Monster Beats by Dr Dre Solo HD with Control Talk

It just 4 years passed that Monster has become the leading trend in the headphones market. The Beats by Dr. Dre range of headphones appeared in 2008, but in the few years of its existence, it has become the most popular “trendy” range of cans in the western world. It has arguably brought headphones into the consciousness of normal gadgets buyers more than any other range in living memory. But are the Beats Solo HD, the higher-end version of the range’s on-ear Solo set, any good?

Beats Solo HD

A big part of the reason for the Beats by dr dre spiderman  range’s success, other than that big, bad rap singer name, is design. All the headband sets maintain a consistent look that is undeniably stylish. They’re simple enough to appear genuinely tasteful but distinct enough to become iconic – edgy enough to nudge its way into youth culture without causing an instant, despairing sigh in anyone over the age of 22. Of course, step back during the commuter rush and you realise they’re really just the youth-oriented high street alternative to Bose’s now fully-grown range of headphones – but don’t tell Dr. Dre.

The on-ear cushioning pads are topped with real leather, and are soft and comfy. They are among the most comfortable on-ear headphones we’ve tested. Monster Beats On-ear headphones can cause discomfort for those with more sensitive ears, as they rest directly on them but less so than usual here. The ear cups swivel a few degrees both horizontally and vertically, making them adjust to your head’s lumps and bumps automatically, and eliminating most fit problems occasionally associated with this type of headphone.

beats_solo HD

There’s just one odd choice to the Solo HD – the headband padding is finished with a squidgy rubbery substance that anyone who played with a Stretch Armstrong back in the 90s will remember. We would have expected padded leather, but this almost-sticky material lets the headband stay very slim while sticking on your head reliably and providing good comfort – although we can’t attest to how it feels against a shaved head.

Noise isolation is fairly good too, the inch-thick pads creating a reasonable seal between your ears and the outside world. This makes the Beats Solo HD better-suited than many over-ear headphones  Monster Beats Studio Kobe Bryant Limited Edition Headphones  for use on public transport – a good thing given how frequently we see them worn on trains and buses – though in-ear headphones or noise cancelling sets provide another level of noise reduction.

Another big win for the flexibility of these beats by dr dre Ibeats Monster headphones is its removable cable. A standard 3.5mm stereo jack plugs into the bottom of the left ear cup, making it very simple to upgrade to a longer cable – you can snag a 5m upgrade from everyone’s favourite auction site for a couple of quid. The bundled cables do offer some neat custom tweaks, though. The jacks bear the Monster and Beats branding, and the cable is finished in the trademark Beats red. Two cables are included in the box – both of just over 1m in length – one bearing a ControlTalk handsfree and remote housing, the other doing without.