I wear headphones every single day, and I know what makes a good pair.
I wear them when I cook, when I clean, when I knit, when I walk, when I work out – I wear headphones for multiple hours a day (God forbid I think my own thoughts at any point), and so who could be more qualified than I to review the newest offering from Beats?
A little about Beats itself to begin with. Founded by Dr Dre in 2006, Beats was designed for music fundamentalists and people who demanded premium quality audio beyond the confines of a studio or professional audio set-up.
And, in 20 years of design and construction, they’ve found their way into my true-crime-podcast-loving hands.
How I tested
Beats360 try-on photo
The Standard/Beats
I broke my testing down into the three key times in which I rely on my headphones: working out, commuting, and winding down. I’ll get into the highlights and lowlights of each test, but first? Let’s start with the key info:
Beats 360 headphones
Beats
★★★★★
What we love: The colour, the noise-cancellation, the easy-to-connect Bluetooth
Take note: Tighter than my previous pair, less squishy on the ears; I had some trouble taking phone calls on them
The commute test
Beats360 train photo
The Standard/Beats
As a Londoner, I obviously need my headphones to pass the commute test, first and foremost. Especially when facing the utter chaos, the dystopian Dantesque realm that is The Tube. And, let me tell you, this is where the infamous Beats noise-cancelling really comes in clutch.
What I will say is that as a woman often travelling alone, the noise-cancelling technology (although extremely effective and advanced) isn’t always what I feel I should be doing. Where it saves my peace during the day, it can feel a little wrong to rely on at night – this is where one of my favourite features comes in.
I can switch my Beats into ‘transparency’ mode at the push of a button, moving into a setting that allows a leakage of outside noise into my ears, and providing some input from my surroundings. Although, yes, I probably shouldn’t wear headphones at night at all.
The work-out test
Beats360 work-out pic
The Standard
Okay, I don’t actually make a habit of being upside down. In fact, when someone else does it in the gym, I usually roll my eyes a bit. However, I am dedicated to putting these Beats to the test, and so I’ve been doing more inversions than ever to see how they stand up against gravity itself.
The answer? Excellently. The more secure, slightly tight fit of the headphones means they stick in place like a hero, moving with me through all my stretches, weights, runs and yes, even handstands. In short, they impressed me in the workout test game.
The wind-down test
You’ll notice that there’s no picture for this test, namely because I was simply too wound-down, cosy and comfortable to be snapping selfies featuring my headphones.
Now, my only slight criticism of these headphones is perhaps the most pathetic one – I can’t nap in them. They’re firm and secure on my ears, too structural for tossing and turning compared to my older, worn-in and squishier pair.
The same traits that I appreciated earlier in the gym have come back to bite me now that I can’t drift off wearing these Beats headphones, but I think that’s a trade-off that I’m willing to make. I’ll just have to trade them in for my white noise machine once I start to doze. Swings and roundabouts.
- Noise-cancellation? Designed with the brand’s most advanced noise-cancelling technology to date
- Key features: Interchangeable ear and headband cushions, and immersive sound
- Sweat- and water-resistant? Yes
- Battery life: Up to 32 hours
- Phone call compatibility? Yes
Are the Beats 360 headphones worth it?
In a word, yes. In more words, the Beats 360 headphones deliver on their promise to bring premium audio into your everyday life, but I have to acknowledge that that comes with a pretty premium price tag of £299.95. If that’s a number that you’re comfortable with for a great pair of headphones, then Beats are a great choice. Otherwise? I’d go for a scaled-down, more everyday model, such as a SkullCandy or Bose. That said, will anything match the longevity of a pair of Beats?