Apple-owned Beats is transferring into the on-ear noise-cancelling world with the Solo Professional, utilizing the identical chips that make the PowerBeats Professional and AirPods so good.
The £269.95 Beats Solo Professional blends the design of the agency’s present Solo with the wired EP headphones for a sexy, trendy and pretty glossy design.
On-ear headphones sit with the cushions urgent in opposition to the ear, versus the bigger over-ear headphones that enclose your ear and sit in opposition to the facet of your head. The Solo Professional are pretty massive for on-ear headphones, with the cushions masking my ears.
The leatherette ear cups are well-padded and the soft-touch silicone headband stays in place in your dome. The ear cups articulate to suit as flat and as firmly in your ears as doable, whereas the steel arms slide into the headscarf for dimension adjustment.
Regardless of a agency grip, the Solo Professional are among the many most snug on-ear headphones I’ve tried. Over-ear headphones are undoubtedly greatest for prolonged listening periods however the Solo Professional stayed snug for as much as a few hours earlier than my ears wanted a break.
At 267g, the Solo Professional are about mid-weight for headphones. The arms fold into thirds to break down down however the thick ear cups means they don’t get fairly as small as I would really like for travelling. They ship with a comfortable recycled-felt case for defense however they really feel sturdy sufficient to only toss in a bag.
Specs
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Weight: 267g
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Drivers: 40mm
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Connectivity: Apple H1 chip, Bluetooth 5.0, Lightning charging
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Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC
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Battery life: 22 hours ANC on, 40 hours ANC off
Connectivity and controls
Apple’s H1 wi-fi chip handles Bluetooth connectivity, the identical system constructed into PowerBeats Professional, AirPods 2 and AirPods Professional. It permits instant-pairing and multi-device switching with all Apple-made smartphones, tablets and computer systems, plus hands-free “Hey Siri” assist for the agency’s voice assistant and audio sharing on iPhones and iPads.
The Beats app on Android additionally gives among the identical performance. You possibly can pair your headphones utilizing the app – it is going to present battery degree whenever you flip them on in slightly on-screen pop-up and handle varied settings.
The Bluetooth connection to a wide range of units together with an iPhone 11 Professional, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Microsoft Floor Professional 6 was rock stable. You need to use them wired with a particular Lightning to three.5mm cable (£35) however it’s not included within the field.
The skin of the appropriate ear cup hides quantity and playback controls below the big Beats-logo disc. Press it up or down to regulate quantity. Press the brand in as soon as for pause/play, twice to skip ahead and thrice to skip again. Press and maintain it to activate Siri on an iPhone, iPad or Mac, or Google Assistant on an Android cellphone.
A small button on the underside of the left ear cup swaps between noise cancelling on, off and a transparency setting, which pipes the sounds from the skin world into the headphones. Press and maintain the button to pair one other system.
The headphones flip on and off by folding and unfolding them however taking them off doesn’t pause the music, as has develop into widespread with high-end headphones.
Sound and noise cancelling
The Solo Professional have among the simpler noise cancelling I’ve tried with on-ear headphones, which usually battle to compete with a big set of over-ear noise cancellers.
Highway noise, engine drone and background workplace noise was decreased, whereas noisy commuters have been barely quietened. The headphones do a reasonably good job of passively blocking out noise with out noise cancelling lively, too. They’ll’t fairly match B&W, Bose or Sony however the Beats aren’t that far behind.
The Solo Professional are additionally among the best-sounding Beats headphones I’ve listened to. They produce clear, exact sound that’s virtually scientific at instances, with well-controlled and punchy bass, pleasing mids and crisp highs.
You possibly can hear each be aware in complicated tracks such because the Who’s Baba O’Riley. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sounded notably good in Summertime, whereas they dealt with classical music properly, too.
Dr Dre sounds good, so does high-energy electronica corresponding to Edge by Cicada. However they sound greatest with punchy rock and pop. Play Extremely Suspicious by My Morning Jacket and so they actually come alive.
The Solo Professional sound greatest with lively noise cancelling turned off, producing deeper, richer bass together with the pulsating low tones in Crystallize by Lindsey Stirling.
Battery life
The Solo Professional final simply over 22 hours between fees utilizing noise cancelling. They’re rated to last as long as 40 hours with noise cancelling switched off.
Charging is through Apple’s proprietary Lightning cable, together with these provided with iPhones. A USB-A to Lightning cable is included within the field. A ten-minute cost gives sufficient battery for as much as three hours of playback, whereas a full cost takes one hour and 45 minutes.
Sustainability
Apple doesn’t present a score for the variety of cost cycles anticipated from the battery within the Solo Professional however it’s replaceable and the headphones are typically repairable.
It prices £82.44 to interchange the battery and £166.44 for different repairs out of guarantee.
The Solo Professional are product of as much as 36% recycled plastic, whereas the felt case is product of recycled plastic. Apple additionally affords trade-in and free recycling schemes, together with for non-Apple merchandise.
Observations
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It feels as if the management disc on the appropriate ear cup ought to flip for quantity management however it doesn’t
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The headphones have been extra snug on the ears with the headscarf pushed additional again on my head than regular
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Name high quality was good with each ends of the dialog clear, though the opposite finish might hear some background noise at instances
Worth
The Beats Solo Professional price £269.95 and can be found in a spread of single and two-tone colors.
For comparability, Marshall’s Monitor II ANC price £300, Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700 price £350, Bowers & Wilkins PX7 price £350 and Beats Studio 3 Wi-fi price £300.
Verdict
The Beats Solo Professional are an awesome set of on-ear noise-cancelling headphones.
They sound good, have stable noise cancelling and are snug and steady in your head. Bluetooth connectivity is rock-solid and the battery lasts lengthy sufficient for the weekly commute or flights.
Apple’s H1 chip permits a complete host of handy options with the agency’s units, whereas the Beats app brings a few of them to Android, too.
It’s disappointing {that a} 3.5mm to Lightning cable isn’t included within the field, and they’re actually costly. However at the very least you aren’t simply paying for a giant flashy model any extra.
For those who like on-ear headphones and need a good-sounding, noise-cancelling set, then you may’t go far unsuitable with the Beats Solo Professional – notably in the event you use Apple gear.
Execs: good battery life, good sound, good controls, good noise cancelling, on the spot pairing with Apple with H1 chip, sturdy, snug for on-ear headphones, robust Bluetooth
Cons: costly, no headphones cable within the field, want to show off ANC for greatest sound, no pause on take away, no assist for aptX or higher
Different critiques
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