The first Urbanears speakers tested
28.9.2017
Translation: machine translated
Urbanears, otherwise better known for headphones, has launched two multi-room speakers in six colours. It was my first time trying out such a system and I can say that it is easy to use for beginners.
The speakers are available in two sizes. The larger one is called Baggen and measures around 30 x 30 x 21 cm. It has two 2.5-inch full-range drivers and a 5.25-inch woofer. According to Urbanears, the frequency range is 35Hz-19 kHz. The smaller one is called Stammen. Its dimensions are 21 x 21 x 14 cm. It has two 3/4-inch neodymium dome tweeters and a 4-inch woofer.
The key features in brief:
- Chromecast built-in
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- Spotify Connect
- AirPlay
- AUX
- Buttons for saving up to 7 playlists or stations
- Simple, Scandinavian design
- 2 different sizes (Baggen and Stammen)
Transportation: nothing compared to a mattress
Because it was difficult for me to fill the open-plan office with sound for my test, I had to bring the speakers home first. Not so easy: the larger of the two weighs over six kilos and I usually cycle to work. But thanks to an honourable helper, transport by tram was no problem. On the packed tram at the end of the day, we thought we would stand out with the two large boxes. But someone was transporting a mattress on the same tram.
I live in a shared flat. My flatmates were also forced to take part in the test. [[image:8951836]]The speakers come with lots of cardboard packaging
Installation - WLAN is a must
A Wi-Fi connection is required for installation. Fortunately, this is already available in my flat share. If you want to listen to music with Spotify, you need the premium version.
Without any special prior knowledge, I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to install the two speakers. As it turned out, however, it was easy to manage. The speakers come with a small quick-starter guide, which is divided into three steps. The first step: plug the power cable into the speakers and plug the other end of the cable into a socket. So far, so simple.
The second step is to download the Urbanears Connected app. As soon as the app is opened, drum music plays and a guy dressed completely in orange appears on the screen, banging on the drums. If you click on Start, the guy disappears and the app searches for the two speakers. These are quickly found thanks to the WLAN connection. Configuration is very quick and easy, the app does everything by itself. I personally configured the speakers with Spotify Connect to start with because I had just bought the premium version. The app opens Spotify and the music enjoyment begins.
According to the instructions, step three is: Enjoy the music. That worked.
After I had got the speakers working for me, my three flatmates installed the app. This worked perfectly for all of them. They don't all have Spotify, but playback via AirDrop also worked perfectly with iTunes.
Operation: ideal for several people
The operation is just as easy as the installation. The speakers can be switched from solo to multi mode from the app itself or using the button on the speaker. It is also possible to switch off each other's music or change the song, as the app allows everyone to access the music within the Wi-Fi network. Outside the WLAN, the system can be protected with a password.
The buttons for saving the presets proved to be extremely practical, especially as we were several people listening to music with the speakers. This meant that everyone could save their favourites and simply start them without a mobile - all they had to do was remember their number.
There were short delays from time to time when switching. However, I assume that this is due to our slow WLAN, not the speakers.
Sound quality: more bass, please
For me, the two speakers sound perfectly fine. But I admit it openly: I don't have good music hearing. Fortunately, one of my flatmates is blessed with it. Above all, he thought the small speaker didn't have enough bass. So we went in search of the equaliser. We quickly found it in the app. Once the bass was turned up, he was reasonably satisfied.
As a reference, we played the same song with a Sonos speaker. I couldn't hear any difference. But my music-loving flatmate did. He thought the Urbanears speakers sounded duller. So if you want to listen to classical music or film music, you might be disappointed by the speakers.
Design: that fits
The two speakers have done well in our flat share. I like the almost cube-like shape. They are covered with a rough fabric all round. Overall, the design is simple and the speakers fit into almost any interior. Admittedly, the orange colour is a matter of taste. The speakers are also available in five other colours to suit every taste. [[image:8958531]]
Here
you can find all colours and sizes.
Conclusion
It's a great feeling to be able to walk from one room to another and listen to the same music. I like the design of the speakers and they fit in well with the interior design.
Opinions differ when it comes to the sound quality. What is clear, however, is that installation and operation are easy, even for non-technical people.
The speakers always created a good atmosphere in the flat share. Because the app was downloaded so quickly, everyone joined in and tested the speakers. When we were cleaning the flat at the weekend, both speakers were running at full blast - we almost had fun cleaning. We all got to know new songs and talked a lot about music during this time. Only our neighbours should be glad that the speakers are moving out again. The large Baggen in particular can really fill larger rooms with sound, as the description says.
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.
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