Urbanista Los Angeles

Solar charging really works ; Secure fit ; Real-time power meter in app ; Huge 80-hour battery

Only works under optimal conditions ; No EQ adjustments

“As long as you spend plenty of time in the sun, the Urbanista Los Angeles solar-powered headphones will free you from recharging.”

The solar charging works ; Tight, punchy sound ; Good noise cancellation

Controls too close together ; No 3.5mm port for wired connections ; Tight fitting on large heads

Urbanista’s Los Angeles are the first solar-powered headphones to have actually made it to market. A layer of PowerFoyle solar cells on the headband allows them to continuously suck up solar energy when exposed to light.

Category-leading battery life ; Gorgeous, innovative design ; Strong Transparency mode ; Bass-forward soundstage ; Can be charged via wire or light source

Poor comfort levels ; Mediocre ANC ; Companion app lacks extra features

Nonetheless, if you value ingenuity, endless playtime, and warm sound, then the Los Angeles speak your language.

Inexhaustible battery life ; ANC effectively combats low-frequency sounds ; More balanced approach to audio than Miami cousins

Looks and feels big ; Button layout still irks ; No aptX

Familiar looks and familiar enough sound from Urbanista, but the Los Angeles boast a fantastic sun-powered feature

Charge through natural or artificial light ; Active noise cancellation ; Sleek, sturdy design

Very basic smartphone app ; Felt slightly tight on the ears ; No equaliser settings

If you're always forgetting to charge your headphones, or if you're looking for a greener alternative to the usual suspects then the Urbanista Los Angeles use solar panels to provide power. Add to that punchy sound quality and effective ANC, and these...

Zesty, big-boned and entertaining sound ; Innovative charging system, epic battery life ; Well made and relatively compact

Slightly skewed sound ; Control app doesn’t do a lot ; Priced against some capable opponents