Beats Electronics LLC (also known as Beats by Dr. Dre , or simply Beats by Dre ) is an American consumer audio products manufacturer headquartered in Culver City, California . The company was founded in 2006 by music producer Dr. Dre and record company executive Jimmy Iovine . Since 2014, it has been an Apple subsidiary.
110-553: The subsidiary's product line is primarily focused on headphones and speakers . The company's original product line was manufactured in partnership with the AV equipment company Monster Cable Products . Following the end of its contract with the company, Beats took further development of its products in-house. In 2014, the company expanded into the online music market with the launch of a subscription-based streaming service, Beats Music . In 2011, NPD Group reported that Beats' market share
220-500: A DJ mixer , and sound engineers for monitoring signal sources. In radio studios, DJs use a pair of headphones when talking to the microphone while the speakers are turned off to eliminate acoustic feedback while monitoring their own voice. In studio recordings, musicians and singers use headphones to play or sing along to a backing track or band. In military applications, audio signals of many varieties are monitored using headphones. Wired headphones are attached to an audio source by
330-465: A Micro USB port, and comes with a USB AC adapter . The device also includes a microphone so it can be used as a speakerphone . The Pill is also an aptX -certified device. In 2013, updated versions of the Pill, Beats Pill 2.0 , were released. The new models have longer battery life, a port for charging other USB devices, the ability to pair Pills together with near-field communication (NFC) to play
440-483: A capsule -based design roughly 7.7 inches (20 cm) in length. Its appearance is characterized by curved surfaces and a gloss finish. The speaker contains minimal controls; the logo serves as a multi-purpose button for starting and stopping tracks, and the only other buttons are volume keys and the power button. The Pill uses Bluetooth and supports near-field communication for device pairing. It also includes 3.5mm audio input and output jacks. The Pill charges over
550-606: A parallel circuit , which splits the audio signal to share with another participant, but can also be used to hear audio from two inputs simultaneously. An external audio splitter can retrofit this ability. Various types of specially designed headphones or earphones are also used to evaluate the status of the auditory system in the field of audiology for establishing hearing thresholds, medically diagnosing hearing loss , identifying other hearing related disease, and monitoring hearing status in occupational hearing conservation programs . Specific models of headphones have been adopted as
660-488: A "dynamic" driver is the most common type used in headphones. It consists of a stationary magnet element affixed to the frame of the headphone, which sets up a static magnetic field. The magnet in headphones is typically composed of ferrite or neodymium . A voice coil , a light coil of wire, is suspended in the magnetic field of the magnet, attached to a diaphragm, typically fabricated from lightweight, high-stiffness-to-mass-ratio cellulose, polymer, carbon material, paper or
770-496: A better way to describe it, there was space in between all the sounds coming out of the speaker, whereas most others tend to crush all the different frequencies together." PC Magazine felt that the Pill+ offered a "clean, well-defined, balanced listening experience", but that since their drivers were not angled upward, "you miss much of the definition the tweeters bring to the table unless they happen to be lined up with your ears." It
880-423: A cable. Instead, they receive a radio or infrared signal encoded using a radio or infrared transmission link, such as FM , Bluetooth or Wi-Fi . These are battery-powered receiver systems, of which the headphone is only a component. Cordless headphones are used with events such as a Silent disco or Silent Gig . In the professional audio sector, headphones are used in live situations by disc jockeys with
990-469: A cable. The most common connectors are 6.35 mm ( 1 ⁄ 4 inch) and 3.5 mm phone connectors . The larger 6.35 mm connector is more common on fixed location home or professional equipment. The 3.5 mm connector remains the most widely used connector for portable application today. Adapters are available for converting between 6.35 mm and 3.5 mm devices. As active component, wireless headphones tend to be costlier due to
1100-508: A cash and stock deal, the largest acquisition in Apple's history. Beats was established in 2006 by music producer Dr. Dre and record company executive Jimmy Iovine . Iovine perceived two key problems in the music industry: the impact of piracy on music sales and the substandard audio quality provided by Apple 's plastic earbuds. Iovine recalled that Dre said to him: "Man, it's one thing that people steal my music. It's another thing to destroy
1210-461: A companion mobile app for iOS and Android devices, used for pairing speakers together (in place of NFC), and allowing multiple users to alternate playing music on a single Pill ("DJ mode"). A new Beats Pill model was unveiled and released in June 2024; its design is similar to previous models, but with improved audio hardware and upward angled drivers , IP67 certification, a lanyard for carrying
SECTION 10
#17327827928181320-473: A cord, or using wireless technology such as Bluetooth , DECT or FM radio . The first headphones were developed in the late 19th century for use by switchboard operators , to keep their hands free. Initially, the audio quality was mediocre and a step forward was the invention of high fidelity headphones. Headphones exhibit a range of different audio reproduction quality capabilities. Headsets designed for telephone use typically cannot reproduce sound with
1430-485: A corresponding sound. Headphones let a single user listen to an audio source privately, in contrast to a loudspeaker , which emits sound into the open air for anyone nearby to hear. Headphones are also known as earphones or, colloquially , cans . Circumaural (around the ear) and supra-aural (over the ear) headphones use a band over the top of the head to hold the drivers in place. Another type, known as earbuds or earpieces , consists of individual units that plug into
