Beats By Dre Tour 2 Review | 93 Data compared

The Beats Tour 2.0 headphones feature a durable design with flat, tangle-free cables and a low-profile jack, delivering highly impactful, aggressive bass suitable for hip-hop and electronic music. However, the audio experience is marred by harsh, metallic treble at high volumes and an uninspiring, detailed-lacking midrange. Furthermore, the heavy cable causes significant microphonics, creating, loud, distracting noise during movement that the included clip fails to fully mitigate.

The Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones ($150) are ultraportable, highly fashionable earbuds that feature a unique, sleek design with a distinctive red-and-black color palette, flat ribbon-like cabling, and the signature lowercase "b" logo. While the thick, flat cord is a major highlight due to its enhanced durability compared to standard earbud cables, the physical build presents significant comfort issues. The earpieces are exceptionally long, measuring a full inch from end to end, with half of that length consisting of the arms holding the eartips. Because of this elongated design, the earbuds tend to stick out far from the head, making it difficult for users to achieve a secure fit or adequate sound isolation, despite the inclusion of five different pairs of silicone eartips. Acoustically, these headphones deliver a clear and well-balanced audio response that performs exceptionally well with hip-hop, electronic, pop, and classical music genres. The bass response is tight and prominent without being overwhelming, and the high-end frequencies are impressively crisp and detailed. On the downside, the overall sound profile can lean toward a "cold" tone because...

The Beats by Dr. Dre Tour earphones deliver high-quality, accessible audio tailored for pop and hip-hop, easily outpacing standard Apple pack-in earbuds. The audio performance is anchored by powerful, deep bass kicks, balanced by high-end detail like sizzling cymbals and subtle guitar tones. Beyond audio performance, the durable flat ribbon-style cable excels at resisting tangles, while the ControlTalk remote provides integrated music playback controls and a microphone for hands-free calling. However, the unconventional design of the earbuds poses usability issues due to their extreme length. This unusual shape makes it difficult to maintain a stable fit in the ear canal and causes them to stick out, increasing the risk of getting knocked loose during crowded commutes. Because of these potential fit issues and a sound signature that will not satisfy strict audiophiles, trying them on before purchasing the £100 set is highly recommended.

The Absolute Sound review indicates that Beats by Dre Tour in-ear headphonesGo offer a more accurate and better-balanced sound compared to the larger Beats Studio models, effectively capturing musical details and dynamics. Notable features include a lightweight design, comfortable silicone eartips for an excellent seal, and practical, tangle-free cables. The Absolute SoundWhile offering a satisfying listening experience for the price, the earphones exhibit minor, non-neutral sonic colorations, specifically excessive "punch" in acoustic bass and overly prominent high-frequency transients. These characteristics, though not strictly neutral, are deemed useful for reducing background noise, making them a strong option for mainstream users.