Manage updates with the Download AppBeats Solo HD (Black)
Manufacturer: Monster Part number: 129424-00
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Beats Solo by Dr. Dre Headphones from Monster offer a killer, travel-friendly design that's sure to turn heads, but the audio quality fails to live up to the price tag.
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CNET editors' review
Beats Solo HD (Black) price range: $179.95 - $199.95
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 12/10/2009
The good: The Beats Solo by Dr. Dre Headphones from Monster offer a stylish, compact, and durable design that lends itself well to on-the-go use. The cable is ultranice and features an integrated mic, iPod controls, and volume rocker. Bass is thumping, and the package includes a handy carrying case.
The bad: The Beats Solo headphones may not be comfortable for everyone, audio is muddy overall, and they leak a fair amount of sound.
The bottom line: The Beats Solo by Dr. Dre Headphones from Monster offer a killer, travel-friendly design that's sure to turn heads, but the audio quality fails to live up to the price tag.
User reviews
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Quality Headphones, Better Choice than the Beats Studio
by D-Alvarez on April 10, 2011
Pros: + Excellent sound, quality construction and sleek design
+ Really comfortable
+ Not use a battery
+ Superior quality of the plastic
+ 3-year warranty
+ Has a remote control that can control the volume and other functionsCons: - These headphones are not noise-cancelling
- Volume control does not work on iPhone 3GSummary: Last year, I tried out a pair of Beats Studio noise-cancelling headphones at an Apple Store and, upon listening to the music selection, decided that it was the best sounding ...
Summary: Last year, I tried out a pair of Beats Studio noise-cancelling headphones at an Apple Store and, upon listening to the music selection, decided that it was the best sounding headphones I had ever listened to. I was impressed enough that I was tempted to purchase them on the spot...but I had some hesitations which led me to walk out empty-handed. The caveats then were:
Edit Link
-Battery required for operation (due to the noise-cancelling function, which I didn't need)
-Large size
-The plastic material felt cheap and likely to crack easily
-and of course, the price (about three-hundred fifty USD at the time)
The sound of the Beats Studio had "haunted" me since, as I searched in vain for a cheaper and better quality pair of headphones which matched or beat that sound. I tried pairs from Grado, Ultimate Ears, Sennheiser, Bose, but never felt satisfied with the sound quality as I had with the Beats Studio. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I learned that these headphones, the Beats Solo, were coming out. I saw that the price was below two-hundred USD and ordered them immediately. My hope was that the sound quality would be just as good as the more expensive Beats Studio.
These headphones have met all my expectations. The sound is truly amazing and I can clearly hear so much detail in my music. The headphones do a swell job of projecting the background detail enough, but not too much that it drowns out the rest of the music. Also, the bass is slightly amplified so you hear some slight "thump thump" but is definitely not overpowering like "THUMP! THUMP!"
As for the caveats that I had with the more expensive Beats Studio, they are all addressed to my satisfaction with the Beats Solo:
+These headphones are not noise-cancelling, and as a result do not use a battery. They are simply plug-in headphones without an on/off switch.
+The Beats Solo is more compact than and not as bulky as the Studio phones. They also fold and can be stored in the included neoprene carrying pouch.
+The quality of the plastic in these phones is much superior. These phones feel solid and worth the price.
+The price is still high, but I believe it's more reasonable.
There are some other differences that are noteworthy about the Beats Solo over the Beats Studio:
+The Solo headphones are worn so that they rest on TOP of your ear, and not surrounding them. If you are familiar with Bose's line of headphones, then the Beats Solo would compare to the Bose On-Ear headphones. The Studio phones, however, fit around the ear and would compare to the Bose QC2/Quiet Comfort 15 phones.
+The cheaper Solo headphones have a 3-year warranty vs. 1-year warranty for the more expensive Studio headphones. (Interesting...)
+While both headphones include a cable with a mic that can be used with an iPhone or similar phones, the Solo headphone cord also has a remote control that can control the volume and other functions. However, this feature isn't perfect. The button that controls playback functions is too small that I typically would hit the volume button at the same time. Also, I tried using the phones while making calls with my iPhone 3GS, and the people on the other end complained that they heard a substantial amount of background noise.
