If you’ve tried on wireless audio devices, you know how much that extra mobility adds to the overall user experience. It actually feels good to be wireless. I can’t quite explain it. That being said, trying and testing it out and actually owning a wireless device are two different things. For one, the high price point is enough to drive most people away. Then of course there’s the issue of battery life. Wireless headphones tend to give you a few hours max on a single charge. That’s not so impressive, now is it?

Step in JBL. The Harman brand believes that it’s had a breakthrough in helping fix that problem and the company has even gone as far as to ask for your help to make it a reality. That’s right, JBL is looking to crowdfund it’s latest invention, and the solution to all your battery problems, the Reflect Eternal over-ear headphones, which is believe it or not, solar powered. This will theoretically give you a “virtually unlimited” amount of listening. So how exactly does this work, really?

According to JBL, Powerfoyle material from Exeger which can absorb energy from both indoor light and the sun is the key to making all of this possible. This essentially means that your headphones will perpetually be charging, unless of course you’re the type that likes listening to your music in pitch black darkness, then maybe battery issues are the least of your problems.

The company estimates that all it takes is an hour and a half of outdoor time for a whopping 68 hours of listening, which is pretty insane, and not just because it would get internet binging teenage boys out of their bedrooms but also because that’s a hell of a lot better than current standards.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, what about if conditions aren’t exactly favourable? Well, as mentioned above, it charges on indoor light as well so voila! But just in case, the headphones come with a USB port so you can charge it the old fashioned way for a decent two hours of playback on a 15 minute charge.

The target for it’s crowdfunding campaign has actually already been met, so if you were to pledge now before the campaign ends on the 14th of January, you’ll likely get your pair around the estimated October 2020 release date. It’s plain to see that users obviously believe in this technology. Of course it helps that it’s JBL, a reliable name in the audio game that’s putting this forward, but still.

If the promised numbers turn out to be accurate, this solar powered thing could very well be the new norm in the wireless audio game. It remains to be seen how the tech will translate over to earbuds but i’m sure it’s only a matter of time.