Your response is also kind of sensationalistic, although I agree with the core of what you are getting at. Perhaps with the exception of the final point - most of the brands thrown around to counter beats are pretty well known, and not just to self proclaimed audiophiles. Most are indeed very good, and for the most part do sound better than the beats models. Many cost well in excess of $200-$400. Dont get me wrong - I dont mind the beats headphones, and some of the new ones are nowhere near as bad as people are saying, but the many of brands thrown around here are not as obscure as you think.
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Apple to Announce Beats Acquisition This Week, Drops Price to $3 Billion
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Your response is also kind of sensationalistic, although I agree with the core of what you are getting at. Perhaps with the exception of the final point - most of the brands thrown around to counter beats are pretty well known, and not just to self proclaimed audiophiles. Most are indeed very good, and for the most part do sound better than the beats models. Many cost well in excess of $200-$400. Dont get me wrong - I dont mind the beats headphones, and some of the new ones are nowhere near as bad as people are saying, but the many of brands thrown around here are not as obscure as you think.
Why only mention what Dre might be getting, and not what Iovine might be getting as part of the deal?
Perhaps you should learn about scientific empirical evidence regarding sound output quality. Frequency response and harmonic distortion are not opinionated. There is plenty of proof that Beats headphones are low grade products.
For example:
And
Overpriced computer company, meet overpriced headphones.
I'll stick with Bose, thank you very much.
I'll stick with Bose, thank you very much.
That is why I've stated that the article deserves some level of skepticism. It's unlikely that what they presented is accurate. If it is, it's unlikely that you will hear anything about the acquisition by WWDC. There is no guarantee that Apple is even considering a purchase of Beats. Note some of the prior rumors. They start by predicting Apple will either purchase or produce something. They then move onto further "leaked" details regarding its progression. After some time they suggest that Apple scrapped or postponed the plan.
That's too general. It doesn't account for margins or growth, and that isn't how they calculate multiples.
It didn't happen with the earbuds. Apple does however stock some decent options in their retail stores and online. I've always stuck with Sennheiser.
still overpriced... just not as badly.
Beats already did all of this with their newer models - there are matte, they sound better with less boomy over emphasized bass (to all except people who blindly hate them), build quality is vastly improved.
To their credit they took all the common criticisms and improved.
They are still over priced, but not as bad as people say on here.
Because Jimmy Iovine is white. No one cares if a white guy makes a lot of money.
Apple is a hardware and services company. Beats is a hardware and services company. Apple is a brand. A $600B brand. Beats is a brand. A $3B brand. Pocket change. Almost pocket lint.
Rocketman
Rocketman
Because they have a problem with someone like Dr. Dre making that much money through an acquisition done by Apple.
Are Beats headphones/speakers even worth the price? For $300 I would want the best headphones out there and I feel like Beats headphones aren't the best money can buy.
I think Beats will hurt Apple's image. Simply because Apple has a self admitted goal of creating great products. Nobody has ever confused Beats headphones with a great pair of headphones. The reviews by anyone who has ever listened through a truly great pair of headphones are extremely critical. To make it worse, Beats are ridiculously overpriced for the poor sound quality. Does Apple really want to attach their name and reputation behind selling poorly performing, overpriced products?
There is no way in hell Steve Jobs would have bought Beats. I know everyone is sick of the Jobs comparisons, but he would have called it like it is, Beats headphones are low quality overpriced junk.
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They're not worth $50 as far as the sound quality.
There is no way in hell Steve Jobs would have bought Beats. I know everyone is sick of the Jobs comparisons, but he would have called it like it is, Beats headphones are low quality overpriced junk.
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They're not worth $50 as far as the sound quality.
No. For that price range, the Audio Technica ATH-M50 or Seinheiser Momentum are easily higher quality.
Agree with all but the last point, in principle. Yes, no one cares what the "audiophiles" think, and yes, bulk consumers drive the market, but the general consumer, to be quite frank, is a dumbass. That's where I'll agree with you on this point -- Beats figured out how to game the general consumer into thinking they're buying a "premier" headphone simply by making it flashy and "cool." Where I disagree with you is how you think these "random" brands that are globally recognized as the best by the music industry are somehow not. Just because you don't recognize the brand doesn't mean they aren't in the top 10%. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but to say that Sennheiser, Shure, or even Grado doesn't make some of the best music gear around is just plain ignorant. Have you ever used any of their products? (and Beats for that matter).
All this hoopla and come WWDC all this anger will turn in excitement when apple pumps their fariy dust into the air. I've succumb to it as well with the iPad . " ...really? A large square iphone?? Pshh!" I remeber countless times people didn't see what ever was behind it all until apple showed their cards. I have a bit of faith this was not ill informed.
People should have had more faith in the iPad, because it was a recently introduced Apple product that was untested. This is a high end brand buying a low end brand, completely different.
I would have been more excited about Apple buying Tesla, T-Mobile, or pretty much anything else.
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Fair enough. The last point was a bit much, but it's no different than Apple convincing us all that aluminium (Jony Ive voice) --- the same thing the can of tuna fish I ate today is made of --- is somehow worth the extra money many of us pay for it. Marketing and brand affinity are a big part of business and at the end of the day this story is about business more than the keen hearing of the audiophile's ear.
If that was the case, it wouldn't be a purchase motivated by hardware unless they're to be drastically re-engineered. When people talk about the headphones, they aren't talking about a new product. They're referring to an existing product of poor quality sold as a fashion item. I also think you're misinformed regarding the iPad. That wasn't the general consensus as I remember it.
Well articulated!
This one makes me laugh (in a good way) every time I read it!
Still, as a stockholder and Mac enthusiast, I've been impressed enough by several points "in favor of," that I'm now enthusiastic for the deal to go through. Although not a fan of "Rap" music and/or culture, $3B for a company that made $1.3B in 2013 (alone) seems like a bargain to me. Imagine what the Apple creative and marketing folks could do with this already established entity as they repurpose the brand for all music and video genres. 'That they're also getting a couple of iconic "players" in the deal is gravy. This could be a very shrewd acquisition.
Now, if they'll just give me Thunderbolt 2 on the 27" iMac...
This one makes me laugh (in a good way) every time I read it!
Still, as a stockholder and Mac enthusiast, I've been impressed enough by several points "in favor of," that I'm now enthusiastic for the deal to go through. Although not a fan of "Rap" music and/or culture, $3B for a company that made $1.3B in 2013 (alone) seems like a bargain to me. Imagine what the Apple creative and marketing folks could do with this already established entity as they repurpose the brand for all music and video genres. 'That they're also getting a couple of iconic "players" in the deal is gravy. This could be a very shrewd acquisition.
Now, if they'll just give me Thunderbolt 2 on the 27" iMac...
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