1540-512: A given output level. Historically, many headphones had relatively high impedance, often over 500 ohms so they could operate well with high-impedance tube amplifiers . In contrast, modern transistor amplifiers can have very low output impedance, enabling lower-impedance headphones. Unfortunately, this means that older audio amplifiers or stereos often produce poor-quality output on some modern, low-impedance headphones. In this case, an external headphone amplifier may be beneficial. Sensitivity
1650-421: A good speakerphone, but it simply doesn't offer good enough sound quality to justify its $ 200 price tag. While you might get a reasonably loud and clear listening experience on one track, the next might pop distractingly and force you to tweak the volume just because it has slightly more bass." Wired felt that the Pill's difficulty with bass was in contrast to the focus on the low end that had been emphasized by
1760-491: A headphone and attached microphone. Such headsets are used in a variety of professions as aviation, military, sports, music, and many service-oriented sectors. They come in all shapes and sizes, depending on use, required noise attenuation, and fidelity of communication needed. Unwanted sound from the environment can be reduced by excluding sound from the ear by passive noise isolation, or, often in conjunction with isolation, by active noise cancellation . Passive noise isolation
1870-459: A manufacturing facility in Utah to fulfill orders. These early headphones used moving iron drivers , with either single-ended or balanced armatures. The common single-ended type used voice coils wound around the poles of a permanent magnet, which were positioned close to a flexible steel diaphragm. The audio current through the coils varied the magnetic field of the magnet, exerting a varying force on
1980-532: A maximum volume of 100 dB. Pairing high-sensitivity headphones with power amplifiers can produce dangerously high volumes and damage headphones. The maximum sound pressure level is a matter of preference, with some sources recommending no higher than 110 to 120 dB. In contrast, the American Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends an average SPL of no more than 85 dB(A) to avoid long-term hearing loss, while
2090-483: A new subscription-based online music service, known as Beats Music , which launched in January 2014. In comparison to its competitors, such as Spotify and Google Play Music , the service emphasizes recommendations by music professionals alongside algorithmic recommendations. MOG was shut down on May 31, 2014, and existing users were directed to Beats Music. Beats Music was in turn replaced by Apple Music in June 2015;
2200-594: A number of accessories available, including a bike mount and a speaker stand - the "Dude" - shaped like a small wide-mouthed person. The Pill 2 was replaced by the Pill+, which was introduced in late 2015 and was discontinued in early 2021. The company has also licensed the Beats brand, under the name Beats Audio (stylized in lowercase as beats audio ), and technology to other manufacturers. In 2009, HP began to offer personal computers equipped with Beats Audio systems, beginning with its HP Envy line. The system features
2310-466: A photo and YouTube video posted to Facebook by Tyrese Gibson on May 8, 2014; the video documented a celebration in which Gibson and Dr. Dre made boasting remarks about the acquisition, with Dre declaring himself the "first billionaire in hip hop", while Gibson declared that the " Forbes list " had changed. Both the photo and video were removed from Facebook the following morning, but both remain on Gibson's YouTube channel. Indeed, analysts estimated that
SECTION 20
#17327827928182420-567: A result of Apple's acquisition of Beats. However, two months later, Bose products returned to the shelves of Apple Stores. The companies settled in October 2014: details were not disclosed. In January 2015, Monster Inc. sued Beats for fraud , alleging that the company had used illicit tactics to force Monster out of the venture while retaining rights to the technologies and products that it had co-developed, and engaged in collusion to harm Monster's own audio products business. Monster argued that
2530-598: A result of the Walkman effect , beginning in the 1980s, headphones started to be used in public places such as sidewalks, grocery stores, and public transit. Headphones are also used by people in various professional contexts, such as audio engineers mixing sound for live concerts or sound recordings and DJs , who use headphones to cue up the next song without the audience hearing, aircraft pilots and call center employees. The latter two types of employees use headphones with an integrated microphone. Headphones grew out of
2640-449: A role previously filled by Wood, was announced in early November 2013. Matthew Costello, formerly of IKEA and HTC, was formally appointed to the role in May 2014. On January 21, 2014, the company launched Beats Music, a subscription-based online music streaming service. Prior to the launch of the service, Beats stated that it intends to provide a different type of streaming experience to what
2750-411: A software equalizer with a preset that HP marketed as being optimized for higher quality sound output. Beats Electronics ceased its partnership with HP following its purchase by Apple Inc.; HP subsequently entered into a similar agreement with Bang & Olufsen . Following its acquisition of a stake in the company, most new HTC smartphones began to be released with Beats Audio software, beginning with
2860-406: A subsidiary of Apple Inc. The speakers are characterized primarily by their capsule -like form factor. Several Pill models have been released since the original launch in 2012, with the most recent version released in 2024. The original model received mixed reviews, with critics praising its industrial design and ease-of-use, but believing that its sound quality was lacking in the low end , and
2970-501: A unique path to market. In October 2012, Beats unveiled its first two self-developed products, "Beats Executive" headphones and " Beats Pill " wireless speakers—Iovine believed that the company would now have to "control [its] own destiny" in order to continue its growth. Iovine also commented on how other headphone makers had attempted to emulate Beats' celebrity endorsement business model (including Monster themselves, who unveiled Earth, Wind and Fire and Miles Davis -themed headphones at
3080-449: A whole, the ad did not show sustained, overtly sexual or provocative behaviour". However, it did deem the advert to be inappropriate for airing before 7:30 p.m. Another campaign featuring anthropomorphic versions of the speakers debuted during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards , which were voiced by musicians such as Chris Rock , Eminem , and Tichina Arnold . Subsequent commercials included references to events that occurred during
