Urbanista, a Swedish headphone brand, is coming to Israel and is launching, among other things, the Los Angeles model, which charges itself, without the need for a charger, an electrical connection or a USB cable.
With the help of solar energy, whether it is sunlight or a lamp, the headphones will be charged and thus the brand positions itself as a leader in the field of sustainability and protecting the environment: without unnecessary cables and using sustainable energy.
It's actually the first self-charging solar model, after JBL failed miserably.
And what about the sound, design and comfort?
This is what we thought about the model in question:
Solar charging: Urbanista headphones, photo: none
Sound: deep bass and noise cancellation
Urbanista Los Angeles provide a very good listening experience, with a deep and high-quality sound.
We compared some tunes that we heard on the Urbanista and JBL wireless headphones, and we can say that the audio quality on the Urbanista overtook the old competitors: we simply heard sounds in them that we couldn't hear on the JBL.
On top of that, there is a reasonable noise canceling mode (in a noisy gym, for example, not all the noises really manage to cancel) and an environment mode.
Design and comfort: a retro model with a headband in two colors - not comfortable for running
The model is marketed in two colors - black and golden sand, with a retro design, neither sophisticated nor effortless.
If you intend to exercise with the headphones, you should know that they are less suitable for running, due to the fact that they are headphones with a headband.
On top of that, during an intense workout, the part of the ear padding may get filled with sweat and you will have to take the headphones off your head and wipe the padding.
Urbanista Los Angeles in a golden sand model, photo: Public Relations
Battery: "up to 80 hours of playing" - charging by light
Gimmick or no gimmick, the fact that the headphones are charged by light only, without the need for an electrical connection, saves and makes it easier for the users.
According to the company, the solar charging can be enough for 80 hours of activity, but of course this depends on the volume and the light strength to which the headphones were exposed.
Thanks to a material called Powerfoyle, which is the coating for the headphone bridge, they absorb light energy from the lamp at home or from the sun through the window.
And let's say that the company has gone too far and it's not really 80 hours of continuous listening - even if it's half the time - that's quite a lot.
The headband charges the headphones with light, photo: none
Control: buttons and app instead of touch
At the bottom of the right earpiece there are small buttons for on, off, volume control and call management.
The left earpiece has a button that allows you to switch between different audio modes, cancel noise or reach the voice assistant.
On top of that, there is an app for iOS and Android users that shows personal settings including battery status, although the battery status is also shown on the smartphone display.
The headphones are marketed by the DRACO group and are available in the Kravitz network, Mahash Elektro and will reach additional networks in the coming days.
Recommended price for the consumer: NIS 799.
The headphones were provided for review by the DRACO company that markets Urbanista products in Israel.
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