Headphone Reviews

Measurements Wired Passive

Measurements Wireless

The Beats Solo3 headphone response is near identical to that of the preceding Beats Solo2, as is the sound character. Raw frequency response plots show a bass emphasis of about 7dB that falls to bassline at about 400Hz. This emphasis is slightly higher than the roughly 5dB emphasis of the Harman target, but extends upward into the midrange beyond the recommended 150Hz, making the bass sound overly thick. The rise to the 3.5kHz peak is near neutral, and subsequent fall to about 5kHz is within the norm, giving this headphone a fairly balanced signature from the middle of the midrange up into the mid-treble. Levels above 5kHz are about 5dB too low making slightly laid back and not quite as lively as one might like. However, there are no glaring issues in the treble response, so this headphone is quite forgiving.

30Hz square wave has a linear top and the distortion figures in the bass are quite low, which indicate the nice, tight response heard in listening. Though I didn't notice it in listening tests, Bluetooth bass response in the 30Hz square wave indicates slightly poorer low bass response with a more swayback shape. Probably from capacitively coupled signals in the headphone's electronics.

300Hz square wave shows a good initial transient, but slightly excessive subsequent ringing, as does the impulse response. Subsequent strong upward slope of the 300Hz square wave shows these headphones lack some upper-treble response, which was heard.

Distortion plots are quite good with all results below 1%.

Impedance plots in wired mode show a nominally 37 Ohm headphone with a few moderate features around 3kHz, which is very common for a headphone of this type.

Isolation is about average at -15dB broadband.

Needing 46mVrms to achieve 90dBspl at the ear, these headphones will be driven to solid listening levels by portable devices.