We review the Beats Solo 2 headphones, for sight, sound and smell…
Yeah, Beats headphones are expensive, and the Beats Solo 2 (a fresh update for 2014) are no different. It’s hard to justify spending £170 on ‘phones when you can pick up perfectly good cans for around £50, but of course that money doesn’t just go on sound quality, it goes on the branding too.
The Beats Solo 2.0 headphones fold up neatly to fit in the bundled soft case, and then snap back into position when it’s time for action. The frame is made of metal, with a tough plastic overlay, and it certainly puts up with a bit of tug and twist action, as you’d expect at this price point. You can of course adjust the headphones to expand the band, if you suffer from giganto-noggin, and if you don’t like that blue finish, they also come in bacl, white, red, gray and the obligatory pink.
They fit very snugly on my head, and I was glad for the thick ear padding to help keep the blood flowing. Once on, the Beats Solo 2s do a decent job of muffling background noise, probably thanks to that thick padding being pressed tight against your earholes. They’re also reasonably comfortable for at least a couple of hours before headphone fatigue kicks in.
If you’re already a Beats fan, you’ll basically know what to expect from the Beats Solo 2.0 experience, although the ‘phones do seem to enjoy a better balance and range than previous models. The ‘phones are of course basserific, but not to an alarming degree. Your ears shouldn’t explode after just ten seconds of dubstep.
There’s a handy cable remote that worked fine when the Beats were plugged into our iPhone or Mac, for pausing music and changing the volume, although only the pause option worked with out Sony Xperia smartphone. There’s also a built-in mic.
Special mention has to go to the delicious out-of-the-box smell of the Beats Solo 2 headphones. They’re the best-smelling cans we’ve had the pleasure to sniff – guess that’s what that extra cash pays for.
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