[nrzuk]

This article lost me at the part suggesting that Dre Beats are premium headphones. Having listened to a few different sets of these "cool" headphones I can personally think they are overpriced crap, don't think they are worth more than £20-30 tops simply based on audio quality. People are simply buying them as a fashion item!

[coldtea]

>This article lost me at the part suggesting that Dre Beats are premium headphones.

Premium is about price, as in "paid a premium". Dictionary.com definition #11: "of higher price or cost".

It also has the meaning of higher quality, but mostly associated with the price and exclusivity (or perceived exclusivity. Premium products, like shoes and clothing, can also be had by millions of people -- it's just that not everybody can afford them easily that makes them "premium").

So being overpriced is not really ar argument against it being "premium". If anything, it's the opposite.

>People are simply buying them as a fashion item!

The Beats are OK-ish sound wise, but not for audiophiles. Newer, more upmarket versions, are a little better sonically however.

Interestingly, they make for useful monitors if you are a musician, in the sense that tons of your listeners will use the same cans, so you get a sense of what the final master will sound for them.

[moheeb]

You are mixing up the definitions of "premium"; it doesn't have to be about price.

People often pay a premium for something that is not worth the extra money...that is the definition of Beats headphones.

The other definition of premium is analogous to high end. That is the opposite of Beats headphones.

[coldtea]

>You are mixing up the definitions of "premium"; it doesn't have to be about price.

I'm not mixing them up -- they are all valid dictionary definitions of the word.

When people say "premium" in reviews they usually mean "on the expensive side", and regarded as more exclusive with regards to brand, constuction etc.

The same way clothes are called "premium", because they belong to some well known expensive brands, despite being made in China and being totally crude and workman-like compared to fine clothing from a tailor etc.

[sparkie]

http://www.commitstrip.com/en/page/31/

[hsod]

If I never heard someone shit on Dre Beats again it would be too soon. We all get it. Dre Beats are crap. Your tastes are better than the masses.

This has literally nothing to do with the article, and even if it wasn't played out it would be silly semantics. They're priced like premium headphones, so that makes them premium.

[jlarocco]

> People are simply buying them as a fashion item!

So... you're saying it's a great match for Apple?

[nrzuk]

As a bit of a Apple fan boy I think it's a terrible match. The quality of all the Apple products I have owned have been brilliant (even if my iPhone screen smashed within a month). I personally hope the acquisition of this brand doesn't result in the gimmicky promotions like on the HP laptop brands etc

[nathannecro]

Not really sure why you're being downvoted. Apple's design is amazing. They've (almost) single-handedly thrust consumer electronics into a position where fashion and looks are just as important (or more important) than function. Gone are the days where "geeks" are the guys with the expensive, ugly computation devices. Now, when a famous actress waltzes down the street, you're just as likely to see her pull out an iPhone (or WP8 or whatever) as you are to see her wearing an expensive handbag.