What’s really in a $200 pair of Beats headphones? According to a teardown by venture capital firm Bolt, about $16.89 worth of parts. They found a device mostly made out of injection-molded plastic, pieces of metal that serve no purpose other than to make the headphones feel heavier than they really are, and a whole lot of glue. [Medium] (via Gizmodo — thanks, Rowell!) UPDATE: These headphones turned out to be counterfeits, but the components of the real ones aren’t worth much more. [More]
beats by dre
Colin Kaepernick Fined $10K For Wearing The Wrong Headphones
By 10.10.14
As we mentioned earlier this week, the NFL has banned players from wearing any non-Bose headphones on the field, in the locker room or while talking to the press after the game. Which is why San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick is being hit with a $10,000 fine for sporting a pair of the Beats headphones (that he gets paid a lot more than ten grand to endorse). [More]
Beats Headphones Join iPads On List Of Products Banned From NFL Sidelines
By 10.6.14
While NFL stars like Colin Kaepernick might love the Beats by Dre headphones they get paid to wear, they won’t be allowed to sport the fashionable headgear on the sidelines of their games, or even around their necks during post-game interviews, thanks to an exclusivity deal reached between the league and Bose. [More]
‘Sound By Steve’ Is Basically The Same As ‘Beats By Dre,’ Right?
By 9.17.13 — Updated: 9.16.14
Beats by Dre headphones look pretty cool, probably double as earmuffs, and even our audiophile friends over at Consumer Reports think they sound okay. Whether they’re worth the high price tag is up for debate, but most of our readers would probably say “nahh.” Fortunately, you can get that sleek Beats look on a budget. [More]
Beats Headphones Are Worth The Price, Depending On What You Want To Pay For
By 5.14.13
Do you want a set of nice headphones? Do you want a set of headphones endorsed by Dr. Dre? If the answer to both of those questions is “yes,” then perhaps Beats headphones are for you. The question, as it is with many luxury brands, is whether you want to spend $300 for a pair of headphones, and why. [More]
Dr. Dre Gets Beats Headphones On Olympians' Ears, Annoys Actual Sponsor Panasonic
By 8.6.12
Pairs of Beats by Dre headphones have showed up on many of the coolest ears on the planet, because it’s good for the brand to put them there. Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber have even had their own branded earbuds. (You might not think Bieber is cool, but his name does sell stuff to tween girls.) Getting the cans on to the heads of pro athletes is also key, which is why a wonderfully sneaky guerilla campaign began with the company slipping headphones to some highly visible Olympic athletes off-campus…despite Panasonic spending nine figures to be an official electronics sponsor of the Games. The International Olympic Committee is not thrilled with the good doctor. [More]
