Beats Acquisition Boosting Apple's 'Coolness' Factor Among Young Consumers

[macnerd93]

Guess what, all the music you hear these days is digital. SQUARE WAVES! Not sinusoidal(the real deal!). So give me a break about the whole audiophile bullsh**!

I don't think my vinyl collection, or 8-track collection is digital and I'm 21, I just like alternative formats

 

[cube]

Maybe because you're already married to the Apple ecosystem?

- I have a BlackBerry Z10
- Apple has no laptops that suit me going forward.
- I don't use iCloud
- I don't buy or rent from iTunes. I don't have iTunes Match. I don't use iTunes Radio.
- I use Adobe Lightroom

Should I go on?

 

[TWSS37]

I'm thinking about buying these
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

These are the ones I posted earlier that I have. They are fantastic, you won't regret this purchase.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I'm pretty sure R&D isn't the same as Marketing. I was comparing them in regards to their Marketing.

But you did say lower quality products, and while Sammy makes their stuff out of plastic, their stuff isn't low quality by a long shot.

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I think this acquisition of Beats is going to usher in a new era in Apple fanboy-dom. Instead of giving Apple products heaps of unnecessary praise, we're going to start seeing Apple's own fans bash Beats for apparently no reason at all.

If they suck, don't buy them.

Not too many people agree with that statement however, not even Apple.

 

[OtherJesus]

Too bad, old mac rumor guys.
You're on the way out!
*dances around with wireless beats on*

 

[Archnem]

Same goes with society in general these days... It's more important to look like a professional, educated, musician, artist, politician etc. than to actually be one. To be one is just too much work.

But the thing is Beats headphones doesn't make me think the person wearing them is an artist, disk jockey, audiophile, or someone who knows their stuff.

They just make me think they like overpaying for a lackluster products that everyone else is buying, and look like douches.

 

[MH01]

I just ordered some AKG's.

And sadly none of the kids have any idea what that is.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

What's the problem with Beats headphones and bass ?

Imagine listening to everything on a subwoofer. That too has great bass.

You know what it's missing? Every other frequency. That's the same problem with Beats. Plenty of bottom, mediocre mid-range and almost no top end.

But if you worked in a studio you should know this. A more dynamic range is far more important than doing one thing.

 

[Archnem]

But you did say lower quality products

You're grasping at straws.

....and while Sammy makes their stuff out of plastic, their stuff isn't low quality by a long shot.

Low quality compared to other Android devices. M8, Z2, G3, etc. I'm pretty sure these companies have less money to pay for all the "R&D" "Sammy" does.

I think this acquisition of Beats is going to usher in a new era in Apple fanboy-dom. Instead of giving Apple products heaps of unnecessary praise, we're going to start seeing Apple's own fans bash Beats for apparently no reason at all.

For no reason? People in the thread have already mentioned reasons why Beats are not good products.

If they suck, don't buy them.

Probably most of the people who don't like Beats, have already chosen not to buy them.

 

[firewood]

I also feel sad for Beat headphone customers, because they are paying a premium for low quality audio.

They are paying for low quality audio in the same way that the many people who pay over $100 for pre-ripped designer jeans are paying for the tears. It's good business for the store that sells this stuff.

If they really wanted to spend more in R&D we would see more than a couple Mac models.

They put their R&D money into software and leading-edge chips, not into an uncountable mess of too many products like HP and Dell (which end up providing almost no profit or customer satisfaction).

Throwing money at headphones and bringing dr dre into the fold will not help Apple. I think they will be lucky to break even in 10 years on this purchase.

The bump in stock price and thus market cap the day the acquisition was announced was way more than the $3B "thrown". Thus, shareholders have more than broken even already.

 

[Digital Skunk]

You're grasping at straws.

Not really.

Low quality compared to other Android devices. M8, Z2, G3, etc. I'm pretty sure these companies have less money to pay for all the "R&D" "Sammy" does.

Moot and anecdotal. Much of the industry agree with my statement. Made of plastic, flimsy plastic, but nowhere near "low quality" especially with the most recent line of products.

For no reason? People in the thread have already mentioned reasons why Beats are not good products.

Who are these people again? I think the folks at Apple know much more about this whole thing than we do, and so far Apple and Beats stand to make a lot more money than even my own preferred headphone makers.

Sennheiser and M-Audio.

Probably most of the people who don't like Beats, have already chosen not to buy them.

Moot.

They need to stop complaining about them, that horse is dead . . . died before Apple bought Beats. Heck, I don't like Beats, never have, but we all can just move on from the quality of the product now.

 

[cube]

They put their R&D money into software and leading-edge chips, not into an uncountable mess of too many products like HP and Dell (which end up providing almost no profit or customer satisfaction).

They could have enough products, without overreaching into a mess.

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They need to stop complaining about them, that horse is dead . . . died before Apple bought Beats. Heck, I don't like Beats, never have, but we all can just move on from the quality of the product now.

Like MR can move on from posting Beats articles the whole time?

 

[JAT]

and Apple fans are any different? Many Apple fans pay the premium Apple tax for Apple products because they look good and they have an Apple logo on it.

That is the real issue. See, Apple fans feel like they are getting a superior product for more money, whether people deem them "cool" or not. While Beats and Bose, mentioned above, we feel like you are getting an inferior product for more money, and nothing but "cool". And then there are a plethora of Apple-user-haters that come along and deny all that and say we are idiots.

It's very annoying. And it is the cause of all the discussion, whether everyone discussing it realizes it or not.

