Urbanista Los Angeles Headphones: Are They Worth the Solar-powered Hype?
The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones offer exceptional sound quality and impressive battery life, but the main concern surrounds its charging technology.
This could be the next headphone sensation, but you’ll need to search carefully to spot it.
At $119, the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones offer a decent audio experience with a sleek appearance. These headphones are great for casual listeners looking for a stylish pair of headphones for less than $200 with great noise-canceling and a long battery life. However, their on-ear fit can be uncomfortable, and the headphones don’t get very loud.
Solar-Powered Charging: A Shining Innovation or a Gimmick?
Aside from improved noise cancellation and spatial audio, there haven’t been many groundbreaking innovations within the consumer headphone realm. But these days, brands are toying around with solar-powered charging, and I think that’s a feature worth giving a try.
So, when Urbanista, a Stockholm-based consumer audio company, sent me its Los Angeles solar-powered headphones, I was eager to test out the solar-powered charging function and see whether the headphones’ sound and charging tech were legit. Urbanista makes many solar-powered audio products, and ENBLE tested the company’s solar-powered earbuds earlier this year.
The Los Angeles headphones, according to Urbanista, constantly charge whenever they’re exposed to both indoor and outdoor light. But does it actually work? I get into the solar charging tech, the sound quality, and whether the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones are worth your money below.
Sleek and Stylish Design: Fashion Meets Function
Upon first look, the Los Angeles headphones are deliciously sleek and stylish. The headphones come in three colors: Midnight Black, Sand Gold, and Desert Gray. I got to test the Desert Gray cans, and I am absolutely obsessed with the colorway. 🎧💃
It’s clear through the colorways and overall look of the headphones that Urbanista is appealing to chic and trend-aware customers. But much like a pair of stylish high heels that are snazzy but inevitably uncomfortable after a few hours, the headphones don’t fare well with all-day wear.
Because I wear glasses and earrings, the Los Angeles’ on-ear fit made it difficult for me to keep them on my head all day. The ear cup pads are plush, but the headphones’ band is so tight that after a few hours, it felt like they were digging into my skull.
Sound Quality that Hits the Right Notes
For $119, the Los Angeles delivers above-average sound that will please any casual music listener’s palate. These headphones deliver strong, powerful bass to provide an immersive experience and are just fine with softer, classical music.
I listened to “Party People” by Vince Staples and Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” with the Los Angeles on high volume, and the headphones delivered pronounced bass and clear vocals. While listening to my winter morning classical playlist, on the other hand, the instrumentals weren’t crisp and clear and instead fell flat and dull.
While wearing these on runs, on the subway, and even in the backseat of a car, I noticed that the Los Angeles headphones’ volume doesn’t get very loud. I kept pushing my phone’s volume button to get my music to go louder and louder, and I realized that I already maxed out the volume.
The Battle of ANC: How Does the Los Angeles Hold Up?
The Los Angeles headphones come with 80 hours of battery life, Bluetooth Multipoint connection, and on-ear detection, a nice touch for a pair of headphones. The ANC on these headphones works well in moderately noisy environments, but the microphones don’t seem to mask external noise and drown out sound in the way that the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or the JBL Tour One M2 do. However, if you prefer less noise cancellation while commuting or exercising, you won’t have a problem with the ANC quality.
Solar-Powered Charging: Shedding Light on the Technology
So, is the solar-powered charging tech a gimmick? I’m glad you asked. To turn light into battery power, the headphones utilize Exeger’s Powerfoyle solar cell technology on the headband. Powerfoyle, according to Exeger’s website, transforms “any indoor or outdoor light into clean, endless energy.”
“I didn’t find this to be true. You need plenty of direct sunlight for the battery to gain more energy than it drains, and rarely will you get this by just placing it near a fluorescent lightbulb in your home or leaving it out on a counter with the kitchen lights on above.”
Even when I placed it in the sun, the highest I’ve seen the battery mA soar to was 8 mA (that’s great according to Urbanista’s app, but the highest mA 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% of battery life.
Unless you live in a glass house with 360-degree access to the sun, you’ll presumably only get around two to three hours of good light on a sunny day, which is not enough to fully charge the headphones’ battery. While it’s an innovative idea, I hope this technology is improved upon in future generations, as the solar-powered charging aspect of these headphones fell short of what I was expecting.
ENBLE’s Buying Advice: Style and Function Meet
I recommend the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones to style-minded, tech-enthused individuals who wear headphones when they exercise, commute, and work. With a long battery life and decent sound, most people would not have a problem wearing these headphones. I wouldn’t recommend them to audiophiles, people who want to block out glaringly loud noise, or anyone who wants a robust and immersive audio experience.
If you’re after impressive noise-canceling, consider the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. If sound quality is your main priority, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 are for you. If you still need some help buying the right pair of headphones for you, check out ENBLE’s list of the best over-ear headphones.
Q&A
Q: Are the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones sweat-proof?
A: Unfortunately, the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones are not sweat-proof. They don’t have an official IP rating for water and sweat resistance, so it’s best to avoid using them during intense workouts.
Q: Can you fold the Los Angeles headphones for easy storage?
A: Yes, these headphones are foldable, making them highly portable and convenient for travel or on-the-go use.
Q: How long does it take to fully charge the headphones?
A: With regular USB charging, the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones take approximately 2 hours to fully charge.
Q: Do the headphones support wireless charging?
A: No, the Los Angeles headphones do not support wireless charging. They can only be charged via the included USB cable.
In conclusion, the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones offer a stylish design, above-average sound quality, and the intriguing feature of solar-powered charging. While the solar-powered aspect falls short in its current state, these headphones are a great option for those who prioritize style and a long battery life. If you’re looking for top-tier noise cancellation or audiophile-level sound quality, you may want to explore alternative options. Stay tuned as technology continues to evolve, and future iterations of solar-powered headphones may hold more promise. 🔊🌞
🔗 Relevant links: – Urbanista Los Angeles headphones – ENBLE’s list of the best over-ear headphones – Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones – Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones – Best noise-canceling headphones: Tested and reviewed – Best wireless headphones – Best earbuds you can buy: Sony, Apple, and more – Urbanista’s solar-powered earbuds