3190-416: Is a measure of how effectively an earpiece converts an incoming electrical signal into an audible sound. It thus indicates how loud the headphones are for a given electrical drive level. It can be measured in decibels of sound pressure level per milli watt (dB (SPL)/mW) or decibels of sound pressure level per volt (dB (SPL) / V). Unfortunately, both definitions are widely used, often interchangeably. As
3300-562: Is buying a smartphone". In 2011, Beats reached a deal with Chrysler LLC to feature Beats-branded audio systems in its vehicles. First under the partnership was its 2012 Chrysler 300S Luxury Car, which included a 10-speaker Beats by Dr. Dre sound system. Beats audio systems are also available in Dodge and Jeep vehicles. Other automobile brands that have Beats audio systems available in their vehicles include Fiat , Volkswagen and SEAT . On July 2, 2012, Beats announced it had acquired
3410-534: Is essentially using the body of the earphone, either over or in the ear, as a passive earplug that simply blocks out sound. The headphone types that provide most attenuation are in-ear canal headphones and closed-back headphones, both circumaural and supra aural. Open-back and earbud headphones provide some passive noise isolation, but much less than the others. Typical closed-back headphones block 8 to 12 dB, and in-ears anywhere from 10 to 15 dB. Some models have been specifically designed for drummers to facilitate
Beats Electronics - Misplaced Pages Continue
3520-443: Is of concern because of the output limitations of amplifiers. A modern pair of headphones is driven by an amplifier, with lower impedance headphones presenting a larger load. Amplifiers are not ideal; they also have some output impedance that limits the amount of power they can provide. To ensure an even frequency response, adequate damping factor , and undistorted sound, an amplifier should have an output impedance less than 1/8 that of
3630-488: Is required to reduce discomfort resulting from weight. These are commonly used by drummers in recording. Supra-aural headphones or on-ear headphones have pads that press against the ears, rather than around them. They were commonly bundled with personal stereos during the 1980s. This type of headphone generally tends to be smaller and lighter than circumaural headphones, resulting in less attenuation of outside noise. Supra-aural headphones can also lead to discomfort due to
3740-411: Is slightly larger than the previous model, and carries a refreshed design with top-mounted volume controls and a Beats logo button. The Pill's speaker hardware was redesigned to improve sound quality. The Pill+ uses Apple's Lightning connector instead of USB, and can charge supported iOS products from its battery—which has an increased capacity rated for 12 hours of use on a single charge. The Pill+ has
3850-661: Is the Etymotic Research ER-3A. Circum-aural earphones are also used to establish hearing thresholds in the extended high frequency range (8,000 Hz to 20,000 kHz). Along with Etymotic Research ER-2A insert earphones, the Sennheiser HDA300 and Koss HV/1A circum-aural earphones are the only models that have reference equivalent threshold sound pressure level values for the extended high frequency range as described by ANSI standards. Audiometers and headphones must be calibrated together. During
3960-476: Is worn. Circumaural headphones (sometimes called full size headphones or over-ear headphones ) have circular or ellipsoid earpads that encompass the ears. Because these headphones completely surround the ear, circumaural headphones can be designed to fully seal against the head to attenuate external noise. Because of their size, circumaural headphones can be heavy and there are some sets that weigh over 500 grams (1 lb). Ergonomic headband and earpad design
4070-572: The Beats Pill portable speaker. In October 2015, Beats launched a new collection of speakers including the upgraded Beats Pill+ Speaker. The Beats Solo Pro is an on-the-ear style headphone. Along with the Powerbeats Pro true-wireless earphones, they are part of a new generation of Beats products made from the ground up with Apple. They are the first on-ear headphones made by Beats to feature active noise canceling . They were sold alongside
4180-533: The European Union standard EN 50332-1:2013 recommends that volumes above 85 dB(A) include a warning, with an absolute maximum volume (defined using 40–4,000 Hz noise) of no more than 100 dB to avoid accidental hearing damage. Using this standard, headphones with sensitivities of 90, 100 and 110 dB (SPL)/V should be driven by an amplifier capable of no more than 3.162, 1.0 and 0.3162 RMS volts at maximum volume setting, respectively to reduce
4290-584: The HTC Sensation XE /XL with Beats Audio in September 2011. The software was to be included in most new HTC devices, such as the One series . The Sensation XE and Rezound were also bundled with Beats by Dre earbuds, but HTC abandoned the practice on future devices. An HTC product executive claimed that despite the prominence of the Beats brand, "an accessory like the headphone doesn't factor in when someone
4400-439: The high fidelity of expensive units designed for music listening by audiophiles . Headphones that use cables typically have either a 1 ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) or 1 ⁄ 8 inch (3.2 mm) phone jack for plugging the headphones into the audio source. Some headphones are wireless, using Bluetooth connectivity to receive the audio signal by radio waves from source devices like cellphones and digital players. As
4510-681: The online music service MOG , in a purchase reported to have been between $ 10 million and $ 16 million. Beats stated that the acquisition was part of the company's goal to develop a "truly end-to-end music experience". The acquisition did not include the company's blog and advertising network, the MOG Music Network, which was sold in a separate transaction to the broadcasting company Townsquare Media in August 2012. While MOG indicated that it would continue to operate independently with no immediate change in service, Beats subsequently announced
Beats Electronics - Misplaced Pages Continue
4620-458: The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show ), stating that "some of our competitors are cheap engineers who have never been to a recording studio. You can't just stick someone's name on a headphone that doesn't know anything about sound." Following the decision to transform Beats into an autonomous entity, the company's revenues reached the $ 1 billion mark, according to Iovine. In July 2012, HTC sold back half of its stake in Beats for $ 150 million, remaining
