When hip-hop rapper and record producer Dr. Dre isn’t making
music, he’s busy designing his Beats line of audio accessories. The brand has
been making waves since it came out and has been known for its thread of
celebrity endorsements alongside a growing fan base of devoted young adults.
One of the top items in his line, the Solo HD, has been revamped with a
pleasing makeover in the latest Beats Drenched in Color collection
Design 4/5
Latest from Dr. Dre is the Beats Drenched collection. And
no, its name has nothing to do about them being waterproof. The Drenched in
Color Solo is basically the classic Beats Solo HD earphones drenched in a solid
matte finish, but still sporting the same iconic design.
Beats Drenched
Solo HD in color family
In place of the classic Solo’s glossy finish, is a low-key
matte coating which defines the Drenched collection. The whole package, cable
and case included, is coated in a nice deep red save for the reflective Beats
logo on the cups. Other colors in the collection are green, blue, light blue,
red, black, magenta, purple, white, and mint colors.
The Beats Solo HD excludes a premium feel and quality much
like a luxury car. Admittedly, I was expecting a flashy too-cool-for-my-style
set when I unboxed it but I found myself marveling at the pair for a few
minutes before trying them on.
An adjustable metal band wrapped in plastic connects the ear
cups which are topped with real leather, while the ends fold to the inside
making it convenient for easy storage and listening on-the-go.
The Beats Solo HD
excludes a premium feel and quality much like a luxury car
I’d always found Beats too flashy for my liking. However,
the toned-down Drenched collection makes for an ultra-sexy pair of cans that
didn’t leave me thinking twice about betting my money on them. It could be that
I’m biased towards red, but I think the Drenched Solo is beautiful.
Hardware 3.5/5
Oddly enough, it took me some time to find the Solo’s
technical specs which aren’t mentioned on the box. But a couple of Google
searches reveal it has a 45ohm impedance, 115dB sensitivity, and a frequency
range of 20Hz to 20kHz which means ultra-low bass tone and clear highs
shouldn’t be a problem. Listening in high volume wouldn’t distort the sound
too.
The package comes with a removable cable with in-line mic
and remote function that controls iOS devices. It would’ve been great if the
remote had been compatible with my laptop, but that’s a minor issue. The 4.3ft
cord has a straight 3.5mm jack you connect to the left ear cup while the end
leads to an L-plug that attaches to your audio source.
Beats Solo HD
cable
User experience 3.5/5
The Solo exerted a comfortable amount of pressure on the
head, enough to keep them from falling out of place even as I moved about while
on the road. The ear cups did a good job of sealing in the sound too, but heavy
sweaters might find the leather padding to be a slight problem.
For its $240 price tag, you’d expect a more rounded
performance but the Solo’s overall sound quality is more leaning towards
unbalanced. I ran it across a multi-genre playlist of songs and it’s noticeable
especially when you listen in low volume that the bass overpowers the mids,
which would sometimes result in muffled vocals. Overall, the average user
should find it has decent sound quality but I expect seasoned audiophiles may
find the pair wanting in the audio department.
The Solo exerted a
comfortable amount of pressure on the head
Value 3/5
There’s no doubt that the Beats are stylish and its new
finish increases the sexiness factor a few notches higher. It also has
excellent build quality, feeling very much like it could withstand a good
amount of physical abuse. All this plus heavy branding, however, have resulted
in an expensive pair of cans with a sound quality hardcore audiophiles will
find average at best.
If you have the means to purchase a pair of headphones for
its style, I say go ahead, join the BeatsArmy and indulge on the Drenched Beats
Solo. But those looking for a hardcore pair might go for less expensive
options.
Although not meant
for hardcore audiophiles, these are ultimately a stylish pair of cans
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Specifications
·
Type: On-Ear
·
Connectivity: 3.5mm audio cable with in-line mic and remote
function (4.3ft)
·
Impedance: 45ohms
·
Frequency Response: 20H–20kHZ
·
Sensitivity: 115dB
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