Beats Solo 2 Review: Great Looks, Now With Better Sound

Dr. Dre’s headphone company is now Apple’s headphone company, but the Beats Solo 2 were unveiled just after the acquisition and clearly developed long before Apple became involved. Still, the sequel to Beats’ flagship product is more than just a footnote to the acquisition story – they’re a huge improvement on the originals and a good reason why the latter-day Beats became an appealing target for Cupertino.

BasicsWeight 0.205 kgAux cable with remote/micCarrying case1.4m cableMSRP: $199.95Product info page

Pros

Lightweight, portableGreat design

Cons

PriceDesign

Design is where Beats excels, and the Solo 2 headphone is no exception. They borrow some design cues from the Studio line, which got an update last fall, and look dramatically better than the Solo HD, with smoother lines and more uniform color schemes. They’re also quite light for cup-style headphones, and they feel comfortable on the ears and head, even when worn for prolonged periods.