Urbanears

Urbanears is a Scandinavian consumer-audio brand established in 2009 by the Swedish design group Norra Norr and Zound Industries, now known as Marshall Group. The brand was created around the idea that headphones and related audio products could combine everyday usability with strong visual identity. Its product language has generally emphasized simple forms, bold or varied colors, portability, and relatively approachable pricing rather than specialist audiophile positioning. The brand’s early and best-known products included the Plattan, a conventional wired headphone introduced in 2009, and the Zinken, a more rugged over-ear model launched in July 2012 for both professional and amateur DJs. Zinken incorporated the Urbanears TurnCable, a reversible cable with a coiled section, a 6.3 mm connector for mixers, and a 3.5 mm connector for ordinary mobile devices. This product illustrated Urbanears’ effort to adapt consumer styling to practical use in music-making and performance environments. Urbanears also expanded beyond standard headphones. The Slussen adapter, released in February 2013, was designed to work with the Slussen iOS application for mobile DJing. It functioned as a splitter that allowed two separate output streams to be routed through one headphone jack. The product reflected the brand’s interest in compact accessories and mobile audio experimentation, although reviews noted limitations involving high-volume distortion, scratching performance, and the durability of its key-ring attachment. The Plattan line received several updates. Plattan ADV, released in November 2014, added a washable headband, an interchangeable cable, and an improved hinge intended to improve fit and comfort. Plattan 2 followed in December 2016 with a fabric cord, an integrated microphone and remote, and a two-way audio input. These developments show a progression from a basic wired headphone toward more adaptable products designed for use with phones and other everyday devices. Urbanears has been associated with the wider Zound Industries portfolio, which also included other audio brands. Zound Industries subsequently became Marshall Group, making Urbanears part of that broader corporate group. The available reference material does not establish the brand’s current product range, corporate operating structure, headquarters location beyond its Swedish origin, or whether all historical products remain commercially available. Zinken is specifically identified as discontinued, while the current status of the other documented products is not established here.

Urbanears emerged in 2009 from a collaboration between Norra Norr and Zound Industries, a Swedish audio company later known as Marshall Group. The project was framed as a collective focused on headphones and headphone accessories. Its design proposition treated headphones not only as sound-producing equipment but also as visible personal objects. Color variation, restrained industrial forms, and practical details became recurring elements of the brand’s identity. The original Plattan, introduced in 2009, formed the basis of the early range. It was a wired headphone positioned for ordinary music listening and distinguished by a clean appearance and consumer-oriented construction. Contemporary assessments generally regarded its sound quality as reasonable for its price and its physical design as attractive and solid, although some listeners found the headband uncomfortable during extended use and considered the high frequencies less convincing. Urbanears broadened its audience with Zinken, released in July 2012. Whereas Plattan represented everyday listening, Zinken was designed for professional DJs and amateurs. Its TurnCable could be reversed between a 6.3 mm plug for mixer use and a 3.5 mm plug for mobile devices. The cable also included a coiled section and internal Kevlar reinforcement. Reviews praised the model’s appearance, build, isolation, low leakage, comfort, and general bass and treble performance. Criticism centered on a somewhat weaker middle range and distortion at very high volume. Zinken is now documented as discontinued. In February 2013, Urbanears introduced Slussen, an accessory intended to support mobile DJing through the Slussen iOS application. The adapter split audio so that two output streams could be used through a single headphone jack. Its portability, visual design, and ease of use were positively noted, while reported limitations included distortion at peak volume, imperfect scratching performance, and concerns about the durability of the key-ring holder. The company continued developing its core Plattan family. Plattan ADV, released on 18 November 2014, was presented as an enhanced version of the original design. Its changes included a washable headband, an interchangeable cable, and a revised hinge intended to conform more comfortably to the listener’s ears. Plattan 2 followed on 14 December 2016, adding a fabric cord, built-in microphone and remote functionality, and a two-way audio input. Urbanears’ corporate history is linked to Zound Industries and its later identity as Marshall Group. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to determine the brand’s present retail footprint, current leadership, complete product catalog, or whether products other than Zinken remain active. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest for the brand’s founding and historical wired-audio products.

• 2016

  Plattan 2 launched

  [1]Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org

  Plattan 2 added a fabric cord, microphone and remote, and two-way audio input.

