How very nice it would be if we didn’t have to bother plugging in our gadgets to charge them. One day, that will surely be a reality, but meanwhile, Sweden-based company Urbanista’s Los Angeles headphones are already showing us a glimpse of what it could be like not to bother with charging. Urbanista has just brought their solar-powered headphones, the Los Angeles, into India and though you can charge them the regular way, you can then keep them topped just by feeding them some sunlight, or even just any light.
The Los Angeles arrive in a big box inside which there’s a very interesting soft-touch case. More of a sleeve, really, but it’s nice looking, lined with felt inside and a nylon-ish material on the outside. The case doesn’t have a handle, unfortunately. That’s a miss, considering these are supposed to be traveller’s headphones. A strap would have been even better so that you could sling them on the shoulder, but perhaps that might have detracted from elegance. Still, the case is welcome and looks very premium.
The headphones themselves are minimalistic and elegant. The branding is barely visible on this uni-colour headset. Ours is all black but there’s a lighter beige-white in existence somewhere. There are no metallic accents or contrasting elements. If you look at the headband part of these headphones, it takes on a slightly different shade of black because the material changes. On the very top, facing upwards, it says PowerFoyle. The band is harder than is typical, including on the underneath. This is actually where you have the solar panel.
The ear-cups are fully on-ear and although cushioned with foamy material, are also a little less plush than is typical for expensive headphones. The arms of the headband are adjustable and move in a buttery smooth action. The ear-cups articulate in one direction. The headphones look about as premium as the case, but there’s a lot to say about the comfort and fit.
Tight fit
The clamping force of the entire headset is so strong it feels like a vice gripping one’s head. I couldn’t at any point forget they were on my head. Interestingly, I usually have the opposite problem with headphones, so I have to wonder how these will feel for bigger heads especially as they’re also a little heavier than usual. I found the experience to be similar for many reviewers online. The press-down on the ears was also a little strong and my ears felt warm rather quickly. In a hot country like India, these may well pose a problem for some people. There isn’t a sweat resistance rating for this headset either. Also, the whole experience may well tighten up for anyone who wears glasses — or a fancy hairdo.
The Los Angeles headphones pair the usual way via Bluetooth (5.0, that is) …….