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Beats headphones make fashion statement, sound great

Lee Neikirk and Michael Desjardin
The new Beats Solo2 headphones offer great sound in a fashionable package.

Beats Electronics has taken over the music world, and at first glance it's easy to see why. The audio company (recently acquired in a landmark deal by Apple) specializes in colorful, stylish headphones that are just as much of a fashion statement as they are audio tools.

While they might look almost exactly the same as their predecessors, the Beats Solo2 on-ears (MSRP $199.95) are a huge improvement upon the original Solo on-ears, thanks to a subtler soundscape. There's still plenty of low-end love here, but the overall sound grants respectable emphasis to the entire audible spectrum.

You're still trading comfort for style, however, as the inflexible hard-plastic design is a bit like high heels for your head. For many, though, Beats represents a fashion phenomenon that absolutely eclipses most of the headphone industry, and it's a price they're willing to pay.

Beats offers the Solo2 headphones in six colors: red, white, gray, blue, pink and their iconic black-and-red. The design emphasizes sleekness and simplicity, so the adjustable headband is clean and mostly seamless.

The most noteworthy feature here is Beats' "RemoteTalk" controller, which allows users to adjust the volume, pause/play music, skip/scan tracks and answer phone calls. RemoteTalk is compatible only with iOS, however, so Android users will still have to take their phone out of their pocket every time they want to answer the phone or jump to another song.

The Achilles' heel of the Solo2s is their vice-grip tightness. The stiffness of the ear cushions combined with the overly snug fit made them difficult for long-term use. For longer journeys, they can be folded and zipped up in a round carrying case. Despite their flaws, the Solo2s are built to last — the straightforward design feels naturally durable in a way that busier over-ear headphones do not.

These headphones from Beats combine style and substance.

Whether or not you like Beats as a brand, there's no denying that the Solo2 headphones are pure performers—regardless of genre.

You'd never want to use the Solo2 on-ears for studio mixing, and audiophiles will likely shun them, but they're perfect for most listeners. A mild over-emphasis on bass tones gently tapers into slightly quieter mid and high-mid frequencies. This means that naturally harder-to-hear instruments are given a little extra "oomph," helping them to stand out alongside the usual show-stealers: vocals, cymbals nd guitars.

We also tested a surprising lack of distorted elements considering the smaller speaker size and compact form factor. Other than the deepest, most imperceptible low-end notes, music playback is entirely free of audible distortion.

If you intend to bring the Solo2 on-ears along during a commute, or you're a frequent flier, you'll be glad to know that they do a decent job blocking out ambient noise. Provided you get a snug fit, you'll notice that mid- and high-range frequencies like squeaking tires or squealing children are dampened considerably. Deeper sounds, on the other hand, will still blast through at full volume.

While there's something to be said for the almost cult-like fashion statement attached to Beats headphones, it's a shame that the Solo2 on-ears aren't more comfortable, since they actually sound better than they look.
As good as the audio quality is, the price (about $199 online) is a little high for the caliber of design and materials. If you're looking for a combination of premium sound and comfort, there are cheaper options like the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro, which can be found online for as little as $175.