In conclusion, I believe the Beats Solo headphones have excellent sound, quality construction and sleek design which make them worthy of their price. They are, in my mind, a better buy than the more expensive Beats Studio headphones. Only if you are a frequent flyer who would benefit from noise-cancelling should you consider buying the Studio headphones. Otherwise, the Solo headphones are the ones to get.
*** P.S. If you will buy these headphones I suggest you have compare price before you decide at: www.amazon.com/gp/*************?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%****%2Foffer-listing%2FB002P8LZ36%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Ddp_olp_new%26condition%3Dnew&tag=***************&********=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957
Updated on Nov 11, 2011
Suggest Compare prices before you decide at: http://beam.to/BeatsSolo
Enjoy!18 out of 20 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Disappointed !!!!
by lokedout on July 1, 2010
Pros: I like the way the headphones look, thats it!!!
Cons: Feel tight on your head after a while
Summary: It's all about the SOUND!!! If i'm going to pay the amount of money I paid for these headphones, I want the SOUND that Monster says they have. ...
Summary: It's all about the SOUND!!! If i'm going to pay the amount of money I paid for these headphones, I want the SOUND that Monster says they have. It's too bass heavy and the treble is too low. I prefer a full, clean sound that you can hear EVERYTHING EQUALLY!!! I heard the other Monster beats headphones and I was blown away, but the Solo headphones aren't even close to that kind of sound. i'm gonna take these back and get something better as soon as possible. You would think that headphones with Dr.Dre's endorsement would be better, I am truly, utterly disappointed.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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3.5 stars, very good for bass lovers, sizzle is muted.
by plindsey3 on December 4, 2010
Pros: The overall output is as strong as the Skullcandy Hesh (which I would recommend to bassheads who can't afford the Solo). Recommend to those of us who grew up appreciating the bass in all music genres.
Cons: The bass is LOUD and STRONG compared to the rest of the frequency range. This is intentional, but some folks don't like bass. I would limit these to playback only, I can't use these for audio or video productions.
Summary: You can probably enhance the treble/high frequencies with your source unit's tone control, but I'm reviewing the headphones and not your sound source so that suggestion is ...
Summary: You can probably enhance the treble/high frequencies with your source unit's tone control, but I'm reviewing the headphones and not your sound source so that suggestion is not applicable here.
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The Solo is closed-back, on-ear (Supra-aural) design but so powerful there can be some sound leakage. On-ear headphones can be uncomfortable if the pads aren't soft enough and can leak sound to the outside world or slip off easily if they're too soft. The overall output is as strong as the Skullcandy Hesh (which, at 1/3 the price, I would recommend to bassheads who can't afford the Solo). The user may need to turn down the bass on the sound source to tame these Solo headphones.
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Very strong bass frequency range, and strong lower midrange. Definitely for bassheads, I would not recommend these for mixing music or video. The bass is so strong you could easily compensate too much and leave too much bottom out of your mix. The opposite is true for your music library - these things bring out the BOTTOM! The frequency curve seems to start rising just above 110Hz and stay up throughout the bass range. Kick drums kick in the center of your head; not just the drum's thump and bloom, but the actual hit of the foot pedal, which is usually centered in the lower midrange. Try before you buy, as these are on-ear and you need to know what that feels like if you have never owned cans of this design.
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Back in the day Dr. Dre had a cut titled "Keep Their Heads Ringing." This is the set of headphones I wish I had back then just for this track. Bass has just as strong an effect on your eardrums as high frequencies do, and can be just as damaging. I started to feel that after just a few minutes of auditioning the Solos because I was caught up in the heavy bass. The left side of my head started to "ring" and I had to take them off and sit in quiet for a few minutes. You have been warned.
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Would not recommend for: Soft rock, 70s and 80s pop rock, jazz featuring acoustic, upright bass, classical, most country. Most recordings in these styles mix the bass to support the overall sound and to outline chord changes. These headphones may be disturbing to users who believe bass should be limited to that role. Prince's "Guitar," from the album Planet Earth starts off with a 4-bar chord run on guitar before the bass kicks in; with the Solo this track sounds like it's a "bass" track with guitar and drums supporting it. With other headphones it's the opposite, it's a driving guitar track with some guitar-string striking and cymbal sizzle in the mix. When I tried "He Reigns" from the Newsboys' Adoration album I could easily hear the sibilance from the lead singer's voice, but the sizzle from the drum kit's (two!) high hats and cymbals was subdued and the guitar string strikes were tame. The tambourine that comes in at the 3-minute mark was clear and not harsh, a pleasant surprise - tambourines can destroy a track. "Fantasy Girl" from .38 Special's Wild-Eyed Southern Boys album sounded like it was playing in a luxury car equipped with a very good sound system and subwoofer - in other headphones this track sounds like a guitar workout, my preference for this track.
