Home Headphones Beats Solo (2009) Beats · Solo
Released 2009
Original folding wired on-ear Solo headphones with a detachable cable and ControlTalk microphone remote.
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Type On-ear
Noise cancelling No
Battery –
With case –
Best codec Wired
Weight – What reviewers say Both reviews praise the styling and comfortable fit, but find the bass dominates the sound, hiding detail and making the headphones poor value. InnerFidelity particularly criticises the coloured midrange and missing treble; Les Numériques also questions the light construction and cable durability.
From stereophile.com and lesnumeriques.com
Sound
Type On-ear
Noise cancelling No
Bluetooth codecs None (wired)
Drivers Original maker announcement describes a compact driver but gives no diameter. Battery
Listening time (maker's claim) No battery (wired) Design
Headphone cable Yes
Controls ControlTalk cable supports music playback, volume and calls on compatible devices.
Microphones Microphone built into the ControlTalk remote cable.
Fit and ear tips Folding headband and padded on-ear cushions; original Solo, distinct from the later Solo HD.
Works with Detachable 3.5 mm analogue cable. Original maker announcement lists remote and microphone support for specific iPod nano, classic and touch models, iPhone 3GS and some BlackBerry models; support varies by model and software version. Remote-only support is listed for the third-generation iPod shuffle.
Colours Black and white in the original maker announcement. Planned November 2009 availability is published, but the first actual sale month is unproved, so the release retains year precision. TIME describes the headphones in November 2009.
In the box Les Numériques' reviewed package contains a semi-rigid carrying case and two cables, one standard and one with an Apple-compatible remote. Pros and cons Pros + Folding headband and carrying case+ Detachable headphone cable+ Microphone remote for compatible devicesCons − No Bluetooth or active noise cancelling− Remote functions depend on the connected deviceNewer model: Solo HD .
