With its 14 colour choices, soft headband and rubber earcups and a stylish, retro design, the Urbanears Plattan headphones are all about style.

My first impression upon seeing the Plattan was that these headphones were designed for the younger crowd.

While the headband was comfortable, its soft fabric did raise some issues about abosorbing sweat, a concern that is all too vaild in the sunny tropics. The plastic padding on the ear cups were generally comfortable, though I would have liked it to be a little less stiff and less plasticky.

Those who plan on taking these hadphones on the road will love its many travel-friendly features. While the Plattans don't come with a carrying case, the earcups can be folded in and packed into a comfortably small size. The fabric cord, reinforced on both ends, was also not tangle-prone and durable.

iPhone and iPod users will also find the supplied in-line microphone and controller useful, allowing users to easily take calls, or pause and skip tracks they are playing.

A 'Zound Plug' also allows others to plug in their own headsets into the Plattan and listen to the same tracks as you are.

These are all great features, and are especially value for money in a pair of headphones at this price point.

However, performance is where the Urbanears Plattan lags behind. Sound quality in general was lacking in clarity and sounded muffled.

The Plattans do offer some impressive bass, but even that felt a little on the mushy side. These headphones were perhaps designed for the younger crowd who prefer genres like hip-hop - vocals don't play well on the Plattan and sounded really nasally and made even the best singers sound a little off.

The Verdict

These headphones are clearly designed for the style-conscious, with plenty of features that make them ideal for music on the go. If you're looking for a pair of headphones that focuses on base and loudness but aren't too picky about sound clarity, these might be worth considering for its price.