Beats Solo Buds test, simple and so effective
Following on from the Beats Solo 4, which surprised everyone by focusing on simplicity and not offering active noise cancellation, for example, Beats took the opportunity to also announce new headphones in the same spirit. The new headphones are now available today Beats Solo Buds. We spent a few weeks with them and we have to admit that we thought we wouldn't like them and in the end… Verdict!
No, there is no ANC
It's 2024, all consumer electronics manufacturers and also all telephone manufacturers offer wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) for the price of Beats Solo Buds. So yes, not all active noise cancellation is equal and this is how brands cut their ranges. So why offer Beats Solo Buds without ANC? So we were able to ask the question to Matthew Costello, VP of Hardware Engineering and Operations at Beatsand the reason is very simple. The sound processing is different when using ANC or not. The work on the sound is not the same with or without ANC. Also, with the specifications of the Solo Buds, Beats wanted to offer above all the best possible sound and the best possible autonomy and the latter was very important in the philosophy of the product. Beats wanted a product that works almost all the time. And today, ANC means a lot less autonomy, especially for what Beats wanted to offer.
So, Beats chose to sacrifice ANC for passive isolation and the thing you discover when trying the Beats Solo Buds for the first time is a kind of step back in time, that of wired in-ear headphones. Passive isolation is successful and while it will never compete with ANC, it is clearly sufficient in everyday life. We used the Beats Solo Buds in a purely urban environment essentially and in the end, with the ambient noise, we did not feel any particular lack. And because the Beats Solo Buds are in-ear, we find this sensation where it resonates in our head when we speak. It's a journey through time!
6pm is good !
The second thing we discover with the Beats Solo Buds is the size of the case and for once, it's impressive! It's very small and with its big pill shape, it fits in any pocket and we end up forgetting about it on a daily basis. We remind you that the Beats Solo Buds case does not integrate an additional battery like the competition and therefore will not be able to recharge the headphones. On the other hand, and this is where it's impressive, is that the Solo Buds offer a battery life of 18 hours. Yes, we're talking about 18 hours, we didn't go into scientific measurements but basically, we only recharged the headphones once a week and not even because it was necessary, it was just to be sure not to run out of battery just in case.
And there, we will be told that it is the same thing with the competitors who offer much less but with the recharging of the case, it is true but with the Beats Solo, we can even leave the case at home and we will always have a great autonomy. Finally, we will note that the Beats Solo Buds offer Fast Fuel technology which allows you to have 1 hour of listening for 5 minutes of charging. Practical.
Comfort and audio
The Beats Solo Buds offer a fairly universal fit with acoustic nozzles that finally orient themselves according to the ear canal. As a result, the fit is quite natural and there is no pressure in the canal. In addition to this, Beats offers four sizes of tips ranging from XS to L, which allows you to find what you're looking for fairly quickly. While Beats belongs to Apple, we applaud Beats' initiative to be compatible with both iOS/iPadOS and Android. For the latter, Beats even offers a dedicated application. Pairing was done fairly automatically and quickly. Nothing to note on that side. As for the controls, it's classic Apple and Beats, namely a button on each side that can do everything.
Because there is no ANC, there is no special processing to do depending on the modes like Transparency mode or others. As a result, we ended up with very good sound quality in calls even though there is only one microphone per earphone. Beat has integrated noise recognition algorithms to better filter the user's voice.
As for the audio quality, we were pleasantly surprised. While in-ear headphones, when they are not of good quality, can muffle the sound, the Beats Solo Buds offer a clear and airy sound. We also thank the design which allows for better air circulation which, in addition, improves the bass. Moreover, speaking of the bass, we are no longer in the presence of the Beats of the pre-Apple era! The bass is very present but remains contained in order to offer a balanced sound where we can easily note the separation of the instruments. It should also be noted that the Beats Solo Buds support spatial audio.
As usual, our tests remain very personal and subjective. In all cases, we put ourselves on compositions by Ryuichi Sakamoto, RAP by Rich Bryan but also mixes by Moro Beats like the title Sabik Sa Trono by Kambal. These were our main headphones and we really had no complaints on a daily basis.
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