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Beats Pro (need an Audiophile's help)

bmac4

bmac4

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Original poster
Feb 14, 2013
4,885
1,879
Atlanta Ga
So I had the Beats Studio 2.0, and had an issues with them only after a month. Apple let me exchange them, and I decided to get the Pros. I know people crap all over Beats all the time, but I like their sound. I have the original Beats Studio, Beats Solo, and PowerBeats wireless. Honestly I don't care if anyone hates them or not. That is not what this post is about.

What I am looking for is what makes all the cheaper studio monitors better. So I own the AudioTechna M50s. I decided last night to test both headphones on the same song. I am a big fan of the Killers, so I choose one of their songs. I decided to try a more acoustic song Sams Town recorded at Abby Road. I listen to parts at a time with both headphones. To me the M50s sounded much flatter, and not nearly as full. Now I have heard a good headphone lets you pick out different instruments in the song. I could do that with both headphones while the Pros sounded better. I know the M50s are not the greatest studio monitor on the market, but people swear by them and many have said they sound better than the Pros. So my question is for Audiophile's. What am I missing? I don't understand while people say the M50's are so much better. Part two, what makes equally priced studio monitors better than the Pros? What should a great headphone sound like? I am not looking to argue about headphones. I would truly like to learn.
 
Beats have a bass that is bleeding in the mid-range frequency, you hear the music loud and with lots of bass. Ath m50s are bass heavy ( m50x) but also represent clearly the mids and treble. Audiophile headphones have a rather flat response because people who buy these, appreciate the music to be crystal clear and everything should sound as it was meant to be. I really like the bass but also a good treble so I have Unique Melody Merlins and I couldn't love them more! The bass is there and it's hitting hard, when the song is calling for it, it doesn't bleed to it other frequencies. It's rather pricey though (880$), you can take a look at rha t10 if you want refinement and a vfm product . Take a look at head-fi but and I'm sorry for your wallet :p
 
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efib said:
Beats have a bass that is bleeding in the mid-range frequency, you hear the music loud and with lots of bass. Ath m50s are bass heavy ( m50x) but also represent clearly the mids and treble. Audiophile headphones have a rather flat response because people who buy these, appreciate the music to be crystal clear and everything should sound as it was meant to be. I really like the bass but also a good treble so I have Unique Melody Merlins and I couldn't love them more! The bass is there and it's hitting hard, when the song is calling for it, it doesn't bleed to it other frequencies. It's rather pricey though (880$), you can take a look at rha t10 if you want refinement and a vfm product . Take a look at head-fi but and I'm sorry for your wallet :p
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Yeah it would be bad for my wallet. I saw one review that said they used an equalizer to reduce the bass on the Pros, and they started to really like them. I may try that, but I love the bass hitting really hard. I don't listen to much rap, but when I do I like that sound.

Now when I listened to the song on the M50s it was notable flatter, but in the vocals too. The vocals did not pop like I felt like they should. I have had the M50s for a couple of years now, and I do like them. Maybe I have no idea what music should sound like.
 
I have got M50s too. I had a listen to some HD600s which blew them into the weeds and then I heard the Audeze LCD-3 connected to some sort of monster amp and that annihilated the Senns!! I run my M50s EQd as I find them pretty bad played with the EQ flat
 
bmac4 said:
Yeah it would be bad for my wallet. I saw one review that said they used an equalizer to reduce the bass on the Pros, and they started to really like them. I may try that, but I love the bass hitting really hard. I don't listen to much rap, but when I do I like that sound.

Now when I listened to the song on the M50s it was notable flatter, but in the vocals too. The vocals did not pop like I felt like they should. I have had the M50s for a couple of years now, and I do like them. Maybe I have no idea what music should sound like.
Click to expand...


Personally, I like treble (high freq) with some sparkle, but if it sounds good to you then what other people can say? Enjoy your rig and if you are not satisfied then, I can recommend you some headphones.
 
efib said:
Personally, I like treble (high freq) with some sparkle, but if it sounds good to you then what other people can say? Enjoy your rig and if you are not satisfied then, I can recommend you some headphones.
Click to expand...
Thanks for you help. I really do like the Pros I am just trying to stretch them out because the clap on your head is super tight. Hopefully they will start to stretch soon.

I would like some suggestions though. So I got a pair of the Bose QC 25 noise canceling headphones about a week ago. I was trying to replace my Studios. While the noise canceling is amazing, the sound is just alright. Honestly though I miss the amazing comfort of the Studios 2.0. Those were the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. If I do return the Bose and don't get the Studios 2.0 again, do you have some recommendations for the $200-$300 range?
 
bmac4 said:
Thanks for you help. I really do like the Pros I am just trying to stretch them out because the clap on your head is super tight. Hopefully they will start to stretch soon.

