Beats by Dre Mixr have a very clear purpose – fulfill the needs of even the most demanding DJ. We take a deep dive with this Beats Mixr review
The Beats by Dre Mixr headphones are the latest offering in an already established and thorough headphone lineup. The Dre Mixr’s will therefore be competitjng not just against their stalemates, but also against over top-end headphones from rival brands like B&O and Phillips.
However these headphones have a more succinct market than their stalemates from Beats, as they are specifically targeting the DJ market. Therefore, a lot of the design quirks and innovations are very focused, meaning these are not everyday, high-end headphones for your average folk.
So when Beats set out to create these ‘phones, they were doing so with a challenging brief. They wanted to create headphones which delivered all of the ound quality associated with studio grand headphones, but they wanted the Mixr headphones to be far more portable and super-strong. In other words, these needed to do the business for the DJ who was out on the road, and who would be putting them through punishing gigs before bundling them into a bag which would get chucked on to the back seat of a car before a long drive home. Quite the undertaking, so have they delivered?
Beats by Dre Mixr: Price
Even remembering that these Mixr headphones are targeting the semi-professional, or even pro DJ market, they still come in at quite the price tag. In terms of price point, you’re not looking at more than 5 pence worth of change out of 220 GBP, which makes them very expensive. Either way you cut it, this price point sets the bar high and brings serious expectation with it.
Beats by Dre Mixr: Design
Point one – these are not big, oversized headfones. Instead, they’re actually really small and compact, meaning that they’re probably most comparable with the Beats by Dre Solo headphones.
Its easy to associate compact and small, with a lack of power, but don’t be fooled. These are notably more expensive then the Solos, and the reasons include a far superior build quality, including the materials and components used.
For a start, the Mixr’s use high grade aluminum rather than the Solo’s plastic. This delivers a design rigidity which allies with flexibility, and this does make them feel like they have been designed to withstand the rigors associated with a DJ on the road. This was a fundamental part of the design brief, and these feel like they will stand up in that regard.
Beats by Dre Mixr: Comfort
These headphones are designed to be worn by jobbing DJs and not weekend enthusiasts, and as such, like any piece of work equipment they have to be comfortable. The design is quite smart with the Mixr’s, incorporating a cleverly placed pair of soft cushions that really lift the comfort. Without them, i think we’d be looking at a rough ride with this regard. Note though, that I benefit from a narrow head that means that i rarely stretch headphones and I do often find them more comfortable than some of my contempories.
The larger challenge comes after prolonged use – think three to four hours plus. At this stage, the rigidity that comes from an aluminum design starts to cause some discomfort. We started to notice that that they started pinching a bit after this kind of time span, which is something of a concern considering they’re designed for jobbing DJ’s.
All of this points to ‘trying before you buy’, unless your particularly blessed from a head and ear shape standpoint with regards to headphones.
Beats by Dre Mixr: Sound quality
This is obviously the big one. Beats by Dre have declared the Mixr one of the lightest and loudest headphones ever created. The former is quite simply not true, but on the latter, they may have a point. There is no doubt that these headphones kick out some good, loud sound. Critically, this is loud enough to get the job done in a club or other gig.
Thankfully, this sound doesn’t come at any great cost, as we didn’t notice any marked degradation in sound quality. What really drew our attention was the base reproduction. Not one for your average headphone wearer perhaps, but these headphones deliver some seriously deep sounds. I was astounded by the range of sound, accompanied with such deep tones, all coming from such small and compact headphones. In that regard, these Mixr’s really deliver with their target market in mind.
Beats by Dre Mixr: Verdict
In some ways, these are an oddly positioned product. They have become so mainstream as a brand, that its inevitable that the everyday music fan will end up buying these alongside the DJ audience. When you marry a slick design, with great sound and a compact design, then there’s no doubt that you don’t need to be a DJ to get value from these headphones.
Whether they will pack quite enough for the true professional DJ definitely remains to be seen, especially considering the high price. You’re looking at dropping at least £50 more on these than rivals, such as the SoloHD cans. It remains to be seen whether a slightly better build quality is enough to justify the extra outlay for many.
All of that said, the Beats by Dre Mixr headphones are definitely impressive. Its simply a case of whether you’re willing to pay £219.95?
