Beats Solo 4 review

Summary

Ever since they were first introduced in 2009, the Beats Solo 4 review headphones have been the most popular product offered by the firm. When dealing with a history (and popularity) of such magnitude, it is imperative that you give serious consideration to the manner in which you introduce a new generation. Or, to put it another way, if it isn’t broken.

Beats Solo 4 review

Accordingly, it should not come as much of a surprise that the Beats Solo 4, which was only recently released, is not a loud revolution but rather a moderate progression of the Solo3 Wireless. Everything, including the pricing, the form, the design, and the controls, has not been altered in any way. In spite of this, there are just enough improvements here to prevent Beats Solo devotees from going elsewhere, even if there are still a great deal of alternative wireless headphones that provide greater value for the money. I have been using the Solo 4 for a few days, and here are some things that I believe you should know about it.

What’s the latest?

The Beats Solo wireless headphones of the fourth generation are superior than their predecessors in the following ways:

50 hours of battery life, as opposed to 40 hours of battery life
The foam and structure of the earpads have been improved.
driver for 40mm lenses that has been improved and is aimed to decrease distortion
Exclusively available for iOS devices, personalized spatial audio support with head tracking
Android compatibility, including Google Fast Pair and a specialized Android application that has Find My Device options
Siri is the only voice assistant that supports hands-free access.
Audio compatibility for USB-C charging, as well as support for lossless and high-resolution audio
In contrast to analog microphones, digital MEMS microphones
A 3.5mm analog cable that is specifically designed for use

Beats Solo 4 review: A brand that is on-ear

As a starting point for comparisons, it is tempting to go to Amazon or Best Buy and look at all of the wireless headphones that are priced about the same amount as the Solo 4 ($200). If you do, you will have a wide variety of options to choose from. Additionally, you will see that they are loaded with features that are not included on the list of specifications for the Solo 4. These features include active noise cancellation (ANC), Bluetooth Multipoint, wear sensors, and wireless high-resolution audio.

When you take a closer look, however, you will see that the bulk of these cans are designed to be worn over the ears. Additionally, the Beats Solo 4, which are designed to be worn on the ear, are an exception to this rule, and they are so in more ways than one.

On-ear headphones are a reasonable option for certain individuals. The fact that they are often lighter than over-ear headphones may help decrease the tiredness that comes with wearing headphones, and the fact that they are smaller makes it simpler to pack them. On the other hand, the on-ear category has been seeing a decline in terms of high-end options as of late. The majority of businesses consider on-ears to be budget-friendly options, and their designs and color palettes do not offer much to inspire. The Beats Solo 4, on the other hand, have the same sleek style as their more costly Beats Studio Pro brothers. This provides on-ear enthusiasts with a pair of headphones that does not make them feel like they are second-class citizens.
Some of the blingy and polished details that were present on the Solo 3 have been removed from the Solo 4, which was released in black, blue, and pink. The five-LED battery life indicator is also no longer available, which is a disappointing development. In spite of this, the large “b” logo continues to exist, providing the Beats fans with precisely what they desire: identification of the brand.

From a design standpoint, the fact that Beats chose to maintain the same design for the Solo 4 as they did for the Solo3 is limited to the fact that the headphones are not very sturdy. The thin plastic shells that are utilized everywhere have a tendency to break, and I am concerned about the folding hinges since they are not as sturdy as those of the Studio Pro. Both of these issues have been a problem. (For a comparison of the two photographs, go on up.)

Beats Solo 4 review: Do you have glasses? Take a second look

Beats headphones have always been among the most comfortable headphones available, and the Solo 4 headphones are not an exception to this rule. These puppies will only move if you forcefully shake your head, which is the only way they will move. The headband has a large contact area that performs a fantastic job of spreading pressure, and the clamping force is amazing.

In spite of this, the Solo 4’s on-ear design, in conjunction with the same strong gripping power, will have you wailing for mercy after twenty minutes if you also wear spectacles.

Beats is not to blame for this. The fact that headphones press on your ears rather than your head is the price you pay for getting headphones like these.

Beats Solo 4 review: I am grateful for the wires

You’ll discover a carrying case that resembles a toiletry kit within the packaging, which is completely recyclable. The carrying case is included inside the package. (The design is identical to the one used in the Studio Pro.) This package includes the Solo 4 as well as two cables: a 3.5mm analog cable and a USB-C-to-USB-C cable that may be used for charging and digital audio.

