Urbanears Zinken (Petrol) Headphone Review

James Pikover Avatar

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Updated 11:22 pm

Expert Rating

30

Urbanears Zinken (Petrol) Headphone Review

When I ask most audiophiles to name their most desired set of headphones, the pervading choice is almost always Beats By Dre. Forget the fact that the company makes over a dozen different types of cans. Most are stellar but not all. The majority of those asked seem to feel these are the upper echelon of audio perfection. Conversely, it’s also agreed the prices for Dre’s cans are of an equal elevation akin to a lunar landing.

While it’s true that Dre earphones are top-notch most times, there are other brands that can compete, including the Stir It Up on-ear headphones, V-Moda XS on-ear headphone review, and the Able Planet PS400 headphones.

And, while you’re at it, also have a quick look at more of the best over-ear headphones on the market.

Suitable offerings that fit a decidedly reduced price point need more of a voice. Enter Urbanear’s Zinken (Petrol blue) on-ear headphones for mobile devices. The Zinken replaces high-tech innards for premium sound with a handful of novel features, which are pretty handy. The cable pulls double duty. It has a 3.4mm stereo plug on one end and a 6.5mm plug on the other.

The headphones feature a 2nd 3.5mm jack called the ZoundPlug. With it, you can share your tunes with other listeners. There is an inline microphone with a single button to answer calls, skip and backtrack through tracks and even pause your tunes. It goes on record to support iPhone, Blackberry, HTC, and many more. The earpieces collapse for portability and swivel for comfort. Plus the coiled cord stretches a full 47 feet.

Related: Still undecided? Have a look at the Urbanears Plattan Headphone review

Beyond the bells and whistles, the Zinken headphones set from Urbanears is a pretty simple product with solid audio reproduction and performance. While the audio is good, I did find low ranges to be a bit muddy, overshadowing the highs and sacrificing a degree of crisp clarity. This is less of an issue when using playback devices with extensive EQ settings. For a set of cans that deliver on music quality, you’ll want to give the Torque T103Z headphones a try.

That said, the bass is nice and vocals still come through discernibly. The overall soundstage doesn’t bring to light any sounds or instruments that typically fall into the background.

Related: For those who want a stylish and lightweight headphone with a comfortable design, check the V Moda Crossfade M 80 On-Ear Headphone review

Urbanears Zinken (Petrol) Headphone Review

But comfort and general use are all quite nice. The headphones are light and comfortable for long hours of playback. The padding at the earpiece and the headband is adequate and soft. The headband is also adjustable to help suit your desired fit.

And the single button on the inline controls, while not much, is responsive, easy to reach, and quite handy. At the current price point, it’s easy to recommend these for the frugal less demanding listener.

Editor Rating:

[Rating: 3/5]

Good

Bottom Line: The Urbanears Zinken on-ear headphones are very good comfortable performers. Easy to recommend for easy listening.

Pros

·  Good performance-to-cost ratio

·  Comfortable

·  Affordable

·  Double duty TurnCable

Cons

·  Lows muddy up some of the high tones

·  Fitting them comfortably is a bit confusing

The Urbanears Zinken headphones are available on Amazon for $99.

James Pikover Avatar