And the Beats goes on. With the just announced introduction of the Solo2 model, the company's bread and butter Solo headphone has been updated to offer "a robust listening experience with a wider range of sound and enhanced clarity." Beats Electronics' entry level headphone (with an entry level retail of $199.95) is said to feature greater clarity and more mid-range and top end, in balance with the enhanced bass response that Beats headphones have always spotlighted.
The Solo series sold at the rate of four pairs per minute in 2013, according to the company.
"When you think about Beats you think about iconic design, incredible sound, premium quality, profound comfort and of course portability; we've worked hard to earn this reputation and along with that comes very high expectations," said Beats President Luke Wood. "Solo2 delivers on all fronts while finding new frontiers in audio performance to bring the emotion back to music."
Beats headphones feature a modern and clean design, incorporating gentle curves and smooth styling. They are deceptively rugged and flexible. The ability of the center of the headband to twist and bend yet maintain its shape has always been impressive. The Solo2 maintains this sleek and streamlined aesthetic with flowing curves and no visible screws. The earcups are now ergonomically angled to for a more natural fit, with pivots for optimal comfort and sound delivery. The material used in the earcups helps dissipate heat while minimizing sound leakage.
Beats Electronics, based in Santa Monica, California, was founded in 2006 by rapper and hip-hop producer Andre "Dr. Dre" Young and A&M Records chairman Jimmy Iovine. The company's first generation of headphone and speaker products were built to emphasize enhanced bass response, which Dr. Dre felt was a shortcoming of most headphones particularly in the reproduction of hip-hop and other pop and rock music. The release of the Solo2 with its wider range and more generous mid-range and top end is designed to appeal to listeners whose musical tastes are not geared towards heavy bass response.
The introduction of the Solo2 adds energy to the buzz generated by Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics for $3 billion, a transaction which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The Solo2 is available for pre-order right now with in-store availability planned for June 1. It is offered in six colors - pink, blue, gray, white, black and red. The red model aligns with Beats' partnership with project (RED), with some proceeds from sales going into the fight against AIDS.
