Decided to compare my first pair of not-terrible headphones (Beats Solo 2 Wired), to my current pair of audiophile headphones (Focal Elex), for the fun of it.

Here's my thoughts on the Beats now.

Surprisingly, they are still listenable. They aren't good, but they aren't as bad as I was originally expecting them to be. If you EQ them, you could actually have a not terrible listening experience for very cheap (these things are going for under $50 on eBay).

Now, there's still a very big difference between the Beats and the Focal headphones.

Yes, you can still make out (almost) all of the same instruments. But, it's like comparing a phone speaker to a live performance. They're very different experiences.

The Focal honestly feels a lot like a live performance, or at least as close as you could get to one with headphones. It feels like the music is coming from around you, not from inside your head. And, it sounds like every instrument has it's own speaker, the clarity is amazing.

With the Focal, you can effortlessly tell where sounds are coming from and effortlessly pick out instruments from the mix. Everything sounds crystal clear, and unlike more analytical high-end headphones, they're fun to listen to. With the volume loud, it's hard to not dance.

However, the Beats are very different. They just sound like a slightly less shitty pair of cheap headphones, to be entirely honest.

Everything blends together in a typical "shitty headphone" way. It's hard to pick out individual instruments or tell where they're coming from.

The Beats also have this unnatural muffled sound to them, almost as if I'm listening to music with a blanket covering my ears. However, unlike most of the other issues I've mentioned, this can be mostly fixed with the right EQ settings.

However, you don't even need to listen to anything to tell the difference between these two headphones. The comfort is completely different too.

The Focal is very comfortable to wear for shorter sessions, although it's heavy weight can make it a bit uncomfortable for long (6+ hours) listening sessions. If it wasn't for the weight on my head, I might manage to forget I have them on.

However, the Beats are a pair of cheap plastic garbage. They are extremely uncomfortable, it's almost like I have a headband wrapped around the top of my head and two small blankets stuffed in my ears. I don't know how my younger self could stand wearing these things.

But, I want you to keep in mind I'm comparing two headphones which are in very different price ranges. The Beats are targeted towards average people, with a semi-reasonable price of $99. The Focals are targeted toward high-end audiophiles, with a painful price tag of $700.

(Also, keep in mind the Focal Elex is considered a bargain in most audiophile circles, and most audiophile headphones with performance similar to them have prices upwards of $1,000.

I also included shipping and tax in the Focal Elex's price.)

Audiophile stuff may be stupidly expensive, but it's also really nice, tbh.

Also, if you can't afford a Focal Elex, there are very good lower-end audiophile options too. Most Beats headphones (if you're buying new) are considered overpriced in many audiophile circles too.

i don't even know what the point of this thread is anymore
idk i just wanted to do this for the fun of it tbh

Here's a pic of my Focal Elex (no, they don't come with cat ears, I added those myself) next to the Beats Solo 2 Wired. The Focal Elex has a custom cable (the stock one is annoying af), while the Beats still have their stock one.