4730-547: The Beats Fit Pro were released, featuring a novel "wingtip" earbud design to enhanced stability during fitness workouts. On May 18, 2023, Beats Studio Buds Plus were released as a sequel to the original Beats Studio Buds. In 2012, Beats introduced their first speaker product, the Pill. In 2013, the Pill was replaced by the Pill 2 and a larger model, Pill XL, was introduced. The Pill XL was recalled and discontinued in mid-2015 due to battery safety concerns. The Pill 2 had
4840-409: The Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. CNET was similarly mixed, noting unique features such as its "striking design", NFC support, the ability to serve as a pass-through device for other audio systems, and its "relatively detailed sound (notice the use of the word 'relatively') with respectable bass compared with other tiny speakers in its class." It was originally given a score of 3.5 out of 5, but this
4950-849: The Solo 3 until November 1, 2021. The Beats Solo 3 Wireless is an on-ear style headphone. It can last for 40 hours on a single charge or indefinitely when plugged in via the headphone jack. It has a Micro-USB connector for charging. Released in October 2017, these are high-end headphones produced until 2023, when they were replaced with the Beats Studio Pro. They connect by Bluetooth and have 40 hours of battery life, with 22 hours of battery life with adaptive noise cancelling on. They feature Apple's W1 chip for quick connection to Apple devices running iOS 10 , macOS Sierra , or watchOS 4 or later. They also feature pure adaptive noise cancelling technology , which uses microphones both inside and outside
5060-520: The Sony EFM-117J transistor radio, which was released in 1964. Its popularity was reinforced by its use on the Walkman portable tape player in 1979. Headphones may be used with stationary CD and DVD players , home theater , personal computers , or portable devices (e.g., digital audio player / MP3 player , mobile phone ), as long as these devices are equipped with a headphone jack. Cordless headphones are not connected to their source by
5170-464: The United States and 2 weeks later for UK and Europe. The latest iteration of Powerbeats was released on March 18, 2020, sharing design concepts similar to that of the Powerbeats Pro from the year prior. On October 14, 2020, Beats Flex neckband-style headphones were released as the evolution of BeatsX. On June 14, 2021, Beats Studio Buds were released, and priced at US$ 149.99. On November 5, 2021,
5280-450: The acquisition of Beats by HTC and its founders' subsequent buyback was a "sham" to take control of Monster's stake in the company—which could have been valued at over $ 100 million in the Apple purchase, that the company had "concealed" the role of Monster and its CEO Noel Lee in the design and engineering of its products, and that "had the partnership expired on its own terms, there would have been no transfer of Monster's years of work [onto
5390-404: The calibration process, the output signal from the audiometer to the headphones is measured with a sound level meter to ensure that the signal is accurate to the reading on the audiometer for sound pressure level and frequency . Calibration is done with the earphones in an acoustic coupler that is intended to mimic the transfer function of the outer ear. Because specific headphones are used in
5500-414: The ceremony, such as Miley Cyrus 's controversial " We Can't Stop " performance, and one where Siri refuses to invite the characters to attend a party being held by Dr. Dre to celebrate the company's sale to Apple. The 2014 film Transformers: Age of Extinction features a product placement where the character Joshua Joyce turns programmable matter into the Pill and offers it to another character;
5610-408: The change of control. Nor did the agreement require that any change of control had to be objectively reasonable". Beats' original product line were Beats by Dre headphones. In promotional materials, Dre outlined the line's advantages by alleging that listeners were not able to hear "all" of the music with most headphones, and that Beats would allow people to "hear what the artists hear, and listen to
SECTION 50
#17327827928185720-550: The company aggressively target the young adult demographics. In August 2010, mobile phone manufacturer HTC acquired a 50.1% majority share in Beats for $ 309 million. The purchase was intended to allow HTC to compete with other cellphone makers by associating themselves with the Beats brand, as the purchase also granted HTC exclusive rights to manufacture smartphones with Beats-branded audio systems. Despite its majority acquisition, HTC allowed Beats to operate as an autonomous company. Luke Wood , President of Beats in May 2014, joined
5830-465: The company for $ 265 million. Concurrently, Beats announced that the Carlyle Group would make a $ 500 million minority investment in the company. The overall deal valued Beats Electronics at $ 1 billion and helped HTC turn a net profit of $ 10.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, following HTC's first quarterly loss in company history. The appointment of a new chief operating officer (COO),
5940-601: The company in January 2010, when the company was a "licensing business". Wood had previously worked under Iovine at Interscope Records . On January 19, 2012, BusinessWeek reported that Beats and Monster would not renew their production contract and their partnership ceased at the end of 2012. Dre and Iovine subsequently decided to oversee the entire operation of the company, from manufacturing to R&D, and aimed to double its workforce to around 300 employees. Monster would ultimately begin marketing its own competing line of premium headphones aimed towards an older demographic. At
6050-559: The company. On May 28, 2014, Apple officially announced its intention to acquire Beats Electronics for $ 3 billion—with $ 400 million to be paid in Apple stock and the remainder in cash. Some reports suggested that the reduction in value may have been a result of lower-than-expected subscriber numbers for the Beats Music service. Iovine felt that Beats had always "belonged" with Apple, as the company modeled itself after Apple's "unmatched ability to marry culture and technology". In regard to
