This critique feature the Beats Solo3 . Be certain to take our fullBeats Solo 4 reviewon the updated fashion model .
Beats has been as much about steel and style as it has about sound quality and feature , so it ’s no surprise that all of its on - ear / over - ear option seem to boast more color choices than upfront audio spec .
The Beats Solo3are the company ’s most approachable headphone when it comes to price , but that does n’t make them cheap . At $ 200 , they are still reach into the high - end personal sound recording market place despite their lower - goal position among Beats option . So in what has become a very competitive earpiece market place in the last couple of years , where do the Solo3 land ? countenance ’s take a look .
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
What’s in the box?
The Beats Solo3 ship pretty simply . Inside a couple of layers of cardboard promotion , you will regain the phone , a soft carrying case , a USB - A to USB Micro - B charging cable , and a small carabiner ( used for looping onto the balmy case and clipping to thing , I guess ) . Beats also include a set of leaflet that clearly excuse apparatus and use , as well as a pricker , if that ’s your hole . Though the headphones do swallow a 3.5 millimetre jack connection that get around the pauperization for power , the Solo3 phone do not ship with one . For the price , I would think admit such a mere cable would be a no - brainer , but that ’s Apple for you .
I will say that the promotion was free of excess plastic , meaning you could in all probability reuse most of it easily reasonably much everywhere , which is squeamish ; we ’ll prize points for sustainability here .
Build and design
The colouring material of the placed Beats send out to me for revue is Satin Silver , which is fundamentally whitened . They are aboveboard and white - looking at , but in my opinion they ’re the least interesting of the options other than perhaps the Matte Black . As far as trend is touch on , Beats has it nailed across the board with its phone , as some of the other options face fantastic .
The physique quality is solid , too . The hinges are made of polished chrome , the earcups are well - padded , and though the exterior of the cans is plastic , the headphones do n’t feel cheap . The headband is n’t peculiarly full-bodied , but the elation of the Solo3s ruffle with the strength of the clamping press on the spike lets me give that a bye .
Speaking of that clamping pressure , it ’s significant . The Solo3 phone are the on - pinna variety , not over - ear . As such , the cups repose directly on your ears and push them into the side of your head when worn . I do n’t have a particularly large headspring , and it is narrower than it is round . Even so , the earcups beseech pretty hard against my ears to the gunpoint that the Solo3s become uncomfortable to wear down even after a shortsighted while . I ’ve been able to wear them for at most an hour before substantial fatigue sets in . In short , these headphones outwear very small , so if you have a larger head , it ’s extremely likely these are going to be even more uncomfortable on you than they are on me .
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
The Solo3 weigh just 215 g , which is well - distributed and makes carrying or bust them easy . I mention the headband did not feel that robust , and that ’s because the padding across the band that rests on the top of my head is n’t very subdued . It did n’t bother me in particular , but the Beats Solo Pros and Studios have a much more padded headband , so find out less cushion here was unsatisfying .
The soft case that ships with the Solo3 is nothing exceptional . you could apply that included karabiner to clip it to the inside or the outside of a grip if you desire . The case is quite compact , which is a plus , but it ’s just not choke to win any intention laurels for its looks .
The right earcup house a micro USB charging port , as well as the power release . The left earcup has a 3.5 millimeter jack stimulant on the bottom and the side of the loving cup has a button to hesitate , play , and skip rails , as well as a pair of buttons to control volume . I like the physical button on the Solo3s as oppose to a touchpad find on other earpiece because the tactile feedback help me know that I am using the controls correctly when wearing the earpiece ( since I ca n’t see what I ’m press ) .
Compatibility and battery
As an Apple stigma , the Beats earphone are going to have the best drug user experience with an iPhone , but they are full compatible with Android devices as well . The Solo3s feature Apple ’s W1 bit , which allow for added functionality when used with Apple product , include “ Hey Siri ” support and multiple headset listening ( when using other Beats or Apple products ) . The phone and their remaining barrage fire life will also be displayed when held close to the iPhone .
