Beats Solo Pro Headphone Review: Forget About the Noise

I started acquaintance with Beats headphones not so long ago, but I am already in love with them. I talked about the sports Powerbeats Pro, and now it comes to the head-mounted Beats Solo Pro. It’s no secret that Beats makes some of the best headphones out there and focuses on sound. So I wanted to try one of the models, made in the shape and likeness of the already cult Beats EP. Moreover, Farrell Williams had a hand in designing these headphones, and Billie Eilish herself starred in the advertising campaign. And yes, these are Beats’ first noise-canceling on-ear headphones (although there is already a Beats Studio3 Wireless). In general, there were many reasons we are running to see what is there and what.

You can also read: BeatsX Wireless Earbuds: A Complete Review

Beats Solo Pro: Packaging and Arrangement

Since Beats was bought by Apple 5 years ago, the packaging and design have become appropriate here. When you open the box, it seems to disintegrate, revealing the case with headphones.

Looks pretty cool. The case is made of felt. It is pleasant to the touch and will keep the headphones from scratches and other damage in the backpack.

For premium headphones, it is generally not very surprising to have a case included in the kit. Let’s say it would be strange if he weren’t here. But besides the cover, of course, there are a few more accessories.

First, of course, is a set of instructions and Beats stickers. Secondly, the headphones themselves are in the case, but we’ll talk about them later. But in the box’s compartment, which I did not even immediately notice, there is a USB-Lightning cable. And this, by the way, is the only option to get the original black Apple Lightning cable. Also, there is a small carabiner for attaching the headphone case to a backpack or somewhere else. I do not know if someone will use this method, but there is a possibility, a nice little thing.

Of course, there is no adapter for charging. It is generally a rarity in headphones. Yes, and a USB output, I think, is now in any home.

You can also read: Powerbeats 3 vs. Powerbeats Pro vs. Beats X: Which one to choose?

Beats Solo Pro: Design

Other Beats headphones inspire the Solo Pro headphones, but most of all, of course, the Solo 3 Wireless. This is understandable. In fact, Solo Pro is a continuation and update of the Solo 3 version.

Beats Solo Pro looks very premium, even in red or blue. Here we see metal, matte plastic, and leather. Visually, it looks great.

In color versions, almost all elements are made in the main color of the headphones. But in the colors Ivory and Gray, for example, the headband’s metal part is highlighted in a different shade of color. In general, Solo Pro has 6 colors. But in the official sale now, I see only the first three, but there are no blue, blue, and red headphones for some reason. Let’s hope they just sold out for the new year, and they will appear. Because blue is my favorite color and I can recommend everyone to buy these headphones and the iPhone 12 Pro in blue.

You can also read Apple AirPods Pro: A Complete Review.

Even though the headband seems solid, it is quite flexible. I have a fairly large head size, and the headphones stretch easily on me. I also tried twisting the bow, and it held up. It is clear that the margin of safety here is not limitless, but the Solo Pros are quite strong and can clearly survive more than one fall.

Headphones sit tightly on the head but do not crush. Yes, they do not completely cover the ear, but they adhere to it. Due to the soft ear cushions, there is no discomfort, and external noise is minimized. I wore these headphones for 3-4 hours a day, and I will not say that I experienced any inconvenience. At some moments, it just got hot, but it happens in all headphones of this type.

The size of the headphones is smoothly adjustable. I would even say that it is tight. But the system of turning on and off the headphones is very cleverly made. It would help if you folded the Beats Solo Pro to turn it off or unfold it to turn it on, but you don’t need to press any buttons.

Technology in Beats Solo Pro

Of course, the appearance is not all that these headphones are attracted to. Moreover, the main thing is hidden deep inside. But for the user, it is almost imperceptible, but the proprietary magic is felt. The first is, of course, the connection. As with AirPods, everything works seamlessly here. It is enough to open the headphones, like the iPhone (if it is nearby), will see them and offer to pair. It takes less than a minute. The earbuds will then be visible in iOS, and you can control the volume and noise-canceling mode.

The Solo Pro uses the same Apple H1 chip that we know from AirPods Max, AirPods Pro, and Beats Powerbeats Pro. He is responsible for fast connection to devices and low power consumption, and minimum latency.

In analyzing the appearance, I deliberately did not dwell on the controls. Because they are practically invisible from the outside. Yes, a button (it turns on and off the noise-canceling) and a Lightning port. All other controls are located in the right ear cup. Press once – there will be a pause or start of playback. Double-tap – next track, triple – previous. Click on the upper part, the volume is higher, the lower one – lower. You can figure it out intuitively.

Of course, there is a noise cancellation here. Yes, it works a little worse than in full-size headphones, for example, in the Beats Studio 3 Wireless or Sony WH-1000XM3. However, active noise cancellation (ANC) saves you from most external sounds on the street. They also more or less cope with the metro. Of course, there is also a transparency mode in the settings, which allows you to turn on the microphones and hear what is happening around you.

I was surprised by the running time of the headphones. I’m used to the AirPods Pro lasting almost a month with my activity. But full-size headphones usually sit down in 2-3 days. A good balance immediately turned out, about a couple of weeks. Beats claims up to 22 hours of listening and 40 hours if you look at the bare numbers if you turn off the noise reduction. And of course, there is a Fast Fuel function. When in 10 minutes of charging the battery, it will last for 3 hours of work. That is, you can quickly connect before leaving the house and calmly get where you need to with music.

Beats Solo Pro: Sound Quality

As always with Beats, the sound quality is beyond praise. These headphones have the brand’s signature depth of sound, bass, and volume. With high, not everything is so simple. In some tracks, I had a lot of them. Well, the mids, as usual, are perfectly expressed. I like the headphones mainly for the deep, rich bass that allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere. Amazingly, classical music, rock, and even DnB sound good, although this music is completely different in terms of instruments.

With the music only in the background, there is some subtle hum. This is especially true for the metro, airplane, and other noisy places. You can control noise cancellation using a single noticeable button on the body. It is also available to enable and disable noise reduction from the iPhone settings or Android application. Unfortunately, no additional Noise reduction has no modes or settings. You can only enable, disable, or start the transparency mode.

I love the way the Beats Solo Pro sounds. You need to understand that these are not professional headphones but a gadget for sound lovers. Therefore, it would be strange to demand some equalizer from them. Everything is simple here. I opened the headphones, put them on, pressed the button, and listen to a great sound. I tested the Solo Pro in different conditions, let’s say, everywhere the headphones worked for 4+. Yes, sometimes the wind blows. Yes, background noise is sometimes heard. But these are all little things that will be in any headphones. The most important thing is that we get good sound here, which, together with noise reduction, immerses you in the chosen music’s atmosphere.

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