6160-539: The company]". Monster also alleged that Beats had partaken in anti-competitive practices with retailers to force those offering Beats products to not offer Monster's competing products. In June 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that in retaliation for the lawsuit, Apple Inc. revoked Monster's membership in the MFi Program on May 5, 2015, meaning that Monster can no longer manufacture licensed accessories for iPhone , iPod and iPad products, and must cease
6270-498: The deal, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that "Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple. That's why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world." Beyond stocking Beats products at its retail outlets , Apple did not provide any further indications over how Beats would be integrated into its product line at
6380-716: The desired sound source, which is not picked up and reversed by the microphone. They require a power source, usually a battery, to drive their circuitry. Active noise cancelling headphones can attenuate ambient noise by 20 dB or more, but the active circuitry is mainly effective on constant sounds and at lower frequencies, rather than sharp sounds and voices. Some noise cancelling headphones are designed mainly to reduce low-frequency engine and travel noise in aircraft, trains, and automobiles, and are less effective in environments with other types of noise. Headphones use various types of transducer to convert electrical signals to sound. The moving coil driver , more commonly referred to as
6490-571: The diaphragm, causing it to vibrate, creating sound waves. The requirement for high sensitivity meant that no damping was used, so the frequency response of the diaphragm had large peaks due to resonance, resulting in poor sound quality . These early models lacked padding, and were often uncomfortable to wear for long periods. Their impedance varied; headphones used in telegraph and telephone work had an impedance of 75 ohms . Those used with early wireless radio had more turns of finer wire to increase sensitivity. Impedances of 1,000 to 2,000 ohms
6600-409: The drummer monitoring the recorded sound while reducing sound directly from the drums as much as possible. Such headphones claim to reduce ambient noise by around 25 dB. Active noise-cancelling headphones use a microphone, amplifier, and speaker to pick up, amplify, and play ambient noise in phase-reversed form; this to some extent cancels out unwanted noise from the environment without affecting
6710-550: The ear canal, they can be prone to sliding out, and they block out much environmental noise. Lack of sound from the environment can be a problem when sound is a necessary cue for safety or other reasons, as when walking, driving, or riding near or in vehicular traffic. Some in-ear headphones utilize built-in microphones to allow some outside sound to be heard when desired. Generic or custom-fitting ear canal plugs are made from silicone rubber, elastomer , or foam. Such plugs in lower-end devices may be interchangeable, which increases
SECTION 60
#17327827928186820-438: The ear cups to measure sound levels based on the environment. If there is any headgear or eyewear on the user's head, it calibrates the noise cancelling and volume level accordingly. The headphones come in a wide range of colors and editions, including black, blue and special collections such as the "NBA Collection". Released July 19, 2023, these are high-end headphones which feature noise cancellation, transparency mode, and are
6930-410: The emerging field of wireless telegraphy , which was the beginning stage of radio broadcasting . Some early wireless telegraph developers chose to use the telephone receiver's speaker as the detector for the electrical signal of the wireless receiving circuit. By 1902 wireless telegraph innovators, such as Lee de Forest , were using two jointly head-mounted telephone receivers to hear the signal of
7040-403: The equivalent functionality of a telephone handset with hands-free operation. Among applications for headsets, besides telephone use, are aviation, theatre or television studio intercom systems, and console or PC gaming. Headsets are made with either a single-earpiece (mono) or a double-earpiece (mono to both ears or stereo). The microphone arm of headsets is either an external microphone type where
7150-872: The feeling of what I've worked on." Iovine sought the opinions of musicians with "great taste", such as M.I.A. , Pharrell Williams , will.i.am , and Gwen Stefani during the early developmental stage. Beats initially partnered with inventor Noel Lee and his company Monster Cable , an audio and video component manufacturer based in Brisbane, California , to manufacture and develop the first Beats-branded products, and debuted its first product, Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones, on July 25, 2008. To promote its products, Beats primarily relied on celebrity endorsements by pop and hip-hop music performers, including product placement within music videos , and partnering with musicians and other celebrities to develop co-branded products. Beats' use of endorsements by musicians helped
7260-461: The first Beats to feature USB-C and Loseless Audio through USB-C connections. They also feature Personalized Spatial Audio and is compatible with Find My. They start at $ 349 in the US and work with Android 10 and later and iOS 16.5 and later. On September 7, 2016, Powerbeats³ were released. On February 10, 2017, BeatsX neckband-style headphones were released. Powerbeats Pro were released on May 10, 2019, in
7370-400: The headphones it is driving (and ideally, as low as possible). If output impedance is large compared to the impedance of the headphones, significantly higher distortion is present. Therefore, lower impedance headphones tend to be louder and more efficient, but also demand a more capable amplifier. Higher impedance headphones are more tolerant of amplifier limitations, but produce less volume for
7480-623: The headset microphone impedance is different from that of the original handset, requiring a telephone amplifier for the telephone headset. A telephone amplifier provides basic pin-alignment similar to a telephone headset adaptor, but it also offers sound amplification for the microphone as well as the loudspeakers. Most models of telephone amplifiers offer volume control for loudspeaker as well as microphone, mute function and switching between headset and handset. Telephone amplifiers are powered by batteries or AC adaptors . Communication headsets are used for two-way communication and typically consist of
