Aside from ANC and spatial audio, there haven’t been many groundbreaking innovations in headphones. This is why brands that are interested in solar charging are worth a look, it’s a feature worth trying.
So when Urbanista, a Stockholm-based consumer audio company, sent me these Urbanista Los Angeles headphones, I was eager to test out the solar charging feature. And to see if the sound and charging technology were convincing.
The three takeaways for the Urbanista Los Angeles helmet
- At €140, these Urbanista Los Angeles headphones offer a satisfying audio experience and stylish appearance.
- These headphones are perfect for casual listeners looking for a stylish headset for under $200, with excellent noise reduction and great battery life.
- The over-ear fit can be uncomfortable and the sound level lacks power.
The question of the look of the Urbanista Los Angeles helmet
According to Urbanista, the Los Angeles headphones constantly charge whenever they are exposed to indoor and outdoor light. But does it really work? I discuss solar charging technology, sound quality below.
At first glance, the Los Angeles headphones look sleek and stylish. The headphones are available in three colors: Midnight Black, Sand Gold and Desert Gray. I had the opportunity to test the Desert Gray headphones, and I am absolutely obsessed with this color. The colors and overall look of the headphones make it clear that Urbanista is aimed at chic, trend-conscious customers. But, like a pair of stylish stilettos that are inevitably uncomfortable after a few hours, the headset is not pleasant to wear all day. Of all the headsets I tested this year, the Los Angeles was the one that seemed the most uncomfortable.
Since I wear glasses and earrings, it was difficult to keep the Los Angeles headset on my head all day. The ear cushions are plush, but the headset band is so tight that after a few hours it felt like it was digging into my skull.
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
The question of the sound of the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones
For $140, the Los Angeles delivers above-average sound that will satisfy any casual listener’s palette. These headphones deliver powerful bass for an immersive experience and are ideal for softer classical music.
I listened Party People by Vince Staples and Ms. Jackson from Outkast with the Urbanista Los Angeles at high volume, and the headphones delivered pronounced bass and clear vocals. On the other hand, when listening to my classic morning playlist, the instruments were not clear and crisp, but rather flat and dull.
While wearing these headphones while running errands, on the subway, and even in the backseat of a car, I noticed that the volume on the Urbanista Los Angeles wasn’t very loud. I kept pressing the volume button on my phone to make my music louder and louder, and I found that I had already reached the maximum volume.
And the autonomy of the Urbanista Los Angeles helmet?
The Urbanista Los Angeles has 80 hours of battery life, a Multipoint Bluetooth connection and port detection, a nice plus for a headset. The earphone buttons are also very responsive.
The ANC on this headset works well in moderately noisy environments, but the microphones don’t seem to mask outside noise and drown out sound like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or JBL Tour One M2 does. However, if you prefer less ANC when moving around or exercising, you won’t have any issues with the noise canceling quality of these headphones.
Is solar charging technology a gimmick? I’m glad you asked. To turn light into electricity, the headphones use Exeger’s Powerfoyle solar cell technology on the headband. According to Exeger’s website, Powerfoyle transforms “any indoor or outdoor light into clean, inexhaustible energy.”
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Does solar work to recharge the Urbanista Los Angeles headset?
“You don’t need direct sunlight to charge your products, the light from your home or a cloudy winter day is enough,” reads text explaining Powerfoyle technology on the company’s website. ‘Exeger.
I didn’t find this to be accurate. It takes a lot of direct sunlight for the battery to gain more energy than it expends, and that’s rarely what you’ll get by placing it near a fluorescent bulb in your home or leaving it on a counter with the kitchen lights on above it.
Even when I placed it in the sun, the highest current I saw rise was 8mA (which is great according to the Urbanista app, but the highest current it collects is around 12 mA). And when you place the Los Angeles in enough sunlight, it still takes about an hour to gain 1% battery life…
Unless you live in a glass house with 360-degree access to the sun, you’ll probably only get two to three hours of good light on a sunny day, which isn’t enough to fully recharge the headset battery. Although this is an innovative idea, I hope this technology is improved in future generations, as the solar charging of these earphones did not live up to my expectations.
ZDNET’s purchasing advice for the Urbanista Los Angeles helmet
I recommend this headset to style and technology conscious people who wear headphones when exercising, commuting, and working. Thanks to the long battery life and good sound, most people will have no problem wearing these headphones. I wouldn’t recommend it to audiophiles, people who want to better block out loud noises, or anyone looking for a robust, immersive audio experience.
If you’re looking for an impressive noise-canceling system, opt for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. If sound quality is your priority, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 is for you.
Source: “ZDNet.com”