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so called audiophiles are the most annoying,obnoxious people on this site.

Here's a fact:some people WANT a lot of bass.So go listen to your senneshers or whatever it's called.No one cares.

Then you should buy a speaker that can provide lots of bass and turn it up. Not "enhance" the bass with foolish equalization.

 

[HenryDJP]

When I went to the Apple store last week to purchase my Bowers & Wilkins P7 headphones any blind man could easily see the Beats headphones dominated more than half of the headphone shelf. Good thing for me dominance doesn't take precedence to quality and smart buying. For others that buy on dominance then Apple has fooled them.

 

[Archnem]

Not really.

Probably don't know what the expression means if you don't think you're grasping at straws.

Moot and anecdotal. Much of the industry agree with my statement. Made of plastic, flimsy plastic, but nowhere near "low quality" especially with the most recent line of products.

I don't really know what "Industry" you're talking about, but most in the Tech Industry agree that Samsung is poor quality in build and Android experience.

Also I said low quality compared to other Android devices, please read my comments thoroughly before replying.

The Z2 and G3 have better specifications than the S5, but I'm sure people will buy the S5 due to Samsung's crazy marketing.

Who are these people again? I think the folks at Apple know much more about this whole thing than we do, and so far Apple and Beats stand to make a lot more money than even my own preferred headphone makers.

They need to stop complaining about them, that horse is dead . . . died before Apple bought Beats. Heck, I don't like Beats, never have, but we all can just move on from the quality of the product now.

You keep talking about the money and the popularity, no one is debating that, you are debating a completely different topic. So your points are "Moot"(your favorite word).

 

[MacSince1990]

50 or not, he is RICH. I wish I was rich off a crappy, pathetic, overpriced product.

Meh. Money's pretty far from everything.

Besides, we all know Dre Day only meant Eazy's pay day.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Out of my price range... maybe as my next pair.

Highly recommended! They have a perfect fit (over_the_ear) for longer time use per 24hr.

~ Cheers

 

[Archnem]

They are paying for low quality audio in the same way that the many people who pay over $100 for pre-ripped designer jeans are paying for the tears. It's good business for the store that sells this stuff.

Who is saying that they won't make money if they sell Beats, or in your case pre-ripped designer jeans?

I feel bad for them equally.
Also who wears ripped jeans anymore? Beats customers?

 

[elgrecomac]

Wow! A lot of haters

Listen, Apple is in the business of making (or buying) products that maximize profits..and much of the time they are great products. They have shareholders that demand it. So the Beats acquisition is a strategic move to capture (or retain) a sizable market share both in the headphone arena as well as the music on demand arena. Yes, Beats are not the best headphones out there, then again, they (and Dr. Dre) do have a 'cool' factor...and before you flame me about that line, Apple's marketing is much about 'cool' factor, or did you forget about the Apple vs PC ads you so loved?

So its time to move on. Beats is here to stay. Dr. Dre is an Apple employee with a soon to be estimated net worth in excess of $1 Billion.

And the world, miraculously, has kept spinning.

 

[JAT]

Side note: there are PC laptops made of aluminum, some of them are even of decent build quality (as opposed to slapping some alu there to look cool), some of decent build quality even have a lower price than a rMBP, but nobody buys them for the coolness factor - a decent-quality PC is for functionality, compatibility, etc.

No, most of those PCs are bought for their look. Quality in a computer is based on how the software and computer hardware work, not the chassis.

 

[JAT]

What's the problem with Beats headphones and bass ?

Most of the headphones I tested had a serious lack of bass, even the expensive ones I used to work with in music studios. I never tested Beats yet, but if they manage to solve the bass problems most of the headphones have, that's good no ? That's probably one of the true reasons for their success.

They don't have anything approaching a flat line. Which all speakers should have in a perfect world.

I'm assuming you know what I mean. Look up frequency response for several models, you should be able to find charts to compare if you are interested.

 

[Archnem]

You know better. Those types of headphones have the "DJ look" to them, and I think that is why the style became trendy. I don't think those people care about quality or really pretending to be a DJ, rather just having the DJ look.

Hey I agree, they want to have a "DJ" look, but they don't "look" like DJs to me, some may disagree, but I just don't see them as DJs especially if they're just wearing them on the Bus/Train.

 

[JAT]

I have big headphones (not Beats) that I use at home for music production, and I would never wear them outside. I prefer small headphones when I need something on the go, and mine are ultra garbage quality. I think it is ridiculous to carry around a big set of headphones while out and about.

Try Sennheiser PX100 or PX200 series. Why not have both quality and unobtrusive?

 

[Digital Skunk]

This is a new account, but I've been here for years.

WIN or LOSE, discussing/arguing, whatever you want to call it, you don't have anything to discuss, so you had to result to jokes(which aren't funny).

I have moved on since you ran out of things to discuss. You seem to be the one not able to move on since, you keep responding to me.

Okay, well post proof to what you claim then.

Spec for spec you're post makes no sense, is just your opinion, and therefore moot.

S5 Comparison from first hit Google Search, something you could have done yourself but I'll do it for you.

And another . . . . remember, you have to prove low quality.

So tell me again how those other Android flagships prove Samsung is low quality?

Then tell me how the tablets hold up, even the much raved about Galaxy Note Pro 12.2?

I'll go get the popcorn.

 

[cube]

Try Sennheiser PX100 or PX200 series. Why not have both quality and unobtrusive?

Besides that I don't like on-ear, I avoided this kind because it's not easy to be sure when researching that they will absolutely not leak sound to the outside.