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Would recommend for: Urban Gospel (Yes!), hip-hop, metal (don't tell your guitarist this), "smooth" jazz, and funk. Some rock tracks will sound good through these as well, if you lean toward bands or musicians that favor their bass players in the mix. Earth Wind and Fire's "Mighty Mighty" is a nice model of the above examples; Al McKay's guitar remains prominent in the right track, the keyboards fill the left track, the horns are still prominent in the mix, the vocals are up front and proud and Verdine White's bass is awesome! I love everything by Fred Hammond through these headphones. Listening to Wes Montgomery's "Four on Six" reminded me of listening to a vinyl track through a tube stereo - we had one when I was growing up. The guitar's natural distortion in certain sections of this track is not as obvious through the Solo as it is through the Skullcandy Hesh, indicating the Solo's bass/low midrange boost starts lower on the scale than the boost built into the Hesh.
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My headphones include: Sony MDR-7506; Shure SRH440; Carvin H44M; JVC HA-X570; Skullcandy Skullcrushers; Skullcandy Hesh; Skullcandy Lowriders; and, Grado SR80. I would not buy the Solo as my sole [pun] set of headphones, but they are keepers!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Build quality is Poor at best with style the shines!
by tcrooke on February 27, 2010
Pros: Style! They look amazing and feel solid**
Cons: Expensive.
Terrible build quality
Too much base that drowns the rest of the musicSummary: I work at a location with retailers that sell these headphones country (USA) wide and we have an ongoing issue with the fact that they keep breaking. My store now ...
Summary: I work at a location with retailers that sell these headphones country (USA) wide and we have an ongoing issue with the fact that they keep breaking. My store now is on their 8th pair in 3 months! I know other stores are on their 13th pair already. Yes they look great but in my opinion do not sound that great for the price. I am sorry, I really want to lik them based on looks and feel, but sadly I am greatly disappointed.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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After the warenty expired so did the good sound.
by hagar101 on October 1, 2011
Pros: Look sorta cool
Cons: to hear the highs you have to hold the rocker on +
Summary: Disapointed. had too many other options for this much money.
Summary: Disapointed. had too many other options for this much money.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not living up to its price range
by DinJason on March 16, 2011
Pros: The design is really cool and the new headband is really durable. The bass is really loud and fit really with hip hop music
Cons: Sound quality is pretty imbalanced. the bass almost cover all other range, even with eq setting, problems cannot be solved. To me the sound quality is not as indicated as on the package. The design is pretty tight, you might feel uncomfortable and sweat a
Summary: Go buy bose for better price, sound, and comfort. Beats is just for bass lovers
Summary: Go buy bose for better price, sound, and comfort. Beats is just for bass lovers
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love Dre's music, extremely disappointed in headphones
by EekArk on January 30, 2011
Pros: They look good, no doubt about it. That's all.
Cons: Sound is muffled. Fit too tight & hurt your ears. Broke after having them for 37 days. Laptop bag fell on them and they broke into 8 pieces. Very cheap plastic construction. Bought $40 headphones from Brookstone w/ better sound. Don't buy!
Summary: I read the reviews but did not want to agree with them because I trusted the Monster brand and Dr. Dre endorsement. From day one, the sound did not compare ...
