Beats Solo Pro: Noise cancelling makes all the difference

Fantastic noise cancelling, the H1 chip, and very good sound quality make these the on-ear wireless headphones to beat—for iPhone users.

- JASON CROSS

I personally don’t prefer on-ear head-phones. If it’s portability I’m after, I’ll go for a pair of true wireless earbuds, or if I want the best sound quality for extended listening, I’ll use over-the-ear cans.

On-ear headphones certainly have their place, though. They tend to be more affordable than their larger over-the-ear counterparts, they’re smaller and easier to stuff in a bag, and often lighter and easier to wear for long periods. The success of the Beats Solo series has made it clear: on-ear headphones have lots of fans.

With the Beats Solo Pro, Apple’s headphone brand has taken the very successful design of the Beats Solo 3 and tweaked it in some meaningful ways, while also adding a stellar active noise cancellation mode. The result is a fantastic, if pricey, pair of on-ear noise-cancelling headphones. They don’t break new ground, but they’re probably the best on-ear wireless headphones for anyone with an iPhone.

DESIGN AND COMFORT

If you’re familiar with the Beats Solo headphone line, you’ll have a good idea what to expect from the Solo Pros. They’re on-ear headphones with thick, dense pads that come in a variety of colors—not as many as the Solo 3 now do, but still, it’s a veritable rainbow array. You get white, black, gray, red, and two shades of blue.