• 2014

  Plattan ADV launched

  [1]Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org

  Urbanears updated its original headphone concept with a washable headband, interchangeable cable, and revised hinge.

• 2013

  Slussen launched

  [1]Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org

  The Slussen splitter adapter was released for the Slussen iOS mobile-DJ application.

• 2012

  Zinken launched

  [1]Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org

  Urbanears released Zinken, a DJ-oriented headphone using the reversible TurnCable.

• 2009

  Urbanears founded

  [1]Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org

  Norra Norr and Zound Industries founded Urbanears as a Scandinavian headphone and audio-products collective.

• 2009

  Original Plattan introduced

  [1]Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org

  The first Plattan headphones established the brand’s core consumer headphone line.

Colorful, minimalist, fashion-conscious consumer audio with practical features and accessible everyday use.

• Wired headphones · 2009

  Plattan

  The original Plattan headphones were introduced in 2009 and became one of Urbanears’ foundational products. They combined a simple, colorful appearance with conventional wired operation and consumer-oriented construction. Available assessments described generally good sound for the price, appealing styling, and solid build quality, while noting that the high frequencies could be weaker and that long listening sessions could become uncomfortable for some users.

• DJ headphones · 2012

  Zinken

  Zinken was released in July 2012 for professional DJs and enthusiasts. Its distinguishing TurnCable used a reversible arrangement with a 6.3 mm connector for mixers and a 3.5 mm connector for phones and other ordinary devices. The cable included a coiled section and Kevlar reinforcement. Reviews highlighted its styling, durability, isolation, low leakage, comfort, and strong bass and treble, while identifying midrange limitations and high-volume distortion. The model is documented as discontinued.

• Mobile DJ audio adapter · 2013

  Slussen

  Slussen was an adapter released in February 2013 for use with the Slussen iOS application. It split the signal from one headphone jack into two output streams, supporting compact mobile DJ setups. Its portability, ease of use, and appearance were generally regarded positively, although reported drawbacks included distortion at peak volume, limited scratching performance, and concerns about the strength of its key-ring attachment.

• Wired headphones · 2014

  Plattan ADV

  Plattan ADV was released on 18 November 2014 as an enhanced successor to the original Plattan concept. The model added a washable headband, an interchangeable cable, and an improved hinge intended to adjust more naturally to the listener’s ears and provide a softer fit. These changes focused on maintenance, flexibility, and comfort while retaining the basic consumer-headphone format.

• Wired headphones · 2016

  Plattan 2

  Plattan 2 was released on 14 December 2016 as a later generation of Urbanears’ core wired headphone line. Its documented features included a fabric cord, an integrated microphone and remote for device control and calls, and a two-way audio input. The model extended the Plattan family’s everyday mobile-use orientation, although the supplied sources do not establish its current availability.

• 2016

  Plattan 2 product generationGeneration change

  Background

  The Plattan line continued to serve as Urbanears’ principal everyday wired headphone platform.

  Action taken

  The company released Plattan 2 with a fabric cord, integrated microphone and remote, and two-way audio input.

  Aftermath

  Plattan 2 extended the line’s compatibility with mobile listening and hands-free use.

  Source

• 2014

  Plattan ADV product updateGeneration change

  Background

  Urbanears sought to improve the usability and maintainability of its established Plattan headphone design.

  Action taken

  Plattan ADV added a washable headband, interchangeable cable, and revised hinge.

  Aftermath

  The update positioned Plattan ADV as a more adaptable and comfortable version of the original product.

  Source

• 2013

  Development of a mobile DJ accessoryProduct launch

  Background

  Mobile devices created opportunities for compact DJ applications and multi-output headphone monitoring.

  Action taken

  Urbanears released the Slussen adapter for its Slussen iOS application, allowing two output streams from a single headphone jack.

  Aftermath

  The accessory was noted for portability and visual appeal, although reported issues included peak-volume distortion, scratching limitations, and concerns about the key-ring holder.

  Source

• 2012

  Expansion into DJ-oriented headphonesProduct launch

  Background

  Urbanears’ early Plattan line was oriented toward everyday listening, while the brand also sought applications in music performance and DJ use.

  Action taken

  The company launched Zinken with a rugged construction and a reversible TurnCable supporting both mixer and mobile-device connections.

  Aftermath

  Zinken received favorable comments for design, comfort, isolation, and construction, but it was later discontinued.

  Source

1. 1Urbanearsen.wikipedia.org