Beats By Dr Dre Powerbeats Review

We got our hands on the Good Dr Dre's new wireless Beats headphone and they look like they're shaping upwards to offer great cable-free sound from the Compton lad

The Beats past Dr Dre headphones haven't be around for long but, equally our review conspicuously points out, it'southward a large contender in the earth of ear cans. Not simply will we be seeing a Beats past Dr Dre store in the almost hereafter, but the recent tie-upwardly with smartphone makers HTC, seen in our HTC Awareness XL with Beats by Dr Dre review, is attestation to their burgeoning power.

And if that wasn't enough, Monster Beats by Dr Dre, one of the earlier models, even won T3's 2011 Music Gadget of the Year Award.

Whether yous're listening to NWA's Straight Outta Compton or Jedward'southward Planet Jedward, Dr Dre's Beats by Dre headphones accept get the premium brand headphones to exist seen with in public.

From Premier League footballers to the teenagers who hang outside our local branch of Lidl - anybody wears them. And at present they're wireless. That's a great thing, right?

Well... these new cable complimentary cans connect to whatever music playing device via Bluetooth, something that can cause a dip in sound quality compared to going wireless via WiFi or say Apple'south AirPlay for iTunes.

Nevertheless, Bluetooth remains the nigh practical pick and Dre's squad are promising the quality Beats are known for has not been compromised.

Beats by Dr Dre Wireless: Build quality

Smaller than the "archetype" Beats Studio range that Beats By Dre have built their reputation upon, the Beats Wireless is essentially a tweaked pair of their smaller Solo 'phones.

They're slightly weighty due to the batteries, controls, Bluetooth tech, and microphone built inside, simply it's a good weight for the size of the product.

It feels right in your hand, on your head, and crucially effectually your neck (where virtually people seem to wear Beats). The squishy ear pads, and smoothly folding arms add together to the full general feel that this is definitely a high stop production.

Beats past Dr Dre Wireless: Style

Fifty-fifty if you lot hate Dre (yes Water ice Cube, we're talking to yous here) you lot cannot deny that these new headphones await pretty damned cute. At a time when Beats take launched some neon coloured Studio headphones, these are gloriously black, minimalistic, with more curves than a zilch.

All the grade of the Solo, with ear cup controls that are thankfully barely visible. The controls being equally they are may make the headphones fiddly to utilise for some, simply allow's face it you lot're not looking at the buttons whilst they're on your ears anyway. Unless you're some kind of weird lizard or owl.

Beats by Dr Dre Wireless: In use

The built in Bluetooth engineering wirelessly connects to your smart phone, tablet, laptop, PC, whatever. It does this with admittedly no fuss - our pair connected to our iPhone and started playing music without us even asking information technology to.

Managing the volume, skipping tracks, and answering phone calls is all managed directly from the ear cups, which could take some getting use to.

For a while you might be taking the cups off to call back what button does what, merely that time will laissez passer chop-chop plenty.

Recharging via a USB is simple and fuss free, and the quality of sound meanwhile is simply splendid despite our fears over what the Bluetooth might do to it. If we're being pernickety, we'd say it'south perhaps a little bassy, but there's little distortion and the sound is anything but flat.

Beats by Dr Dre Wireless: Verdict

A United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland price tag has yet to be confirmed, but they'll no doubt exist in line with other Beats prices (AKA not cheap). As with all 'phones however you pay for what you lot go, and Beats Wireless ooze quality, crucially in the key areas of audio performance and style.

Hell, even the way they fold upwards feels so right. If it'due south priced sensibly, this could be one of the must accept audio products of 2012.

Beats Wireless availability: later this year for purchase exclusively at Apple stores.

Beats Wireless toll: TBC (US $279)