting comfort of the set makes the $70 easily worth the cost in terms of durability and usability. Optimized for use with Apple products, the Plattan model features a remote and microphone attached to the fabric cord so that you can navigate your music and make use of voice commands without removing your device from your pocket.
Related: Looking for a headphone that has a great design? Read our Stir It Up On-Ear Headphones review.
One thing that took me entirely by surprise with the Plattan is what they call the Zound Plug, an additional 3.5 mm jack on the left earcap that allows someone else to plug into what you’re listening to, so you can share music without disturbing anybody else around you. Use of the Zound Plug doesn’t deteriorate sound quality in the slightest, so it can even be used as a makeshift extension cord if you need more than 47” of wire.
This brings me to my first complaint about the set, the length of the wire is great for use with phones, MP3 players, and other portable devices, but renders the Plattan headphones not very useful with other devices. Sitting at my desk using them to listen to music on my desktop or for gaming, turning my head often resulted in the headphones becoming quickly disconnected from my desktop PC. I love the choice of durable fabric for the cord, resembling a high-grade shoelace, but I tend to prefer some extra length for my headphones.
Related: If you want to check other options, have a look at the Urbanears Zinken Petrol Headphone review.
Take into account that my head is somewhat larger than the average, but while the Plattan headphones feel like they fit really well, if used long-term to watch a movie or for extended listening, they started to feel tight and like they were squeezing a little bit. I would definitely recommend the feel of the earcaps for a commute to work, less so for a flight or road trip.
Overall, the Urbanears Plattan fit their price range varies accordingly. If you want to take a step up from low-end models in terms of sound quality, construction, and comfort without getting into top-shelf professional DJ-style headphones, the Plattans will serve your needs well. From treble-heavy classical to the buzzing rumble of dubstep, the Urbanears Plattan handles the task admirably.
Pros:
- ZoundPlug allows for simple music sharing with any other 3.5mm jack headphones
- Strong, fabric cord ensures prevention of wires becoming damaged
- Folding design allows for ease of transport in travel bags or cargo pockets
Cons:
- 47” cord makes use with non-portable devices a near impossibility
- Snug fit can become painful with prolonged usage
- With the compact design, some kind of carrying case would help protect from damage inside a crowded backpack
