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Even if you don’t know them by name, you probably see the Urbanears Plattan headphones everywhere. On the New York subway, they’re a not-so-close second behind Beats in terms of visibility. They have an understated yet eye-catching design, they’re available in more colors than Benjamin Moore paint, and they sound decent for $50 on-ear cans.
And now, there's a brand-new version of them in time for the holidays. The just-announced Urbanears Plattan 2 look very similar to the existing Plattan cans---that’s a good thing, as their minimalist, all-one-color aesthetic is perhaps the biggest reason why they’re so popular---but there are a few extra features and design elements in the new headphones.
Most importantly, they should sound better: The drivers have been retuned, hopefully to offer a cleaner midrange than previous models. They should be comfier, thanks to a new “3D Hinge” that offers more adjustability for Charlie Brown noggins. The earpads are softer and cushier, too.
The aesthetics aren’t the only welcome holdover, as the Plattan 2s still have the “Zoundplug” 3.5mm jack on the left earcup that lets you blast audio-out to your pal’s headphones. The fabric-swathed headphone cord matches the color of each headset, and it has the integrated mic and remote of its predecessor.
But by and large, it’s the colors that make these things so appealing. At launch, the Plattan 2s will be available for $50 in your choice of seven shades, including red, indigo, light blue, pink, gray, black, and white. And if they’re anything like the original Plattans, expect those color options to grow significantly over time.
