PROS
- The signature sound that we are used to
- Attractive design
- Quick-charge ability
CONS
- Problems with quality control
- Remote controller is not designed to be moisture resistant
VERDICT
Beats have managed to deliver a great pair of Bluetooth earbuds, well, at least in terms of their sound quality and design. What lacks is their quality control. Some users are having serious problems with durability and moisture resistance.
Beats have a big following of enthusiastic users who are always keen to try any new product the company releases. Powerbeats 2 are the second foray of this youthful company into wireless Bluetooth headphone and earbud market.
Design
If you like the general approach to headphone design that Beats uses across their range of headphones, then you will also like Powerbeats 2. Inspired by LeBron James, these earbuds are designed to be lightweight and powerful. Their red and black design is aggressive and elegant at the same time. Ergonomics are also great and these earbuds should fit most people due to the very specific way they hook around ears.
Build quality
Advertising says that Powerbeats 2 are IPX4 sweat and water resistant from the ear bud to the tangle free cable wrap around. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case. The most problematic part of these earbuds it the control panel with battery and playback buttons. Most people will probably not have a chance to submerge the controller under water and light rain shouldn’t do much damage either. However, it is something that should definitely be addressed and fixed.
Unfortunately, many people are experiencing problems with the build quality of the housing, and there are documented cases of it breaking when users tried to replace ear tips.
Sound quality
Beats are characterized by their pronounced bass and V-shaped sound signature. Some people swear by their sound and others are not very fond of it. We have enjoyed listening to them in the gym and thanks to their great fit, they turned to be a fantastic companion for our daily commute.
The hefty amount of bass is supported by clear mids, and this combination is excellent for all modern genres of music, as well as for movie watching. This is especially true because of their surprisingly great sound positioning and special reproduction. You never feel like the barrage of bass muffles the rest of the frequency spectrum, since there always seem to be a certain openness to the sound.
The isolation is on par with other wireless earbuds with silicon ear tips. If you would like to take it to the next level, we would suggest using Comply ear tips. You can find them in various sizes, and they really do what their advertising promises.
What is in the box?
In the box, you will find Powerbeats2 wireless earphones, with RemoteTalk wrap around cable, hard shell carrying case, universal micro USB cable, cable management clip, and quick start guide.