7590-481: The home. Another early manufacturer of headphones was Nathaniel Baldwin. He was the first major supplier of headsets to the U.S. Navy . In 1910, motivated by his inability to hear sermons during Sunday service, he invented a prototype telephone headset. He offered it for testing to the navy, which promptly ordered 100 of them. Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co., in partnership with Baldwin Radio Company, set up
7700-496: The infringing products from being imported or sold in the United States. The lawsuit was settled out of court. Apple pulled all Bose products from its retail outlets, although it is unclear whether it was in response to the lawsuit, an ambush marketing conflict involving Beats and the NFL (which had recently named Bose as one of its official sponsors, and thus fined a player for displaying the Beats logo during an official activity), or as
7810-410: The initial audiometer calibration process, they cannot be replaced with any other set of headphones, even from the same make and model. Electrical characteristics of dynamic loudspeakers may be readily applied to headphones, because most headphones are small dynamic loudspeakers. Headphones are available with high or low impedance (typically measured at 1 kHz). Low-impedance headphones are in
7920-466: The introduction of the Regency TR-1 . The most popular audio device in history, the transistor radio changed listening habits, allowing people to listen to the radio anywhere. The earbud uses either a moving iron driver or a piezoelectric crystal to produce sound. The 3.5 mm radio and phone connector , which is the most commonly used in portable applications today, has been used at least since
8030-463: The largest shareholder with 25.1 percent. The sale was intended to provide "flexibility for global expansion while maintaining HTC's major stake and commercial exclusivity in mobile". In August 2013, reports surfaced that Beats' founders planned to buy back HTC's remaining minority stake in the company, and pursue a new, unspecified partner for a future investment. On September 27, 2013, HTC confirmed that it would sell its remaining stake in Beats back to
8140-407: The launch of Apple Music on June 30, 2015. Apple hired British designer Samuel Ross for the newly created role of "Principal Design Consultant for Beats" in 2023. In July 2014, Bose Corporation sued Beats Electronics, alleging that its "Studio" line incorporated noise cancellation technology that infringed five patents held by the company. Bose has also sought an injunction which would ban
8250-444: The like. When the varying current of an audio signal is passed through the coil, it creates a varying magnetic field that reacts against the static magnetic field, exerting a varying force on the coil causing it and the attached diaphragm to vibrate. The vibrating diaphragm pushes on the air to produce sound waves . Beats Pill Beats Pill is a line of portable Bluetooth speakers produced by Beats Electronics , presently
8360-433: The marketing news website Brandchannel named it the worst product placement of 2014. The Beats Pill was met with mixed reviews; while praise was received for its hardware design, ease-of-use, and the levels of volume it could produce, the Pill was primarily criticized for its audio quality and price. PC Magazine in particular criticized its handling of bass , concluding that it "offers a unique form factor and doubles as
8470-824: The microphone is held in front of the user's mouth, or a voicetube type where the microphone is housed in the earpiece and speech reaches it by means of a hollow tube. Telephone headsets connect to a fixed-line telephone system. A telephone headset functions by replacing the handset of a telephone. Headsets for standard corded telephones are fitted with a standard 4P4C commonly called an RJ-9 connector. Headsets are also available with 2.5 mm jack sockets for many DECT phones and other applications. Cordless bluetooth headsets are available, and often used with mobile telephones . Headsets are widely used for telephone-intensive jobs, in particular by call centre workers. They are also used by anyone wishing to hold telephone conversations with both hands free. For older models of telephones,
8580-491: The music the way they should: the way I do". In comparison to most headphones, Beats products were characterized by an emphasis towards producing larger amounts of bass , and are particularly optimized towards hip-hop and pop music . In October 2012, Beats unveiled its first two self-developed products, the Beats Executive noise-cancelling headphones (to compete with similar offerings by Bose and Sennheiser ) and
8690-502: The necessity for internal hardware such as a battery, a charging controller, a speaker driver , and a wireless transceiver , whereas wired headphones are a passive component, outsourcing speaker driving to the audio source. Some headphone cords are equipped with a serial potentiometer for volume control. Wired headphones may be equipped with a non-detachable cable or a detachable auxiliary male-to-male plug, as well as some with two ports to allow connecting another wired headphone in
8800-408: The need to free up a person's hands when operating a telephone . By the 1880s, soon after the invention of the telephone , telephone switchboard operators began to use head apparatuses to mount the telephone receiver . The receiver was mounted on the head by a clamp which held it next to the ear. The head mount freed the switchboard operator's hands, so that they could easily connect the wires of
8910-566: The other earphone. On other models each earphone receives its audio stream directly from the source device. The former arrangement has the advantage of being compatible with legacy systems while the latter arrangement has the advantage of causing less power drain in the earphone that has to forward one audio stream. Connection between the two earphones also being wireless may be referred to as true wireless stereo (TWS) , offering longer battery life and complete transmission on left and right channels, avoiding possible source signal omission if only one
9020-483: The output voltage (but not power) of a headphone amplifier is essentially constant for most common headphones, dB/mW is often more useful if converted into dB/V using Ohm's law : Once the sensitivity per volt is known, the maximum volume for a pair of headphones can be easily calculated from the maximum amplifier output voltage. For example, for a headphone with a sensitivity of 100 dB (SPL)/V, an amplifier with an output of 1 root mean square (RMS) voltage produces