That analog wire would hardly be worth noticing on any other pair of headphones, but the fact that Beats did not provide one with the Solo3 is a significant departure from the norm.

Despite the fact that I am pleased to discover that Beats has included that wire, I have to inquire as to why it does not come with an in-line microphone and control buttons. If its aim is to let you to continue getting the most out of your Solo 4 even when there is no power, then one would expect that you would be able to make calls and control the level and playback of the music. Possibly, I am asking for too much. Nevertheless, it’s possible that this is what occurs when you ask them to pay $200.

Beats Solo 4 review: The controls are clicky

You won’t find a better option than the Solo 4 if you want controls that are large and simple to use. As was the case with earlier Beats models, the “b” button on the left earcup is capable of performing a wide range of functions, including play/pause, music skipping, and answering and ending calls. Even if you are on a call, it will silence your microphones (the call controls may be changed in the Beats app for Android or on iOS). In the meanwhile, the ring that surrounds the letter “b” may be pushed either above or below to modify the loudness.

I can deal with the fact that they make a little bit of a noise when they are pushed, particularly considering that you can use them with gloved hands (leave it to a Canadian to be concerned about that kind of thing).

Beats Solo 4 review: Sound that is energizing

At one point in time, the Beats brand was almost associated with a bass-forward sound signature. This sound signature was designed to suit the musical style that was developed by the company’s well-known co-founder, Dr. Dre. But the Beats sound has developed over the years, and every new Beats device has its own unique tuning that sets it apart from the others.

An equalization unit (EQ) that greatly favors higher frequencies is included in the Solo 4.

It should be made apparent that there is also a pretty excellent depiction of the lows and the mids. Simply said, the highs get a bigger quantity of energy than the lows do. In terms of clarity, Beats has done an excellent job with the Studio Pro, and I am relieved to see that they have also included it in the Solo 4. The combination of that clarity and the increased highs, on the other hand, may be quite overpowering. There are occasions when a roughness may seep in, which can make cymbals and some singers seem unpleasant. This is particularly true while listening at volume settings that are higher than 70%.

It’s an issue that becomes uneven. When listening to songs like “bad guy” by Billie Eilish or nearly any composition by Hans Zimmer in which bass notes set the tone, the Solo 4 performs faultlessly and with a great deal of detail (particularly when listening via USB-C or the analog connection). On the other hand, if you take a trip through the middle and high points of Fleetwood Mac’s legendary album Rumours, you could discover that the plot is quite different.

In a typical situation, I would grab for the equalization adjustments in order to bring the volume down a notch; however, neither the iOS settings of the Solo 4 nor the Beats app that is specifically designed for Android have any such changes.

Beats presents this as an advantage, stating that “Solo 4 is our only passively tuned headphone, which delivers a capability that is distinct from the rest of the Beats portfolio.” Solo 4 does not have any active equalization applied to it, which means that the acoustic transducer is responsible for conducting the tuning of the headphones mechanically and in its totality.

At least in principle, this is exactly what you are looking for. Even the Beats Studio Pro need its analog input to go through a digital conversion before it can be converted back to analog. On the other hand, the Solo 4 establishes a direct link between the incoming analog signal and the speakers, which is precisely how a pair of conventional wired headphones function.

The problem is that if you do not like the way the drivers are tuned, there is not much you can do about it other than utilizing your own external equalization (iPhone) or a global equalizer software for Android.

To put the sound character of the Solo 4 into perspective, in order to get a comparable tonal balance using Sony’s ULT Wear headphones, I had to go through the process of using the Treble Boost EQ option. Even after that, the Solo 4 continued to have a more pronounced sound.

This human brain is really remarkable. It is practically capable of adjusting to any input. I did eventually get used to the sound of the Solo 4 after listening to it for a few hours. However, the absence of an equalization adjustment would prevent me from selecting these cans as my preferred option.

When I switched from the wireless connection to the USB-C connection, the roughness of the highs did alleviate a little bit. This leads me to believe that part of what I heard was due to the compression of the AAC Bluetooth codec that is used by the Solo 4. It makes perfect sense. A lossless audio signal is one that does not experience any effects of compression. When utilizing a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) dongle, such as the Astell&Kern Dual DAC Cable, and the analog cable that was provided, the same occurred.

Regarding the USB-C and 3.5mm connections, I will reiterate what I said in my assessment of the Studio Pro: the analog wire is sufficiently flexible to allow for comfortable operation, but I found the USB cable to be too rigid.