I would like some suggestions though. So I got a pair of the Bose QC 25 noise canceling headphones about a week ago. I was trying to replace my Studios. While the noise canceling is amazing, the sound is just alright. Honestly though I miss the amazing comfort of the Studios 2.0. Those were the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. If I do return the Bose and don't get the Studios 2.0 again, do you have some recommendations for the $200-$300 range?
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The sound signature you are after, is bass mostly and then some good treble? You are looking for a v-shaped headphone, take a look at ath m50x, b&w p7 ( not a true vfm product though) and ath w1000x ( pricey but you can find a good deal at head-fi's classifieds ).
Bose only if you need the noise canceling feature, otherwise Buy Other Sound Equipment :p
Hope I helped :)
 
Well since I have the Pros I would like something a bit more true than the heavy bass. Does anyone make a high quality noise canceling headphone other than Bose?
 
I'm not really into nc technology so I don't know, but sennheiser 600/650 are neutral-ish ! Or Grado but these are really flat !!!
 
efib said:
Anytime :)
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I been looking at head-fi and manufacturers websites half the day. I am not sure I need to spend the money on an open back headphone. I really don't think I could appreciate it enough. I just want something that is super comfortable, and sounds great. The B&Ws look like they could possibly be that. I just don't know.
 
If you're looking for closed headphones with decent bass, maybe take a look at Denon. They are very comfortable also...I tried the pros on and that sucker clamps onto your head like a vise lol.
 
techspin said:
If you're looking for closed headphones with decent bass, maybe take a look at Denon. They are very comfortable also...I tried the pros on and that sucker clamps onto your head like a vise lol.
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Yeah I am working on stretching mine out. The ones I tried on in the store were much more comfortable after being using for a long time. I hope they stretch out enough, but yeah they are crazy tight out of the box.
 
bmac4 said:
I been looking at head-fi and manufacturers websites half the day. I am not sure I need to spend the money on an open back headphone. I really don't think I could appreciate it enough. I just want something that is super comfortable, and sounds great. The B&Ws look like they could possibly be that. I just don't know.
Click to expand...


If you are using mp3 320kbps and lossless then you will hear the difference ! The question is though , if you want to spend that kind of money!! Keep in mind that there is the rule of diminishing return in high-end audio gear .
 
efib said:
If you are using mp3 320kbps and lossless then you will hear the difference ! The question is though , if you want to spend that kind of money!! Keep in mind that there is the rule of diminishing return in high-end audio gear .
Click to expand...

Yeah I mainly just listen to music on my iPhone, so I really don't know if I will notice the difference. I may wait, and save some money and down the road get something more expensive. Also I would assume my taste in music would change some over the next 10 years. I am 29, so I think the heavy bass hip hop might not be my think in 5 years.
 
Have you checked out the V-Moda Crossfade M-100'S? Some say they are a good compromise between bass heavy and audiophile cans.
 
Basically the beats will sound fuller due to the over powering bass which bleeds into the mids. Audiophiles generally define a good headphone by how well they can replicate the original source. This does not mean that a bass heavy headphone can't put out a high quality sound, i prefer cans with extra bass but as people say there are much better bass heavy headphones then beats that don't bleed heavily into the mids.
 
AppleScruff1 said:
Have you checked out the V-Moda Crossfade M-100'S? Some say they are a good compromise between bass heavy and audiophile cans.
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I did check them out. I know this may sound a bit stupid, but I did not like the design very much. I know cans are more about the sound, but I also want a can that looks good too.
 
torana355 said:
Basically the beats will sound fuller due to the over powering bass which bleeds into the mids. Audiophiles generally define a good headphone by how well they can replicate the original source. This does not mean that a bass heavy headphone can't put out a high quality sound, i prefer cans with extra bass but as people say there are much better bass heavy headphones then beats that don't bleed heavily into the mids.
Click to expand...
Oh ok. I saw one remove, and the guy said he used an equalizer in the Beats pro. He said he used a bass reducer, and got the Pros to sound really good. I like the bass for now, but if I can my taste, or am listening to more mid and high range music, I may try using the EQ on it.
 
bmac4 said:
Oh ok. I saw one remove, and the guy said he used an equalizer in the Beats pro. He said he used a bass reducer, and got the Pros to sound really good. I like the bass for now, but if I can my taste, or am listening to more mid and high range music, I may try using the EQ on it.
Click to expand...
Beats are decent headphones and if you like very big bass they are very good at what they do. Biggest downsides are price and the muddy mids.
 
bmac4 said:
I did check them out. I know this may sound a bit stupid, but I did not like the design very much. I know cans are more about the sound, but I also want a can that looks good too.
Click to expand...

Just curious, did you like the sound?
 
torana355 said:
Beats are decent headphones and if you like very big bass they are very good at what they do. Biggest downsides are price and the muddy mids.
Click to expand...
Yeah the bass on the pros is fantastic. I could not ask for more. Now I had the studios 2.0, and they broke. I decided after Apple was awesome and gave me a gift card to the Apple Store to get the pros. I then decided to get the studios again as well. The comfort of the studios 2.0 is amazing. I have never had a pair of cans that are this comfortable. With that said, the sound is much improved on the studios. I don't know how they are to other headphones in the price point, but they are really improved. Have you heard them? The bass is only heavy when it's needed, and it does not drowned the mids and highs. The one thing I don't like is the noise canceling. I don't mind NC, but they have a constant hiss in them. It's gone when something is playing, but when nothing is, all the hear is white noise.
 
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