Beats Solo 4 was launched earlier this yr, and the corporate’s newest on-ear headphones made their method to India in August. They’re outfitted with audio options discovered on costlier wi-fi headphones from Apple, together with spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring and help for lossless audio, however lack help for energetic noise cancellation (ANC). The headphones are appropriate with iOS and Android units and have an ordinary USB Sort-C port for charging. The Beats Solo 4 competes with equally priced headphones from Bose and Sony.
Pricing for the Beats Solo 4 is about at Rs. 22,900 in India. It’s bought in three colourways — Cloud Pink, Matte Black, and Slate Blue (the corporate despatched us this variant for assessment) — through the corporate’s on-line retailer and authorised retailers within the nation.
Beats Solo 4 Design: Light-weight and Comfy
- Dimensions – 177x158x6.8mm
- Weight – 217g
These over-the-ear headphones are largely product of plastic and seem fairly much like earlier technology fashions, except for the extra pastel-like colors that give them a barely much less edgy look. This additionally means they’re fairly gentle to put on for prolonged durations, despite the fact that you may really feel them in your head. The earpads do not seem like user-replaceable, which is unlucky.
Beats Solo 4 contains a acquainted design
Like its predecessors, the Beats Solo 4 has the corporate’s emblem embossed on each earcups. There is a small ‘4′ on the fitting facet of the adjustable headband, whereas the within of the headscarf comprises extra textual content associated to regulatory data (proper) and a left ear indicator — none of those are seen once you’re sporting the headphones.
The headphones ship with a carrying pouch that’s barely cushioned, together with a 3.5mm audio cable and a USB Sort-C to Sort-C cable that can be utilized for lossless audio playback or to cost the headphones. You may must buy an influence adapter individually, although.
I’ve a reasonably lengthy head and put on spectacles, however the Beats Solo 4 felt comfy even after sporting them for a couple of hours at a time. Nevertheless, headphone becoming can differ from individual to individual, so it is best to strive these out at a retailer to ensure they really feel comfy in your head.
Beats Solo 4 Software program: Will get the Job Finished
- Software program platforms – iOS, Android
- Customisable controls – Name administration, media playback, mute/ unmute, quantity controls
Just like the Beats Studio Buds+ and the Beats Solo Buds, these wi-fi headphones work with Android smartphones and most of Apple’s units. You may need to obtain the Beats companion app on the previous, whereas the identical controls are baked into the settings app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac computer systems.
You possibly can customise varied Beats Solo 4 settings on Apple units in addition to Android smartphones
You get help for Google’s Quick Pair service on Android and Quick Pair on Home windows once you arrange the Beats Solo 4 for the primary time. In case you have an iPhone or iPad, you may see the acquainted card pop up asking you to hook up with the headphones. The gadget additionally works with Apple’s Discover My service, whereas Android customers can see the place the gadget was final linked to the companion app.
The left earcup allows you to management media playback and handle calls — a single press pauses and resumes playback, whereas calls may be answered and muted with a single -press and ended with a double press. You too can push the panel’s high and backside to extend and reduce the amount, respectively.
A button on the fitting facet have to be long-pressed to activate and switch off the Beats Solo 4. The underside of the left earcup has a 3.5mm audio port and an LED indicator that signifies when the headphones are charging and in use, whereas the fitting earcup has a USB Sort-C port, an improve over the Solo 3 mannequin with a Micro USB port.
Beats Solo 4 is supplied with a 3.5mm audio port and a USB Sort-C port
Like different audio merchandise from Beats and Apple, the companion app on Android and the built-in audio settings for the Beats Solo 4 does not embrace help for equaliser presets. Which means you’ll have to depend on media apps that embrace their very own EQ controls, similar to Spotify or Poweramp.
Beats Solo 4 Efficiency, Battery Life: Par for the Course
- Bluetooth model – 5.3
- Energetic noise cancellation – No
- Battery life – As much as 50 hours
The Beats Solo 4 headphones are outfitted with upgraded 40mm drivers and a redesigned acoustic structure. They function a impartial sound signature, which suggests they’re very best for varied genres of music, and there is not any perceptible distortion, even when listening to music on the highest quantity.
My standard headphones testing playlist comprises tracks that span varied genres, and the Beats Solo 4 might simply deal with it. Sasha Alex Sloan’s voice sounds extraordinarily clear on Older, whereas the mids and the bass have ample separation. The identical is true for Taylor Swift’s Daylight, the place her vocals are distinctly audible from the background music.