Beats Solo 4 review: The audio in the real space

The Solo3 Wireless is described as having the ability to support spatial audio for immersive music, “delivering a surround sound experience that you can take with you anywhere,” according to the product website for the Solo3 Wireless. To a certain extent, I suppose that is correct. But are you aware of anything else that is true? Spatial audio is supported by every single stereo headphone.

This capacity is also available on the Solo 4, but in addition to that, it comes with two extra spatial features: head tracking and spatialized stereo. Unfortuitously, both of these are restricted to Apple.

It is possible for the Solo 4 to take any stereo music (even if it is from an app that is not made by Apple, such as Amazon Music) and give it a three-dimensional quality by making it appear as if you are listening to stereo speakers that are floating above and in front of your head. This is made possible by use of spatialized stereo. When you switch on head tracking, the speakers will remain stationary in space when you swivel your head to the left or right, rather than moving along with you. In particular, if you use it in conjunction with a video application like as YouTube, it may be rather entertaining, and some people might even prefer it over traditional stereo. On the other hand, you shouldn’t be shocked if it makes the harshness that I mentioned before much more severe since this sort of signal processing doesn’t usually play along with content.

The spatialized stereo that is included on the Solo 4 (which is also available on the Beats Studio Pro and Beats Fit Pro) is not as excellent as the version that Bose employs on its QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. On the other hand, the Bose was more than twice as expensive as the speakers.

It is necessary to have Apple Music or the Apple TV app installed on your iPhone (or the Apple TV 4K) in order to get the most out of the spatial audio experience that these headphones provide. With this combination, you will have access to head-tracked Dolby Atmos, which can sound rather stunning when it is supplemented by music or movies that were recorded in this format.

Make a call from any location, with the exception of your bicycle

It is unfortunate that I did not have a pair of Solo3 Wireless available to me so that I could do a direct comparison; nonetheless, I am quite satisfied with the call quality of the Solo 4. In addition to ensuring that your voice is unmistakable, the new digital MEMs microphones eliminate the majority of competing noises. Because they have a somewhat better balance between quiet and clear, they are able to do this task more effectively than the Beats Studio Pro. The Studio Pro are quieter, but they do not have the same level of clarity.

Wind noise is the one area in which they both have difficulties. Even in settings when the wind is just mildly blowing, the system will have a difficult time distinguishing between the sound of your voice and the sound of the wind.

When you are inside or when there is a lack of activity outside, you will be able to communicate with your callers easily.

If you do not have any form of transparency or sidetone option, you will be listening to a muffled version of your speech, which may be quite exhausting, particularly when you are on extended talks. If you are someone who conducts a lot of calling via Teams or Zoom, the Solo 4 is not the first option that I would recommend.

Beats Solo 4 review: A more powerful battery

Is it necessary for a pair of wireless headphones to have a battery that can last for fifty hours? The answer is probably not, particularly when they function with a wire in an unpowered condition; nonetheless, I am not going to criticize Beats for boosting the Solo 4’s stamina by 25% in comparison to the Solo3 Wireless since, as the saying goes, more is more.

On the other hand, I will take issue with the elimination of the Solo3’s five-LED battery indicator, which was a helpful feature.

In a strange turn of events, the Solo3’s Fast Fuel charging was also superior: the Solo3 cans were able to play back for three hours after just five minutes of charging, whilst the Solo 4 could only play back for five hours after ten minutes of charging.

While I was using the Solo 4, I did not have the opportunity to completely discharge the battery from its full charge to its empty state; nonetheless, the remaining battery level that was recorded in iOS was in line with Beats’ statements.

Beats Solo 4 review: A greater value for the same beats

Apple watchers will be acquainted with the bottom line for the Beats Solo 4, which is a product that Apple has released. The price has not changed, and neither has the design; yet, there are sufficient modifications and additional features that give purchasers the impression that the $200 investment they make will result in a pair of wireless headphones that are completely up to date.

A much improved call quality, a longer battery life, head-tracking spatial audio, USB-C charging with lossless audio, and a significantly longer battery life are all nice upgrades.

There are a lot of things to enjoy, provided that you are looking for headphones that fit on the ears and that you are willing to spend a higher price for the large “b” logo. One thing that makes me reluctant to endorse the Beats Solo 4 is that they do not have an equalization adjustment. There is a possibility that these Beats are not the ones you are seeking for since the factory tune emphasizes high frequencies that are vibrant and bright.