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Apple-owned Beats Electronics Introduces New $300 Solo2 Wireless Headphones

dcorban said:
It's rather funny to read many of the posts in this thread. It's the exact same things you have heard from PC users about Apple computers. I wonder if the posters are catching the irony.

Too expensive
Overpriced
I don't get it
Why would anyone buy these
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No . . . . they don't sadly. They'll even come in with a whole bunch of nonsense about the major differences between a Mac and a PC to defend their statements.

In the end, 90% of them are running the same apps, the same way, and aren't even touching the Apple specific, OS X only ones.

Not that I'm a fan of Pop culture and Beats however. I've tried them, own a pari, and they are okay.

Not good enough to start a flame war over, or to start insulting people's decisions, preferences, races, or cultures.
 
shenan1982 said:
The problem is there's a poor stigma that has become of the current design of the Beats headphone line. Until Apple changes the design, that stigma isn't going away. Regardless of the quality, there will always be a ghetto association with the product.
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See this kind of comment makes me wonder if people really know how they're associated with things. So what is "Ghetto?" So by looking who wears them, are you referring to the athletes or the citizens in urban towns?

Do you or have you ever attempted to play basketball, football, hockey or baseball? If so, you're also associated with being ghetto because they all get into fights. Do you ever watch any of those sports...if so, you're also associated with being ghetto.
 
Yeah yeah, price and quality probably leave something to be desired (I'm wondering if there will ever be wireless headphones worth it to me made in my lifetime to consider kicking the cord), but I do have to say that those headphones look nice. I tend to think a lot of the Beats designs look sort of over-engineered, like they're intended to look extra futuristic for a sci-fi film, but these look very nice and clean.
 
nia820 said:
It's a fashion. It's like buying a designer pair of jeans. They aren't necessarily better than a pair of jeans from the gap but people wear them for the name.
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I think this quote hits it on the head. When you develop a brand name that is highly coveted by consumers you can generally charge significantly higher prices for your products. This is what Beats has been able to do with their line of headphones and related products.

As a comparison take a look at a leather wallet from a high end fashion brand such as Luis Vuitton or Fendi. You can pay around $800 for a simple leather wallet that can be had in a nearly identical quality from Coach for $200. You could probably get a similar high quality wallet from an off brand for less than $100.

These companies go to great lengths and at great expense to build and maintain a designer brand. As long as they stay desirable they can rake in huge margins on the products they sell.
 
Digital Skunk said:
No . . . . they don't sadly. They'll even come in with a whole bunch of nonsense about the major differences between a Mac and a PC to defend their statements.

In the end, 90% of them are running the same apps, the same way, and aren't even touching the Apple specific, OS X only ones.

Not that I'm a fan of Pop culture and Beats however. I've tried them, own a pari, and they are okay.

Not good enough to start a flame war over, or to start insulting people's decisions, preferences, races, or cultures.
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except this, unlike most flamewars, is something where individuals are correct or completely incorrect. beats headphones ARE overpriced - they spend all their money on marketing, and their sound quality suffers for it. period.

preference has nothing to do with it, since sound quality IS something tangible and scientifically backed up with evidence. some people, clearly, cannot tell the difference. that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. it's like someone who draws stick figures and has never seen a work of art arguing with a professional artist about composition or color. "meh, you should draw stick figures, that's all that matters. you don't know what you're talking about, artist-guy. what are you some kinda elitist douchebag?"

these analogies to the Windows/Apple war are misguided uninformed drivel (no offense intended - it's just not a proper analogy). it wouldn't be any kind of problem if those who can't tell good sound from tinny-bass-heavy crap would stop claiming that audiophiles are being irrational, when the opposite is the truth.
 
teslo said:
except this, unlike most flamewars, is something where individuals are correct or completely incorrect. beats headphones ARE overpriced - they spend all their money on marketing, and their sound quality suffers for it. period.

preference has nothing to do with it, since sound quality IS something tangible and scientifically backed up with evidence. some people, clearly, cannot tell the difference. that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. it's like someone who draws stick figures and has never seen a work of art arguing with a professional artist about composition or color. "meh, you should draw stick figures, that's all that matters. you don't know what you're talking about, artist-guy. what are you some kinda elitist douchebag?"

these analogies to the Windows/Apple war are misguided uninformed drivel (no offense intended - it's just not a proper analogy). it wouldn't be any kind of problem if those who can't tell good sound from tinny-bass-heavy crap would stop claiming that audiophiles are being irrational, when the opposite is the truth.
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Beats are overpriced indeed. Just like anything that's popular with the masses.

Everything else is moot. People buy over priced crap all of the time, so preference has a lot to do with it.

As does buying expensive things that aren't crap, like high end PCs and Macs.

It's really not that serious.
 
Digital Skunk said:
Beats are overpriced indeed. Just like anything that's popular with the masses.

Everything else is moot. People buy over priced crap all of the time, so preference has a lot to do with it.

As does buying expensive things that aren't crap, like high end PCs and Macs.

