Beats has now reached the personalization stage with the introduction of Beats 360, which is the first of its over-ear headphones to feature interchangeable ear and headband pads. At a price of $349.99, this new top-model combines the brand’s most powerful Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) yet, a custom acoustic platform and all-day comfort with a degree of style flexibility that has never before been available in any previous Beats product.
What Sets Beats 360 Apart?
The main feature is straightforward in that both the earcup and headband cushions can be changed to go with your clothing, the type of exercise you’re doing, or your current mood. The Beats 360 comes with breathable Performance Knit cushions, and extra kits are offered in a range of colours and made from two different materials—Performance Knit for use when you’re active and UltraPlush for superior all-day comfort.
It’s not merely a matter of appearance; the cushions have been acoustically adjusted so as to keep a steady seal and sound character, meaning that altering their colour does not affect the level of isolation or the bass response. Unlike any of the previous models, this over-ear style also has an IPX4 rating for resistance to sweat and water, making it appropriate for use during gym sessions and for commutes when it’s lightly raining.
Sound Quality and ANC: Beats’ Best Yet
Beats 360 is based on a special acoustic platform featuring custom drivers, three-layer diaphragms and a pair of neodymium magnets on each side. This results in bass that is both powerful and well controlled, with better clarity in the mids and highs and extremely low distortion even at higher volumes.
With regard to noise cancellation, Beats says that it provides up to 1.75 times more total noise cancellation than the Beats Studio Pro, owing to an adaptive ANC system which constantly adjusts to your surroundings. Transparency mode is provided so that you can remain aware of your environment, and Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound depending on the fit and seal.
Personalized Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos
Beats 360 includes Personalized Spatial Audio together with dynamic head tracking and Dolby Atmos; using built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes it monitors head movement so that the sound remains fixed as you move your head, thus giving you a theatre-like experience when listening to music, movies and podcasts.
Comfort, Fit and Durability
To suit wireless use, Beats re-designed the headband using a ‘balanced fit’ structure which was optimized for this purpose. The engineers were able to redistribute the weight and tension thereby reducing the pressure points and making the headphones feel lighter when used for long periods.
Two Cushion Options Cater to Different Lifestyles
Performance Knit: This is a memory foam product that is encased in a breathable and durable knit, suitable for use during workouts and for prolonged wear.
UltraPlush: UltraPlush features engineered leather that provides a premium, soft feel comparable to that of the Beats Studio Pro and Solo 4.
The fold-flat design together with the ripstop fabric case means that the Beats 360 are easy to pack, and the IPX4 rating gives you reassurance regarding sweat and splashes.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is excellent. The Beats 360 offers up to 32 hours of playing time when both ANC and Personalized Spatial Audio are turned on, and this 32-hour figure is maintained even when Adaptive EQ is used and both ANC and Transparency are switched off. The Fast Fuel charging feature allows up to one hour of listening to be gained from a 5-minute USB-C top-up.
Connectivity: Apple and Android Integration
The Beats chip and Class 1 Bluetooth 5.3 technology make it possible to establish strong and stable connections throughout various ecosystems. Apple users enjoy one-touch pairing, Hey Siri, automatic switching between devices, audio sharing, FaceTime with Spatial Audio, and Find My with network location support. Android users have access to Fast Pair, Audio Switch and Find Hub integration.
Microphones and Call Quality
The quality of the calls is managed using nine digital MEMS microphones (eight of which are used for noise cancellation and three for picking up voice, with two of these being shared). There is a dedicated beam-forming microphone that focuses on your speech and the system automatically chooses the best microphones in real time to eliminate background noise.
Physical Controls
The physical controls are simple since the right earcup has a volume control and a play/pause button while the left earcup contains the power button and a special listening mode button which cycles through ANC, Transparency and off.
Colors, Cushion Kits and Pricing
Beats 360 is available in four main colours—Black, Cloud (off-white), Pink and Sky (light blue)—each version coming with Performance Knit cushions. Performance Knit cushion sets can also be obtained in six colours (Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky, Navy and Volt), and the UltraPlush kits are offered in Black and Cloud.
Headphone Pricing and Availability
The headphones cost $349.99 in the United States and can now be ordered from apple.com and Beats, with availability in stores beginning on September 24.
The standard price for Cushion Kits is $49.99; in some markets only (such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Australia, South Korea and China), they are $9.99 if you buy them directly from Apple.
At the same time as the launch, the price of the Beats Studio Pro has been lowered to $299.99, which means that the 360 model is now the premium choice, featuring greater customisation and having IPX4 protection.
Environmental Notes
Beats points out that 360 makes use of 80% recycled plastic in various components (the ear cups, the speaker enclosures and the internal parts), employs 100% recycled rare-earth elements in all of its magnets, and has packaging made from 100% plant-based fibre which comes from recycled or sustainably managed forests.
Bottom Line
Beats 360 is the most versatile of the company’s over-ear headphones, offering improved active noise cancellation, a longer battery life, IPX4 durability and a real customization feature which doesn’t compromise the sound quality. Priced at $349.99, it is designed for people who want premium audio, all-day comfort and the option to change their look without having to buy a new pair of headphones.
