Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Beats by Cook

Beats by Cook
Thread Tools
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 12:25 AM
 
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:02 AM
 
Question is whether they'll kill or spin off the headphone business.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:13 AM
 
Full disclosure: I ****ing hate headphones.
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 02:25 AM
 
Gruber points out how weird the resemblance is to this April Fools' joke from five weeks ago:

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.p...le-buys-beats/

Too uncanny?
     
Jawbone54
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Louisiana
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 04:02 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Full disclosure: I ****ing hate headphones.
All headphones, or just non-earbuds?

Also, you're crazy for this. Or maybe I'm an idiot. I love headphones.

Earbuds give you the ability to listen to music/whatever in public spaces, but people still don't seem to notice them. Wear earbuds in public, and strangers are liable to talk to you when you're trying to block out everything.

Wear headphones in public, and it tells the world, "Please, leave me alone for a little while."
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 04:28 AM
 
They're all uncomfortable to me, and in public, I intensely dislike the removal of situational awareness they entail.

I won't use hoods for the same reason. Even when it's blow your brains out cold.
     
Doc HM
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: UKland
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 04:52 AM
 
Also... Why?
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
osiris
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Isle of Manhattan
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 09:15 AM
 
Sounds like someone had major life incident involving headphones.

You're not George McFly, are you?
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 09:57 AM
 
I have no idea what is going on here. The first time I heard about it, I thought they were buying Dre's new music service.
     
mattyb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Standing on the shoulders of giants
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 10:11 AM
 
Another one that doesn't like headphones (stick in ear, sits on ears, covers the whole ear - I hate them all).

Wonder if its some sort of accounting ploy, most analysts can't see why it's worth so much.
     
ort888
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 10:12 AM
 
Yeah, I have no idea how this makes sense at all. Failing to see how Beats benefits Apple in any way.

Prepare for a massive wave of "a maker of overpriced junk that sell only because of marketing bought another maker of overpriced junk that sell only because of marketing" comments.

My sig is 1 pixel too big.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 10:29 AM
 
Originally Posted by ort888 View Post
Prepare for a massive wave of "a maker of overpriced junk that sell only because of marketing bought another maker of overpriced junk that sell only because of marketing" comments.
My exact thoughts.
     
ort888
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 10:35 AM
 

My sig is 1 pixel too big.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:35 PM
 
Jony looks far more prepared to **** up your day than the good Doctor.
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:37 PM
 
Senior Vice President of Dope Beats would have been way better than "Gangsta"
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:45 PM
 
Originally Posted by ort888 View Post
Yeah, I have no idea how this makes sense at all. Failing to see how Beats benefits Apple in any way.
Beats sells a lot of headphones*.




(*even though they largely sound like sh**)
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:46 PM
 
sub, have you tried Stax or Audeze cans, yet? I know I mentioned that a while back, just wondering if you'd had the chance to listen to them.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 01:54 PM
 
Not yet.

My hatred is mostly based in the physical pain the cups cause my ears, not bad sound. I haven't found a pair I can wear comfortably for more than a half-hour.
     
ort888
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 02:09 PM
 
A pair of Beats has never touched my head so I can't really comment on how they sound.

All I know about Beats is the scorn and ridicule they collect from audiophiles. That's my strongest association with the brand.

My sig is 1 pixel too big.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 02:15 PM
 
I get reviews they're decent for what they are.

1) They work well with the shitty amps you have in PMPs
2) The heavy bass is good if you like heavy bass
     
Doc HM
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: UKland
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 04:01 PM
 
seems like apple could develop some average quality over ear phones of there own for waaay less than 3.2 bill. It's not like the Apple brand carries zero cred with the kidz
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 04:35 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
2) The heavy bass is good if you like heavy bass
All your Beats are belong to us.
I know, I know. It's Friday afternoon. Cut me some slack.
-t
     
ShortcutToMoncton
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 06:12 PM
 
Beats headphones aren't bad. Certainly much more forgiving than most audiophile brands and that makes perfect sense given the music files and equipment almost certainly powering them and the environment they're operating in. (I'll suggest that any quality benefit of Sennheiser, Denon etc. cans costing two or three times as much is largely negated if you're wearing them in an everyday public space, anyway.)
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 06:23 PM
 
Yes, they are bad. Appallingly so.
     
