Headphones do duty as remote control

Solo 2 from Beats by Dr Dre is a pair of sleek, stylish and compact on-ear headphones with good sound clarity and powerful bass.

Beats Electronics says Solo 2 has been redesigned from inside out, based on the first Solo, which was released in 2009, to provide deep bass, powerful mediums and crisp highs.

Solo 2 features a curved, vividly coloured ergonomic shape to ensure comfort and durability in the highly flexible materials and suave ear cups. The cups have been angled for a completely natural fit, with pivots for optimal comfort and sound delivery. Beats says the cups’ premium material also helps dissipate heat and minimise sound leakage.

The adjustable headband comes in shiny black, white, red, blue, pink or grey. The design hides screws and connecting parts with harmonious hues. And the RemoteTalk cord is in the same shade as the earcups – except the black ones, which come with a red cord inspired by the motif of Beats by Dre.

Solo 2 is highly portable with its compact size and tri-fold design. The package also comes with a carrying pouch. It weighs only 205 grams.

The 1.361-metre cable is useful for controlling the music player on your smartphone by clicking on the remote once to play or pause. You can also use it to accept calls and hang up, for both Android-based and iOS smart phones.

You can use RemoteTalk to adjust the volume without having to reach for your phone. For an iPhone, the remote control can skip to the next song (press the button twice) and return to the previous track (press three times).

I tested the Solo 2 on my Motorola Razr Maxx and iPad. The remote control worked perfectly for controlling the music, skipping tracks and adjusting the volume. The Solo 2 reproduced really deep and powerful bass and provided good details in the mids and highs.

I enjoyed listening to AC/DC’s “Black Ice” with the screeching sounds of guitars and high-pitched vocals, in nice contrast to the sounds of the bass drum and bass guitar.

Listening to the Eagles’ “Hotel California”, I enjoyed the sounds of the instruments, percussion and high hats, in nice contrast to the bass drum.

Trying it with “The Best of Sting” album, I enjoyed the sounds of bass guitar, drums and other percussion fitting in nicely with Sting’s high-pitched voice.

I also enjoyed listening to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairways to Heaven”. The slow introduction sounded sweet with the acoustic guitar and the music got powerful with the drum and bass when it shifted to the fast section.

It reproduced pop music sweetly as well. For example, I enjoyed listening to “You’ve Got a Friend” from the album “Best Audiophile Voices V” and loved the sweet voice of the singer backed up with the powerful cello and the fine details from other instruments.

This month Beats Solo 2 is available only at iStudio shops, but it’s soon coming to Jaymart, Life, PowerMall, PowerBuy, Munkong Gadget and other leading IT shops, for Bt8,900.

 

KEY SPECS

 

Type of jack: 3.5mm 

Weight: 0.205kg

Height: 198mm

Length of cable: 1.361m

In the box: Beats Solo2 on-ear headphone, RemoteTalk cable, carrying case