Apple/Beats lately up to date the Solo3 headphones with new options on par with the Apple AirPods. That mainly contains the company’s W1 chip, which presents essential efficiency and connectivity advantages over the Solo2. At $299.95, they’re nonetheless a bit overpriced, although a step forward in the proper path.
The costliest Beats headphones, the Studio Wi-fi, haven’t acquired a replacement and don’t look to get one any time. At $379.95, they’re no straightforward buy. So if Solo 3 is newer, does that make the pair of headphones higher than the older but dearer Studio Wi-fi? Let’s evaluate the 2 to seek out out.
The Solo3 W1 Chip
The Solo3 instantly presents essential benefits over the Studio Wi-fi because of the brand new Apple W1 chip. It’s the identical chip Apple boasts about within the AirPods in addition to the BeatsX earbuds and PowerBeats. The chip delivers the best battery life to the wi-fi headphones plus straightforward pairing with Apple units.
The Solo3 will get 40 hours of playback earlier than needing a recharge, which is relatively near remarkable within the business. The older Studio Wi-fi sans W1 solely will get a tragic 12 hours. There’s no comparability right here.
Studio Wi-fi additionally has to pair utilizing conventional Bluetooth strategies. Press the pairing button, look forward to activation, then go to the Bluetooth settings in your system, discover your Beats, and hope for fulfillment.
In the meantime, as quickly as you maintain your Solo3 headphones as much as an Apple system, the system asks you to attach it. Increase, you’re all executed. As a bonus, this connection type heads up into iCloud so your different units can routinely hook up with the Solo3 too.
On-Ear vs. Over-Ear
If consolation is excessive precedence, you’re extra more likely to see success with an over-ear pair similar to Studio Wi-fi.
If you happen to already lean in the direction of the Solo3 headphones, you may make one central sacrifice: consolation. The Beats Solo3 are on-ear headphones whereas the Beats Studio Wi-fi is over-ear. The Solo3 cups relaxation in opposition to your ears, whereas the Studio Wi-fi is large enough to wrap fully around them.
Over-ear headphones are usually extra comfy for prolonged utilization as a result of they don’t put a strain on the ear. As an additional advantage, the enclosure of over-ear headphones is healthier at filtering out undesirable noise.
Many on-ear headphones are comfy sufficient, although. Most reviewers didn’t have any significantly unfavorable feedback concerning the Solo3’s consolation. Whereas it often comes down to private desire, if comfort is excessive precedence, you’re extra more likely to see success with an over-ear pair similar to Studio Wi-fi.
Sound High quality
Beats headphones have all the time had a popularity for subpar sound high quality. It’s not that they ever sounded dangerous per se. However, they positively sounded dangerous for the worth.
The sound was means off stability and gave desire to a big boomy bass over first-rate mids or highs. That’s nice for genres like hip hop. However, it falls in need of ample for classical, rock, and even pop.
Nonetheless, evaluations of the Solo3 are fairly universally optimistic. It looks like Apple is in bigger management because of acquisition; the corporate is pushing for extra balanced sound to focus on broader viewers. Typically, it would help if you weren’t too anxious about high sound quality for those who go together with the Solo3 headphones.
The Studio Wi-fi headphones haven’t been up to date since 2014, by no means, they suffered as much from the high-quality sound difficulty in comparison with different Beats headphones.
They’re heavy on the bass too. However, they are extra in keeping with the Solo3 than Solo2. Additionally, they embrace noise-canceling also. That mentioned, Studio Wi-fi is nonetheless $80 additional and one of many dearer wi-fi headphones on the market.
Verdict
I’m shocked to say this. Nevertheless, it does appear like as of now, Solo3 headphones are superior to the Studio Wi-fi. Since high sound quality isn’t a difficulty for both — each is pretty balanced and clear with minimal distortion — Solo3 wins solely on options. The battery life is stellar, as is straightforward connectivity to Apple units.
Hopefully, Studio Wi-fi will get some W1 love in 2017.
The one purpose why you may want Studio Wi-fi (and I actually would as a giant over-ear fan) is the consolation stage. Don’t get Solo3 for those who don’t like headphones that relax immediately in your ears.
However, even then, you’re in all probability only higher off ready for Studio Wi-fi to get a refresh. Shelling out $380 on a pair of old headphones doesn’t sound value it.
Hopefully, Studio Wi-fi will get some W1 love in 2017. Till then, Solo3 is your finest wager.