Waragainstsleep
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 08:50 PM
 
I also thought this was all about the music service or some licensing deals or suchlike.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
hyteckit
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 09:02 PM
 
I'm dyslexic.

Did you say Beats my Cock?
Bush Tax Cuts == Job Killer
June 2001: 132,047,000 employed
June 2003: 129,839,000 employed
2.21 million jobs were LOST after 2 years of Bush Tax Cuts.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 9, 2014, 09:26 PM
 
Beats by Cock.
     
ShortcutToMoncton
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 08:42 AM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
Yes, they are bad. Appallingly so.
You really think so, in their natural environment.....i.e. a crowded and loud urban area listening to MP3 files via cell phone?

Over the years I've also concluded that I dislike headphones in public on anything other than planes, but a couple years back I was gifted a pair of Beats small cans and had some Sennheiser HD600s at the time. Obviously the Senns were open so really not the same thing, but I found that I enjoyed the Beats in loud environments.

I sold both FWIW.
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
ebuddy
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: midwest
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 09:01 AM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
My exact thoughts.
Mine too. If you appreciate everything below 40hz, these are the phones for you, but certainly no "audiophile" choice. This suggests to me a potential shift in model from creating new niches to assuming the low-hanging fruit of others' niches. And in this case, really low-hanging fruit... like already decaying on the ground.


Couldn't resist.
ebuddy
     
Gankdawg
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Pacific Northwest
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 09:05 AM
 
Maybe Apple is worried about the HTC M8 and it's successor.
     
HamSandwich
Guest
Status:
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 10:58 AM
 
I don't understand the whole debate... What is this company and why is it so expensive? Why are headphones so tricky? Aren't they simply good enough? Where are the bluetooth headphones I am missing for a few years and is life really getting a bit shorter due to all the radiation? I don't this debate, and personally, I find Apple should buy many more companies...
     
starman
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Union County, NJ
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 12:01 PM
 
It's not just the headphones, I'm sure Apple wants their music service.

Home - Twitter - Sig Wall-Retired - Flickr
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 01:10 PM
 
Compared to WhatsApp, it was a damned bargain. lol
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 02:27 PM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
It's not just the headphones, I'm sure Apple wants their music service.
It can only be the music service (streaming rights).

The headphones make no friggin sense for Apple, and neither does a separate brand.

-t
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 09:59 PM
 
I've been doing more googling.

I couldn't find any detailed information on the streaming media license that Beats had acquired from MOG.
I have read in other forums that the MOG license actually DOES transfer, unlike most streaming media licenses today that don't transfer over with an acquisition.

The ONLY thing that makes sense in this context is that Apple believes they have a legal way of continuing to use the MOG streaming media license.

It's the ONE thing that's missing in the iTunes eco system. And it's the one thing the media companies have withheld from Apple, because iTunes is already perceived as too powerful.

No way Apple is interested in the butt-ugly headphones.

-t
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 10:41 PM
 
Is the catalog on iTR that shitty?
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 10:49 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Is the catalog on iTR that shitty?
I don't think there's an objective answer to that. It might depend on what you like.

Personally, I have not been using iTR, because it still gives me shitty ads, although I have a iTunes Match subscription.

If iTunes wants to stay the big dog, they need all three: downloads, radio and streaming.

-t
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 11, 2014, 10:54 PM
 
Ohhh... like Rdio streaming. Got it.

I'm like "iTR isn't streaming to me?"

