A stable marriage of eco-friendly tech and retro-chic design, the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones are the one and solely pair of solar-powered cans in the marketplace in the present day. Fitted with a headscarf crafted from solar-cell materials, the great thing about the Los Angeles wi-fi headphones is that they are going to all the time be charging so long as they’re uncovered to any kind of sunshine, be it solar or bulb.
Fortunately, the cutting-edge photo voltaic tech doesn’t add further girth to those wi-fi headphones, and we had been thrilled to search out that they provided noise cancellation and aggressive, full of life audio — although for $199, they actually aren’t low cost. Thinking about donning this futuristic eco-friendly accent? Right here’s what we thought after toting the avant-garde Urbanista Los Angeles round for the final week.
The Urbanista Los Angeles have the distinctive means to cost by way of solar energy, which, mixed with their nice bass and stable noise cancellation, make them an incredible match for many who spend a lot of time outdoors and are uninterested in continually charging their headphones.
The Urbanista Los Angeles are available Midnight Black or Sand Gold, and I used to be joyful to obtain the muted gold shade, which fortunately, didn’t look low cost or cheesy. As an fanatic of over-ear headphones, I admit to having switched allegiance to earbuds not too long ago, primarily as a result of they’re simpler to throw in my pocket on the best way out of the home. So it was with nice pleasure that I reverted to this retro model.
The wi-fi headphones are handsome, with ample cushioning on the earcups and headband. I appreciated the compact dimension, and that it didn’t encroach on the consolation of sporting the headphones for longer durations of time. However along with its stylish model, the actual showstopper right here is the Exeger photo voltaic cell materials which is layered on the highest of the headscarf.
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The primary and solely pair of solar-powered headphones, the Urbanista Los Angeles certainly caters to these eager about a extra eco-friendly life-style, but additionally to those that by no means need to take into consideration working out of battery life. Like, ever.
The handy photo voltaic cell materials could be discovered on the surface high of the headscarf and is the one matte black materials you’ll discover on the gold Los Angeles. And it’s so benign, you in all probability wouldn’t even understand it’s a photo voltaic panel simply by wanting.
To maintain these headphones charged, merely put them beneath the sunshine. The window is a good spot, however any lamp or lightbulb will do, although they may even preserve charging when you put on them. Impressed by photosynthesis, the Exeger Powerfoyle transforms that gentle into clear, continuous power. And for anybody who has run out of battery in the midst of their favourite track, a super-interesting podcast or on a long-haul flight, that is no small achievement. If, by some likelihood, you permit them at nighttime for too lengthy, in addition they include a plain previous USB-C charging cable.
In our day by day testing, we by no means got here near working out of battery simply utilizing gentle as our energy supply, normally hovering between 60% and 75%. The case is product of the identical matte materials and has a cutout to go away the headscarf uncovered. So even in the event you’re toting them, you’ll be able to nonetheless ensure that they’re consuming up the sunshine.
A helpful app and good audio high quality
The controls are discovered on the underside of every earcup. The suitable earcup homes a three-button management pad, with the primary middle one for energy, Bluetooth pairing, audio playback and name administration. The suitable button turns quantity up and the left turns it down. The left earcup comes with only one bigger characteristic button, which helps you to entry your voice assistant and cycle by way of Ambient and lively noise canceling (ANC) modes. I might have most popular it if these buttons had been on the precise earcup, reasonably than beneath it, however they had been easy sufficient to select up as soon as I bought the dangle of it.
You can even change by way of these modes utilizing the app, which moreover reveals how a lot battery you may have saved. As an example, I simply checked after utilizing the Los Angeles for a couple of hours this morning, they usually’re at a 60% cost. So onto the windowsill they went. And, if you wish to see precisely how rapidly the solar energy works, you’ll be able to hit the sunshine icon on the highest left of the app to take a look at a real-time meter of whether or not the headphones are Gaining or Draining. Mine instantly confirmed the Gaining, which was kinda cool.
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Urbanista factors out that the solar-powered charging is just not speedy, however reasonably takes time to show into energy. This implies chances are you’ll not see the precise share change drastically, and the way a lot so relies on the standard of the sunshine. The corporate additionally claims that you simply get an amazing 80 hours on one cost, although it’s onerous to inform if that is true when the headphones are persistently charging.
The Los Angeles robotically shut down if you take them off, which I favored as a result of until I am going into my gadget, my Beats Match Professional earbuds don’t cease enjoying till they’re safely of their case. So, if I’m in the midst of an audio e-book or podcast, I’ve to perform a little rewinding after I decide them again up. Nonetheless, when you’ve got the time and instinct, you can too set any Apple or Beats earbuds to robotically pause if you take them out.
As for audio high quality, the Los Angeles are certainly bass-forward, although they do provide a clear, balanced sound. They don’t have the surround-sound-like spatial sound of my Beats Match Professional, however they made tracks like Kanye West’s “Energy” as full of life to take heed to as Invoice Withers’s “Pretty Day.” I do like some low-end listening.
With regards to controlling the headphones, it could be tougher to get used to discovering the best button for the best perform, particularly in the event you’re used to easily tapping on an earbud. Although when you do it a couple of instances, you’ll actually get the dangle of it.
The app, although useful in terms of switching ANC modes and checking battery life, doesn’t do a lot else. And you may’t go in and change up the EQ.
And, lastly, for $199, the competitors is fierce. As an example, the JBL Dwell 650 BTNC, our finances decide for greatest headphones, include a greater all-around soundstage for a less expensive $129, however they’re not going to present you that eco-cool enchantment. For individuals who need one thing gym-friendly, our high exercise decide within the Jabra Elite 85h is simply $50 extra at $249.99.
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As the primary pair of solar-powered headphones, the Urbanista Los Angeles stay as much as the hype. Not solely will you by no means should plug them in once more, however you’ll be capable of exhibit your eco-warrior cred. And, as a result of they’re modern, fashionable and compact, these wi-fi headphones can go under-the-radar in black or get glitzed up with the gold.
With above-average sound, the over-the-ear headphones had been a very good match for my Spotify playlists, podcasts and Audible books. For individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors or for anybody who travels a ton and hates having to continually plug in, these are additionally a no brainer. However, let’s face it, the Urbanista Los Angeles are all about innovation and comfort. If you need a dependable pair of noise-canceling headphones with great-sounding bass that you simply’ll nearly by no means must cost, you’re going to need to seize these — and present them off.