Abba’s Mamma Mia and Voulez-Vous sound glorious on the Beats Solo 4, with ample emphasis on all devices. Afterglow by INXS, a observe that sometimes sounds ‘muffled’ on many headphones, was clear with simply the correct amount of bass.
The Beats Solo 4 felt comfy on the ears even after an prolonged interval
Beats audio merchandise have gained a fame for providing heat, U-shaped audio, however this does not seem like the case for the Solo 4 headphones. The extraordinarily busy Yo soy María by Ástor Piazzolla and María Dueñas is a classical piece that comprises a mixture of violin and piano which are each distinctly audible on the headphones. That is additionally noticeable on No. 24 in A Minor, by Hilary Hahn, one other fast-paced observe that sounded good.
As anticipated, the Beats Solo 4 headphones deal with tracks similar to Billie Eilish’s Birds Of A Feather effortlessly, and there is not any distortion, even when the amount is cranked up. The bass response on Crab Move by NLE Choppa and Nbhd Nick’s Method Up is great.
Like different Beats Solo audio fashions (just like the Solo Buds), these wi-fi headphones don’t provide ANC help. That is disappointing to see on a tool at this value level, particularly contemplating that equally priced wi-fi headphones ship glorious ANC efficiency.
Whereas the dearth of ANC may be a evident omission from the Beats Solo 4, the headphones provide two helpful options — spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring and lossless audio through USB Sort-C or 3.5mm audio ports.
I linked the headphones utilizing each interfaces and located that the sound high quality was glorious, and the wired mode means that you can use the gadget even when the battery is empty. In the meantime, you may want an iPhone to make use of the spatial audio with a dynamic head monitoring function, and it really works reliably whereas listening to or watching supported music and movies, respectively.
Beats says that the Solo 4 is supplied with digital beam-forming microphones which are used together with a voice focusing on algorithm designed to enhance voice high quality on calls. This works seamlessly with the built-in noise discount function on the iPhone, permitting customers to take calls whereas sporting the headphones.
You possibly can fold the Beats Solo 4 and retailer it contained in the included carrying case
The Beats Solo 4 is not outfitted with an Apple H collection or W collection chip, which suggests it lacks help for seamless switching throughout Apple units. Nevertheless, pairing it with an iPhone lets one use it throughout all linked Apple units, and the Quick Pair function on Android permits customers to make use of it.
In line with the corporate, the Beats Solo 4 can ship as much as 50 hours of media playback however needless to say that is with out options like spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring or taking voice calls. After utilizing the headphones to take calls or conferences and hearken to music, I acquired about 5 days of use with a median of eight hours on daily basis, which is someplace across the 40-hour mark.
Even when you find yourself utilizing the headphones for an prolonged interval, you should not need to cost them greater than as soon as every week. The corporate says its Quick Gasoline function permits customers to plug within the headphones to a appropriate charger and get about 5 hours of playback with a 10-minute cost.
Beats Solo 4 Assessment: Verdict
For those who’re in search of a pair of vibrant wi-fi headphones beneath the Rs. 25,000 mark that work effectively with Android smartphones and Apple merchandise, then the Beats Solo 4 is straightforward to advocate, thanks partially to its dependable sound high quality and glorious battery life.
Nevertheless, if you happen to do not want options like spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring or haven’t got an Apple gadget that means that you can entry the function, you may wish to think about the less expensive JBL Dwell 770NC on-ear headphones.
You get a USB Sort-C cable and a 3.5mm audio cable with the Beats Solo 4
Extra superior wi-fi over-the-ear headphones in the identical value section embrace the Sony WH-1000XM4 (Assessment), the Marshall Monitor II, and the Bose QuietComfort wi-fi headphones. Alternatively, you can anticipate the worth of the Beats Solo 4 to drop earlier than buying the headphones.
These headphones provide ANC help, which is lacking on the Beats Solo 4. The older Beats Solo Professional from 2019 is out there from some sellers in India for round Rs. 25,000, with help for seamless switching and ANC utilizing Apple’s H1 chip, if you happen to do not thoughts the deprecated Lightning port and decrease marketed battery life (22 hours and 40 hours with ANC enabled and disabled, respectively).