I'm in a place (perhaps age related) where that model makes little sense to me.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 11:13 AM
 
Originally Posted by turtle777 View Post
Personally, I have not been using iTR, because it still gives me shitty ads, although I have a iTunes Match subscription.
Same here - tried it, but couldn't justify it when I already have a Pandora subscription that gives me music with no ads. I'm thinking about ditching the AppleTV in our living room for a Kindle Fire TV so I can get Amazon Prime video and Pandora directly on my TV without using AirPlay or some other hacky method.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 05:18 PM
 
Pandora I feel has a better algorithm, but iTunes integration is what sells me on iTR.

The points are I can run it with Apple Remote, and the visualizer works.


The other thing I've noticed is Pandora leans towards Rihanna, while iTR leans towards Lady GaGa.
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 05:30 PM
 
Your station setup is broken, I'm sure you meant to search for 80s and 90s hair bands.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 05:49 PM
 
Where's the drop?
     
OAW
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 05:53 PM
 
Facebook spends billions of dollars on multiple companies that have yet to make a dime. But when Apple spends a few billion for a highly profitable company the internet freaks out about that to an even greater degree. Go figure.

As for "audiophile" criticism of Beats headphones, this is the same negligible percentage of the consumer market that is still having hissy fits over lossy audio files. When the reality is that most consumers couldn't care less. It's also very likely that so-called "audiophiles" aren't particularly into the genres of music that Beats headphones are tailored for (e.g. R&B, Hip Hop, Dub Step, etc.). Genres where the "beat" is predominant so heavy bass is appropriate. If you are listening to European Classical music or Jazz or Bob Dylan then a pair of Beats are probably not for you. It's also the case that the new Beats models have an improved audio profile that still delivers plenty of thump but also has better clarity in the highs and mids.

At the end of the day though, I think Apple will use Beats to expand its audio hardware offerings and make a killing in the short run. While utilizing Beats Music as its third music offering ... first downloads, then radio, and now on demand streaming ... as a long term play to shore up its music business.

OAW
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 05:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Where's the drop?
Did you drop something?
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 06:08 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Pandora I feel has a better algorithm, but iTunes integration is what sells me on iTR.
I'll admit ignorance of any iTunes integration features. What does it for you? Marking songs for purchase?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 06:38 PM
 
It's more of a "platform" type thing.

I have a Mac Mini acting as my HTPC, and I have Airport Expresses acting as my "whole-home audio".

Pandora is Flash running in Safari. Just to get it to work right with AirTunes I need to use Airfoil, and my only way to control it (without extra work) is to go to the TV.

iTR is running on iTunes, so I can control it from my phone with Apple Remote. AirTunes is built in and controllable from the same app. I also can use the iTunes visualizer, which is one of the most amazing bits of code ever written.

There are other minor integration benefits. Making a station out of a song you have in your library is in the contextual menu for a song. This is nice when you want a station based on a specific remix. Also, they unsurprisingly make it super easy to buy any given song from the iTMS.
     
Phileas
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 08:31 PM
 
I like headphones at work - they send a clear message of "do not disturb".

Mostly I use them whilst listening to focusatwill.com when concentrating on a specific project, but like subego I am still looking to find a pair that's comfortable for longer than an hour.

The Beats headphones I have listened to sounded crap to me, but then I don't listen to the music they're designed for.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 12, 2014, 08:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by Shaddim View Post
Did you drop something?
The soap.
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 13, 2014, 12:04 AM
 
Good way to get your oil checked. (I don't want to talk about it.)
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 13, 2014, 12:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by Phileas View Post
I like headphones at work - they send a clear message of "do not disturb".

Mostly I use them whilst listening to focusatwill.com when concentrating on a specific project, but like subego I am still looking to find a pair that's comfortable for longer than an hour.

The Beats headphones I have listened to sounded crap to me, but then I don't listen to the music they're designed for.
Sennheiser HD650 or HD558 (for less $$). Both are very comfy.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
 
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:34 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,