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by coldtea 4366 days ago
>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.

1 comments

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.

>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.