Hey there friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Best Beats Headphones, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
Too literal?
What I will bring you in this article
- Introduction
- The Goal
- The Players
- Final Word
Introduction
In the past, I would have never even considered writing an article on any Beats headphones, much less a dedicated article on the best.
However, times have changed and these days the company under Apple has been making some quality releases that do deserve some love, even if the sound isn’t quite audiophile.
What a snobby term, right?
- Related: What is an Audiophile?
There are a few Beats offerings that I really like, and even though they don’t quite make the list of Best Audiophile Headphones, they’re definitely still worth a look.
By and large, Beats headphones are mostly bass oriented, with the classic V-Shape signature.
That said, the sound is much improved from the earliest iterations, and, in addition to being super portable, they’re also Bluetooth headphones that contain a wired option as well.
- Required Reading: 17 Bluetooth Headphones & IEMS Ranked Worst To First
Beats used to be synonymous with poor quality, but because they have redeemed themselves, I decided to do a write-up. The bad news?
There are still only a couple worth considering in the grand scheme of it.
The Good News?
Jesus is coming back for his people!! 🙂
The Goal
Because there are so many different Beats models, my goal is to narrow it down to a select few that are the most worthy of your dollar.
Not all Beats headphones are created equal, and this short guide will weed out all of the bad apples and the so-so apples while only mentioning the crisp apples. I will also be keeping things relevant as I demo new Beats headphones. Keep checking back for updates!
The Players
Beats Solo 3
Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay!
Specifications
- Type: Closed-back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Fit: Supra-aural (On-ear).
- Weight: 215g.
- Audio Controls: Answer/End, Next/Previous Track, Play/Pause, Volume.
- Connector: 3.5mm
- Bluetooth: Yes.
- Detachable Cable included: Yes.
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes.
- Carrying Case: Yes.
- Playback: 40 hours.
- Weight: 7.58 oz.
Summary
The Solo 3s are an impressive entry into the line, and perhaps the first truly worthy Beats headphones.
The Solo 2s were very similar, but overall I think the 3s have an improved sound, however small it may be.
Learn more: Beats Solo 2 vs. Solo 3
What separates these from some of the early atrocities is that the bass isn’t overpowering like it used to be.
I have no idea what Monster was thinking in the early years, but I suppose flowery marketing is to blame.
Those models were laughable by any standard and only functioned as a fashion statement.
Add to that their horrendous build quality and awful comfort factor, and you had a true recipe for disaster.
How they sold so many units is completely beyond me.
Fortunately, these Solo 3s are a complete overhaul, with an excellent build, good comfort level, and a bass head sound that doesn’t really get out of line.
In fact, stacked up against an M50x you’ll likely notice little difference.
Beats finally got the message it seems: More bass does not equal better sound.
Actually, Apple took over.
Monster would have never gotten the message and the whole Beats craze would have flamed out faster than the ’96 Atlanta Braves in the World Series after being up 2-0.
What we have now is a portable, compact, and Bluetooth-ready headphone.
This is definitely a headphone for on-the-go, and it performs admirably for such an occasion.
Whereas before there was virtually no mid-range or treble detail to speak of, now we have some nice texture and clarity.
I was surprised that the Solo 3 provides excellent detail for still being a bass-oriented can.
Overall, if I were to recommend one Beats headphone, this would probably be it. It’s really not even a question.
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
The folding mechanism is pretty simple; you just push the bottom halves of each side and they collapse in.
To open them back up, they snap into place with what looks like some kind of very small magnet contraption.
Very simple and effective.
Finish
I’m not a huge fan of the glossy finish.
I tend to like my headphones more muted down and less prone to fingerprint smudges.
Scroll Button
There isn’t a scroll button as far as I know. The Play/Pause function is nice.
You simply press the side that has the “b” on it.
On/Off
To turn them on and off, you simply hold the small LED button on the right underneath the ear cup.
There is also a 5-light indicator that lets you know how much battery life is left.
Detachable
- They have a detachable cable option which I thought was cool. So they’re good for on-the-go or in-studio if you prefer to listen to them at your desk.
Carrying Case
- The carrying case is nice but smells funny.
Cables
- The Solo3 comes with a charging cable, a detachable cable with an inline mic, and a carabiner.
Compatibility
- The headphones work with both iPhone and Android devices.
Battery Life
- The wireless battery life is around 40 hours.
Pairing
- Apple’s W1 chip makes these very easy to pair with your iPhone. In fact, as soon as you have both in the same general vicinity, the headphones will pair automatically.
Beats Studio 3 Wireless
Price: Check Amazon!
Specifications
- Fit: Circumaural.
- Wireless: Yes.
- Active Noise Cancelling: Yes. How do noise-canceling headphones work?
- In-Chord Volume Control: Yes.
- Audio Controls: Answer/End, Next/Previous track, Play/Pause, Volume.
- Carrying Case: Yes.
- Connector: 3.5mm.
- Charge: 22 hours.
- Rechargeable Battery: Yes
- Charge Time: 2 hrs.
- Weight: 9.2 oz.
Summary
These are the Beats headphones I would consider second if I were to recommend one.
They’re basically a Studio Wireless 2 with better noise cancellation and a slightly upgraded sound.
The comfort is very good, the build is solid, and the sound, like the Solo 3 kind of reminds me of a 50x or M100.
It’s a bass-oriented homie, but the sound isn’t intrusive or overbearing.
They fold in the same way as the Solo 3, and it’s also made of metal and feels very solid.
Because these have twice the battery life of the original, they make for a pretty easy recommendation over all other studio versions.
All in all, are these worthy of the Beat’s name? Sure. But are there better options? Absolutely.
Does it mean it’s a bad headphone? Not by any stretch. But is it overpriced? I would say so.
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- You can get 2.5 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.
Closing Thoughts
That’s it? Unfortunately yes friend. Besides these two, I wouldn’t bother with any of the other Beats headphones.
There are simply too many to even count, and most of them are bad to mediocre.
The Solo 3 and Studio Wireless 3 are currently the best out of the bunch.
Things may change later on down the road, but if you feel as though I left something out, or have a request, leave a comment down below or contact me!
I will do my best to keep this article relevant to the times.
With that said, what’s my final recommendation?
If you’re in the market for a Beats headphone, definitely go with the Solo 3.
I got a chance to demo this one from a friend of mine at an old job, and I was pleasantly surprised in all aspects.
It’s compact, portable, built well, and pretty comfortable while providing a really good overall sound for the most part.
Don’t believe me?
There are currently over 64,000 reviews on Amazon with a really high star rating and in my opinion, it’s very well deserved.
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this AKG K240 studio headphones review!!
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please Contact me!!
What do you think about these? Are they worth a try? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