9130-448: The pressure on the ear as compared to circumaural headphones that sit around the ear. Comfort may vary due to the earcup material. Earphones are very small headphones that are fitted directly in the outer ear , facing but not inserted in the ear canal. Earphones are portable and convenient, but many people consider them uncomfortable. They provide hardly any acoustic isolation and leave room for ambient noise to seep in; users may turn up
9240-414: The product Beats by Dr. Dre Solo HD . In the end, it came in third to last. The comparatively high price, the merely satisfactory sound quality and the poor performance in the drop test were criticised. Headphones Headphones are a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head over a user's ears. They are electroacoustic transducers , which convert an electrical signal to
9350-649: The range 16 to 32 ohms and high-impedance headphones are about 100-600 ohms. As the impedance of a pair of headphones increases, more voltage (at a given current) is required to drive it, and the loudness of the headphones for a given voltage decreases. In recent years, impedance of newer headphones has generally decreased to accommodate lower voltages available on battery powered CMOS -based portable electronics. This has resulted in headphones that can be more efficiently driven by battery-powered electronics. Consequently, newer amplifiers are based on designs with relatively low output impedance. The impedance of headphones
9460-539: The receiving circuit. The two head-mounted telephone receivers were called in the singular form head telephones . By 1908 the headpiece began to be written simply as head phones , and a year later the compound word headphones began to be used. One of the earliest companies to make headphones for wireless operators was the Holtzer-Cabot Company in 1909. They were also makers of head receivers for telephone operators and normal telephone receivers for
9570-428: The risk of hearing damage. The sensitivity of headphones is usually between about 80 and 125 dB/mW and usually measured at 1 kHz. Headphone size can affect the balance between fidelity and portability. Generally, headphone form factors can be divided into four separate categories: circumaural (over-ear) , supra-aural (on-ear) , earbud and in-ear . Wired headphones make a direct electrical connection to
9680-424: The risk of them falling off and getting lodged in the ear canal. Custom in-ear headphones use castings of the ear canal to create custom-molded plugs that provide added comfort and noise isolation. Some wireless earphones include a charging case. Both circumaural and supra-aural headphones can be further differentiated by the type of earcups: A headset is a headphone combined with a microphone . Headsets provide
9790-419: The rumored deal would make Dr. Dre the first billionaire in the hip-hop music industry in terms of net worth , assuming that he held at least 15% ownership in the company prior to the deal. Dr. Dre was listed with a net worth of $ 550 million on Forbes ' The World's Billionaires 2014 list. It was also estimated that the Carlyle Group would receive a profit of $ 1 billion from the sale of its minority stake in
9900-407: The sale of existing licensed products that contain the certification or technology licensed through the program by September 2015. The case was dismissed in August 2016, with a Supreme Court ruling that Beats "had the right to terminate the agreement as of January 7th, 2013 or when there was a transaction resulting in a change of control of Beats", and that Monster "did not obtain the right to approve
10010-414: The same audio either individually, or handling left and right stereo channels respectively, character stands, and a new, larger "XL" version. On June 3, 2015, Beats voluntarily recalled all Pill XL models, citing that in rare cases, the battery may overheat and combust. The Beats Pill+ was unveiled in October 2015, as the first revision to the product released under Apple Inc. ownership. The Pill+
10120-548: The same price or lower. Tests done on an HTC smartphone with Beats Audio indicated that the audio technology is a combination of audio equalization that boosts the low (bass) and high ends of the audio range, audio compression , and audio amplification . In 2015, Beats president Luke Wood disagreed with accusations that Beats' products were "bass heavy", citing that their products were not for reference but rather for playback. In April 2014, German consumer test organisation Stiftung Warentest tested 20 headphone models, including
10230-524: The service also incorporated a Beats-branded online radio station, called "Beats 1", but the name was later changed to " Apple Music 1 ". In May 2021, Apple announced spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support. Apple Music will automatically play Dolby Atmos tracks on AirPods , AirPods Pro , AirPods Max , and all Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip. Some critics claim that Beats products emphasize appearance over quality and function, arguing that more durable and better-sounding products are available for
10340-567: The service could listen to the performance through a pair of massive earphones that connected below the chin and were held by a long rod. French engineer Ernest Mercadier in 1891 patented a set of in-ear headphones. The German company Siemens Brothers at this time was also selling headpieces for telephone operators which had two earpieces, although placed outside the ear. The Siemens Brothers headpieces looked similar to modern headphones. The majority of headgear used by telephone operators continued to have only one earpiece. Headphones appeared in
10450-478: The source device using a cable, typically connected with a headphone jack . Modern wireless or cordless earphones have no cord connecting the two earphones to the source device or to each other; they receive audio by means of a wireless technology such as Bluetooth . In historical usage, 'wireless' referred to a connection to a radio receiver, which was known as a wireless. On some models both audio streams are transmitted to one earphone which forwards one stream to
10560-416: The speaker, and battery capacity rated at 24 hours of use. The new model uses USB-C for charging, and also supports lossless audio input over USB-C. Playing off its design, initial marketing for the Pill used the tagline "Just what the doctor ordered". As with other Beats products, the Pill was promoted primarily through celebrity endorsements , and product placements in music videos . A pink model