Summary: I read the reviews but did not want to agree with them because I trusted the Monster brand and Dr. Dre endorsement. From day one, the sound did not compare to the comparably priced Bose set. I liked the stylish look of Dre's headphones and bought them. They fit very tight on the head and after 30 minutes I found myself readjusting them because they hurt my ears. While waiting to catch a flight to Germany, my laptop bag fell over onto my headphones and they broke into eight pieces. Not wanting to waste another $200 on a new pair at the airport, I bought a $40 pair of headphones from Brookstone. Unbelievably, they sound clearer and richer than the $200 Beats By Dre. I have been a fan of Dre's since his days with NWA and bought his headphones despite the negative reviews. I am very disappointed in my purchase and with Monster and Dre for hyping this substandard product. It is my mistake for ignoring the reviews and going with the stylish look. I knew I sacrificed on quality when I first listed to my iPod with my new headphones, but was determined to have them because of their look. Boy, was I disappointed. Next time, I will go with Bose.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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in a word:horrid!
by markuscarcass on December 28, 2010
Pros: they look cool.and they are comfy
Cons: terrible sound quality compared to the BOSE on-ear headphones.which are the same price but these just sound ridiculous! my BOSE in-ear 2 headphones($100) sound better than these pieces of crap.absolutely not worth the money.your paying for the brand.
Summary: dont buy these if you care for your sound.
Summary: dont buy these if you care for your sound.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Waste of time buying them and then returning them.
by jeffrey711 on November 8, 2010
Pros: Looks nice. Has volume control on cord to headset.
Cons: Why would I want to spend $250 to get headphones with such horrid sound quality. I have a pair of $30 headphones that sound much, much better. When I returned them I was told by the woman at the store that her brother had said the same thing.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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These Beats look good, sound bad
by ElVolto on November 4, 2010
Pros: Beautiful design, carrying case, integrated controls for phone
Cons: They sound awful
Summary: If you want earphones that impress the gullible, while looking better than they sound, these are for you. On the other hand, if you like high fidelity run away from ...
Summary: If you want earphones that impress the gullible, while looking better than they sound, these are for you. On the other hand, if you like high fidelity run away from these as fast as you can.
To be succinct, they sound horrible. In the case of these phones, Dre means dreadful. Isn't sound quality why you want headphones?
Do yourself a favor and shop around. There are plenty of better sounding cans out there and for a lot less than the exorbitant price of these.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Monster
- Part number: 129424-00
- Description: Headphones that could reproduce the true dynamics of today's music were a rarity - until the legendary Beats Studio hit the scene. Now, a headphone in the beats tradition, Beats Solo brings you amazing sound in a smaller, lighter on-ear design. With Beats Solo, you'll hear every sonic detail the musicians and recording engineers laid down in the studio. Solos are compact and incredibly lightweight and ready for your active lifestyle, gym work out, or frequent travel. The tri-fold design allows Solos to fit into the included compact carrying case. With Beats Solos getting a great music experience has never been easier. With solos, you feel the music, not the headphones. Plush, on-ear cushions comfort your ears and form an acoustic seal that keeps the sound in and noise out.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Headset
- Height 7.8 in
- Weight 5.6 oz
- Color Black
- Recommended Use Cellular phone,
Portable audio system,
Tablet - Additional Features Answer/end/play/pause/next track button,
2-way speaker system,
7188109,
Volume control,
Foldable,
Remote control Headphones
- Headphones Type Headset - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Full size
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- In-Cord Volume Control Yes
Microphone
- Type On-cable
Remote Control
- Type Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type Headset ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 4-pole )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Headset cable - External - 4.5 ft
- Included Accessories Carrying case
Power
- Power Device None
- Battery None
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Monster
Specs: Headphones - Binaural,
Headset,
Ear-cup,
Black,
5.6 oz,
Stereo,
Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 4-pole,
Answer/end/play/pause/next track button,
2-way speaker system,
7188109,
Volume control,
Foldable,
Remote control,
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year -
Manufacturer: Monster
Specs: Headphones - Binaural,
Headset,
Ear-cup,
White,
5.6 oz,
Stereo,
Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 4-pole,
Answer/end/play/pause/next track button,
2-way speaker system,
7188109,
Volume control,
Foldable,
Remote control,
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year -
Manufacturer: Monster
Specs: Headphones - Binaural,
Headset,
Ear-cup,
Red,
5.6 oz,
Stereo,
Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 4-pole,
Answer/end/play/pause/next track button,
2-way speaker system,
7188109,
Volume control,
Foldable,
Remote control,
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year -
Manufacturer: Monster
Specs: Headphones - Binaural,
Headset,
Ear-cup,
Green,
5.6 oz,
Stereo,
Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
Answer/end/play/pause/next track button,
Volume control,
Foldable,
Remote control,
Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Monster products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Monster
- Address:
455 Valley Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005 - Phone: 1-877-800-8989
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