Beats headphones go wireless
Going wireless? Well, this is something you’ve really got to hear...
Cables are old hat. We’re filling up our homes, our cars, even our pockets with new gadgets and gizmos, but one thing we’re leaving in the past are the wires. Headphones are an obvious place for many of us to start on our own wireless life upgrade. However, many of the wireless headphones I’ve tried are both fiddly and short on good audio quality. With their first upgrade for some time, the iconic headphone maker Beats has tried to combine style with substance, without wires, and I was anxious to try its new Solo3 wireless headphones for some serious musical indulgence.
The Solo3, unsurprisingly, arrived stylishly packaged. Opening the box reveals a soft carrying case containing the headphones, a USB charging cable and a 3.5mm cable if you want to use the headphones in a traditional wired way. The cable also has an in-line microphone and remote for phone calls and audio control.
The small size of the headphones surprised me. These are on-ear headphones rather than the often-cumbersome overear type, and they weigh in at just 215 grams.
The Solo3 uses Apple’s new W1 chip, which is meant to simplify the Bluetooth pairing process. Putting this to the test, I powered up the headphones and held them a few inches from my iPhone. By wireless magic, a little window popped up on my iPhone inviting me to connect the Beats. I tapped once and I was paired and ready to go. This new tech comes into its own if I’m signed in to the same iCloud account on other Apple devices, as the headphones can seamlessly switch from device to device. These Beats are really comfortable and the pads that sit on your ears are so soft they almost feel like exotic home furnishings. As stylish as they look and feel, I discovered they’re pretty robust and the headphones adjust amply for a snug fit. Beats sound quality has always had fans and detractors. I listened to some vocals, some jazz and some heavy bass electronic music. The bass did get a little boomy on some electronic music but the clarity and immersive sound for vocals and 1950s jazz was better than any wireless headphone I’ve tested. Among the standout features of the Solo3 are the benefits the new Apple W1 chip brings to the table. It makes the headphones extremely efficient, and Beats says you can get 40 hours of playback from a full charge. I still haven’t re-charged my test pair so that seems to be accurate. The Solo3 may not be for everyone. The price-tag is one bar, and if you’re an Android user you don’t get the advantage of the clever Bluetooth pairing experience. As an iPhone user, though, for playback stamina alone the Solo3 is the first pair of wireless headphones I would consider. Style, quality and street-cred are also included.