It's really not that serious.
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it isn't serious, but the PC/Mac debate has nothing to do with sound quality. good sound just exists or it doesn't. windows machines and apple machines DO get 90% of the exact same things accomplished, so their price is determined by a much longer history of function, quality, and market demand.

beats, however, has shaken things up in the headphones world, being that no one knew about anything but earbuds until they marketed the hell out of a subpar product. top tier windows machines and macs are top quality and use an entire ecosystem that is a matter of preference. headphones should sound good at their price points, and beats do not.

wondering why people are vocal about this fact is where this 'flamewar' gets started, and there's a correct opinion and an incorrect one. expect more debate, but know that only one side is right. once more headphone companies get an edge up on beats, this may change, but the facts are facts. beats are all candy wrapper, no candy.
 
teslo said:
it isn't serious, but the PC/Mac debate has nothing to do with sound quality. good sound just exists or it doesn't. windows machines and apple machines DO get 90% of the exact same things accomplished, so their price is determined by a much longer history of function, quality, and market demand.

beats, however, has shaken things up in the headphones world, being that no one knew about anything but earbuds until they marketed the hell out of a subpar product. top tier windows machines and macs are top quality and use an entire ecosystem that is a matter of preference. headphones should sound good at their price points, and beats do not.

wondering why people are vocal about this fact is where this 'flamewar' gets started, and there's a correct opinion and an incorrect one. expect more debate, but know that only one side is right. once more headphone companies get an edge up on beats, this may change, but the facts are facts. beats are all candy wrapper, no candy.
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The older Beats suffered from booming bass and a less than perfect sound signature elsewhere but their newer offerings are much better sound quality wise. As an audiophile who don't have a tin ear I know good sound when I hear it. The fact is Beats are better and many reviews back this up. They're not perfect but Beats headphones are moving in the right direction.

Tyll Hertsens is one of the most respected persons in the headphone arena and he has come full circle as it related to Beats.

The notion that a company can't change for the better and offer good products is idiotic!

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/time-rethink-beats-solo2-excellent?page=1
 
nia820 said:
It's a fashion. It's like buying a designer pair of jeans. They aren't necessarily better than a pair of jeans from the gap but people wear them for the name.

Beats headphones aren't that bad. I got a bonus before the summer holiday and brought me a pair of studios. I like the design but I did buy the because they are fashionable. Not afraid to admit im shallow at times.
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Like Glowing apple logos in a Starbucks. :rolleyes:
 
Done w/Beats

arftech said:
The older Beats suffered from booming bass and a less than perfect sound signature elsewhere but their newer offerings are much better sound quality wise. As an audiophile who don't have a tin ear I know good sound when I hear it. The fact is Beats are better and many reviews back this up. They're not perfect but Beats headphones are moving in the right direction.

Tyll Hertsens is one of the most respected persons in the headphone arena and he has come full circle as it related to Beats.

The notion that a company can't change for the better and offer good products is idiotic!

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/time-rethink-beats-solo2-excellent?page=1
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Well I picked up the Beats Studio wireless today - going back tomorrow!! Although the bass is tempered a bit, its too muddy and the mids really suck - wires or wireless. Going back to the new Bose SoundLink on-ear - better features and most importantly much better sound quality.
 
For $300, I think I'd order a pair of '9'-grade second-hand Sony MDR-7520 for $250 from B & H Photo Video (with detachable cable), possibly with the beyerdynamic EDT 250 V velour pads for $25 (as found on the DT 250), add a JDS Labs Ultra Short 3.5mm Interconnect Cable for $5 (ordered direct from http://www.jdslabs.com/products/146/ultra-short-3-5mm-interconnect-cable/ , and slightly more suitable than the Oyaide HPC-MSS, FiiO L8 or FiiO L16) and a Bluetooth receiver with aptX (of course, not compatible with iDevices): either the Samsung HS3000 for $50 or the LG BTS1 for $90 (which would be over budget but has a more convenient button layout for my tastes).

For wired usage, I'd use the V-MODA BoomPro Microphone for $30 (for gaming), the V-MODA 1-Button SpeakEasy Cable for $15 (for general purpose applications), and the V-MODA 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter V2 for $5 (for DJ mixers and other devices that have a 6.35mm jack. Unlike third-party adapters, it is guaranteed to work with the V-MODA TRRS plug input: http://v-moda.com/compatibility ). As an alternative to storing the Adapter in my pocket, I could instead use the lanyard from $5 Beats Pro replacement cables to attach it (I've searched and enquired and it seems not to be available as a standalone piece of rubber):

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/jMwAAOSwF1dUO28S/$_57.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/I5UAAOSwEK9UJGPm/$_12.JPG
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/yMYAAMXQrhdTUEvs/$_12.JPG
 
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OatmealRocks said:
That makes total sense. Wireless without wireless logo. Ok.
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There is a way to do everything and, for something premium like that, that wireless logo looks really tacky. How would you feel if your iPhone had 4G logo or a retina display logo, etc.? The headphone does not need that logo to work. Its box can advertise all the features.
 
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Argh. White one not yet in stock. Guess I'll have to wait a bit more.

Also, I don't know why Mac Rumors decided to use the blue solo2s for the article picture, as those ones aren't in stock either. Just the black ones.
 
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