10670-737: The standard due to the ease of calibration and ability to compare results between testing facilities. Supra-aural style headphones are historically the most commonly used in audiology as they are the easiest to calibrate and were considered the standard for many years. Commonly used models are the Telephonics Dynamic Headphone (TDH) 39, TDH-49, and TDH-50. In-the-ear or insert style earphones are used more commonly today as they provide higher levels of interaural attenuation, introduce less variability when testing 6,000 and 8,000 Hz, and avoid testing issues resulting from collapsed ear canals. A commonly used model of insert earphone
10780-505: The success of Apple's MP3 player. ) In-ear headphones, also known as in-ear monitors (IEMs) or canalphones , are small headphones with similar portability to earbuds that are inserted in the ear canal itself. IEMs are higher-quality in-ear headphones and are used by audio engineers and musicians as well as audiophiles. The outer shells of in-ear headphones are made up of a variety of materials, such as plastic, aluminum , ceramic and other metal alloys. Because in-ear headphones engage
10890-559: The telephone callers and receivers. The head-mounted telephone receiver in the singular form was called a headphone . These head-mounted phone receivers, unlike modern headphones, only had one earpiece. By the 1890s a listening device with two earpieces was developed by the British company Electrophone . The device created a listening system through the phone lines that allowed the customer to connect into live feeds of performances at theaters and opera houses across London. Subscribers to
11000-422: The time, and whether Beats Music, which competed with Apple's own iTunes Radio service, would continue to operate after the acquisition. The acquisition closed on August 1, 2014. Dr. Dre and Iovine were hired as executive employees, and worked at Apple for years afterward. To eliminate redundancy, Apple planned to lay off 200 workers from Beats' workforce of around 700. Beats Music was discontinued effective with
11110-403: The time, neither Dre, Iovine or Wood were experienced in the operation of a company at such a grand level, but Wood explained in 2014: I didn't have manufacturing experience, but I had experience of building something from scratch… Every time we put out an album, it was basically like building a new business--a unique cast of characters, unique challenges and opportunities, and trying to figure out
11220-585: The user's ear canal ; within that category have been developed cordless air buds using wireless technology. A third type are bone conduction headphones, which typically wrap around the back of the head and rest in front of the ear canal, leaving the ear canal open. In the context of telecommunication , a headset is a combination of a headphone and microphone . Headphones connect to a signal source such as an audio amplifier , radio , CD player , portable media player , mobile phone , video game console , or electronic musical instrument , either directly using
11330-453: The volume dangerously high to compensate, at the risk of causing hearing loss . On the other hand, they let the user be better aware of their surroundings. Since the early days of the transistor radio , earphones have commonly been bundled with personal music devices. They are sold at times with foam or rubber pads for comfort. (The use of the term earbuds , which has been around since at least 1984, did not hit its peak until after 2001, with
11440-489: Was 64% in the U.S. for headphones priced higher than $ 100, and the brand was valued at $ 1 billion in September 2013. For a period, the company was majority-owned by Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC . The company reduced its stake to 25% in 2012, and sold its remaining stake back to the company in 2013. Concurrently, Carlyle Group replaced HTC as a minority shareholder, alongside Dr. Dre and Iovine in late 2013. On August 1, 2014, Apple acquired Beats for $ 3 billion in
11550-490: Was argued that the Pill+ was lacking in "power and bass depth" for its price point, but that its "clean audio delivery" made up for it. The Verge was positive on the 2024 model, assessing that it was "clear, can crank fairly loud, and is tuned well for today's chart toppers", and "sounds perfectly good" in most casual scenarios. In conclusion, it was assessed that the new Pill was more than competitive" in its US$ 150 price range, and that "there's really not much to dislike about
11660-493: Was available on the market at the time. Additionally, the service would only be available to consumers in the U.S. at inception. On May 8, 2014, the Financial Times reported that Apple was in negotiations with Beats to purchase the company for $ 3.2 billion—the largest purchase in Apple's history and well ahead of its $ 429 million purchase of NeXT in 1996. The impending deal was prematurely and indirectly revealed in
11770-519: Was common, which suited both crystal sets and triode receivers. Some very sensitive headphones, such as those manufactured by Brandes around 1919, were commonly used for early radio work. In 1958, John C. Koss , an audiophile and jazz musician from Milwaukee , produced the first stereo headphones. Smaller earbud type earpieces, which plugged into the user's ear canal, were first developed for hearing aids . They became widely used with transistor radios , which commercially appeared in 1954 with
11880-414: Was later revised to 3.0, citing the availability of competing speakers with identical or better audio quality at a lower price. In a brief demo, The Verge felt that the Pill+ was "the most attractive-looking and sounding speaker that Beats has ever made", noticing that its design refinements felt influenced by Apple's corporate hardware design language , and that in terms of audio quality, "for lack of
11990-528: Was not high enough to justify the product's price. The updated Beats Pill+ model received more positive reviews, with critics believing that it had cleaner and more balanced audio, albeit still lacking in overall power output. Serving as one of the company's first self-developed products after the end of its exclusive manufacturing deal with Monster Cable Products , the Beats Pill was designed by Robert Brunner 's studio Ammunition Design Group , and carries
12100-526: Was released in 2013 as part of a collaboration with Nicki Minaj . A commercial for the Beats Pill starred Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams ; reprising their music video for " Blurred Lines ", it featured scenes of female dancers suggestively using the speakers as a prop. The United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority received 97 complaints over the ad, alleging that it contained sexually suggestive imagery. The ASA ruled in October 2013 that "taken as
#817182