As an iPhone user , the Beats Solo3 headphones slew correctly into my wearable depository library with ease .
As an iPhone user , the Beats Solo3 headphones slipped properly into my wearable program library with ease , just like when I add the AirPods Pros and my Apple Watch . Pairing was warm and easy , and derail to additional sources was fast , even though these do not support Bluetooth multipoint . When Apple release its automatic handwriting - off of headphones with the next OS , I hope using the Solo3s on multiple Apple product will get even easy .
The stamp battery lifespan on the Solo3 earphone is very practiced .
The battery life on the Solo3 headphones is very good : 40 hours between charge . They even offer a quick direction of 10 minutes for 3 hours of listening . This is some of the good bombardment performance you could ask for in any headphone on the market place justly now , and would be the good if it was n’t for the Jabra Elite 45H that were recently released and offer 50 hour .
Audio quality
Beats has done an splendid job get to the audio on these headphones have the broad possible appeal . For an audiophile , these are as close to equivalence as I can imagine . For the average listener , though , they are unoffending .
It ’s a perfect line for a brand like beat to tantalize .
The audio recording out of the Solo3 earphone is mids - drive , with the high registers , as well as the lows and bass , given less of a use . That ’s not to say the bass is n’t there — it is . The Solo3 headphones just do n’t really pump the bass like I sometimes enjoy , or seem to have the power to pose it with any depth .
The soundstage is particularly narrow , with the mountain range compact together into what feels like a small room . On Sia’sChandelier , the bass sounds overprocessed and mirky , but her vocals come through well enough . Similarly , Hans Zimmer’sNo Time for Cautiondoesn’t have the “ oomph ” it should and fails to ramp the dramatic event eminent enough for my liking due to a weak bass part signal . As the piece crescendos , the bass fetch a mo warbly and unrefined , again crap me trust these headphones just are n’t capable of outputting clear bass when a song demand it .
These headphone just are n’t capable of outputting open bass voice when a song demand it .
The fact that the bass is n’t strong on the Solo3 is puzzling , as a punchy bass is pretty much a big part beat ’ key signature sound . perchance it ’s a good matter that these offer a interruption from what is usually firm oomph in the lows , or perchance it would be disappointing if you bribe these and expected that same Beats sound .
pulse does not declare oneself any manner to tweak the EQ either , so what you hear is what you get out of the Solo3 headphone .
Unless you ’re really looking for powerful bass that will rock your jaw , the audio is easy to listen to and mostly pleasant . It ’s that mids - driven audio that is just so darned easy to listen to . tender and approachable , most people will like it just fine .
Our take
The Beats Solo3 Headphones rely heavily on their panache and Apple connectivity over audio quality to force their eminent $ 200 asking Leontyne Price . For many , that will be worth it . But it ’s a very competitive market , and Beats might have a hard time convincing the well - informed that these cans are the one to get .
Are there better alternatives?
At $ 200 , theKnow Calmor theRazer Opusare both solid option . TheMicrosoft Surface Headphones 2are also in this price chain of mountains and deserving your consideration . If you want to expend less , theJabra Elite 45Hare half the price but sound much best , though they miss the solid grip the Solo3 provide . In all four cases , you might have to give flair and compatibility , but you ’ll get intimately sound . It come down to your preference .
How long will they last?
With Micro - USB on its way out , it might be teasing to have to keep that redundant cablegram around when the residual of your technical school is on to USB - C , specially if you ’re using Apple product and already tug around a Lighting cable . Beats products are covered by Apple ’s 1 - twelvemonth circumscribed warranty , and the build quality is solid .
Should you buy them?
perhaps . The affair is , they ’re expensive for what is average audio performance , but they look good and the compatibility with Apple products is nice and hard to overlook . You ’re going to have to balance what ’s important to you and determine if the Beats Solo3 headphones fulfill that pauperism .
