Introduction
Many individuals at the gym or running outdoors are seen wearing headphones not specifically designed for workouts, often from Beats. For those who prefer over-ear headphones to earbuds, the new Beats 360 are engineered for durability and sweat resistance, featuring an IPX4 water rating and swappable knit ear cups. This makes them a distinct offering in the market for active users.
With swappable ear cushions and an IPX4 water resistance rating, the Beats 360 are designed to offer better sweat protection than many other headphones.
The Beats 360 are specifically engineered to endure intense, sweaty workouts.
Design, Durability, and Comfort
IP ratings are uncommon for over-ear headphones, making the Beats 360 notable as the company's first IP-certified headphones. Rated IPX4, similar to Beats workout earbuds like the Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit 2, they offer protection against splashes of water and sweat. This is considered the minimum recommended rating for workout headphones or earbuds to ensure long-term survival in active environments.
Sweat accumulation around ear cups is inevitable during workouts. However, the source reviewer observed that the default performance knit ear cups on the Beats 360 effectively wicked away moisture during exercise sessions. Despite the headphones becoming damp, the ear cups are easily removable for cleaning. Beats advises wiping them with a soapy solution, then a damp cloth with water, and finally drying them, a process the reviewer found straightforward.
The Beats 360 maintain a decent clamping force, which helps keep them secure during most workout movements without causing discomfort. For exercises involving consistent head positions, such as back squats, planks, and lunges, the headphones remained comfortably in place.
Despite their secure fit for many activities, the source reviewer noted instances where readjustment was necessary during high-intensity movements like sprints and sit-ups. While the movement was not excessive, the reviewer still indicated a preference for earbuds during explosive workouts.
The Beats 360 include performance knit ear pads, which are effective for workouts due to their moisture-wicking properties. However, the source reviewer found them to cause itchiness after several hours of non-workout use. Fortunately, the ear cups are easily interchangeable, allowing users to switch to plush engineered leather options for regular listening, which are made from the same material as the Studio Pro headphones.
With six different ear cup color options available, users can customize the headphones to suit their personal style.
Additionally, plush eco-friendly leather ear cushions are offered in white and black.
The headphones are available in black, white, light blue, and pink. Extra cushion sets can be purchased for further customization. Performance knit ear cups come in black, white, light blue, pink, navy, and fluorescent green, while plush options are limited to black and white. Each cushion kit, comprising two ear cups and a headband, costs $50, with a promotional price of $10 available through Apple until the end of October, including similar pricing in Canada, Australia, France, the UK, China, and Korea.
Audio Performance and Noise Cancellation
The Beats 360 feature sensors that detect whether knit or plush ear cushions are in use, automatically adjusting the audio tuning. The source reviewer noted no significant audible differences between the two, though noise canceling was slightly improved with the plush padding. The bass is described as supportive with good impact for bass-heavy tracks, without being excessively overpowering like older Beats models. High frequencies generally sound clear, albeit a bit peaky. A primary concern for the reviewer was the midrange, which felt somewhat muddled, lacking separation in complex tracks. While not a critical flaw, the reviewer suggested that for $350, other headphones like the Sony XM5 offer superior midrange clarity.
Ear cups lock into place with a quick twist, accompanied by an audible tone if the headphones are powered on.
The noise-canceling performance is considered very good. While not as silent as the Bose Ultra Headphones Gen 2 or as perfectly fitting as the AirPods Pro 3, the ANC effectively blocks out significant environmental noise, allowing users to focus on their audio without major distractions, even in noisy settings like a gym.
Ecosystem Integration and Features
A key advantage of Beats headphones, including the 360, is their robust integration across both Apple and Android ecosystems, benefiting from Apple ownership without being exclusive. On Apple devices, the Beats 360 support one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, automatic device switching, audio sharing with AirPods and recent Beats headphones, Find My functionality, and hands-free Siri. For Android users, native features include fast pairing, cross-device pairing via Google accounts, audio switching (on supported devices), and Google’s Find Hub. Voice assistant functionality is also available on Android, activated by pressing the play/pause button, making them a versatile option for users in either ecosystem.
The Beats 360 utilize physical buttons rather than capacitive controls, which helps prevent accidental activations during use.
Instead of a hard case, the Beats 360 come with a soft-sided bag featuring a magnetic clasp and a loop for attachment to other bags. The source reviewer expressed a preference for a hard case at this price point. The headphones also feature a replaceable battery, though documentation regarding the replacement process or pricing is currently unavailable.
Conclusion
For individuals who prefer over-ear headphones to earbuds or bone-conduction options for gym use, the selection of reliable choices is limited. The Beats 360, with their IPX4 rating and moisture-wicking knit ear cups, cater specifically to this niche, offering a design suited for sweaty environments. The inclusion of replaceable ear cups and a replaceable battery further contributes to their longevity. While the source reviewer might not choose them as a primary option for everyday listening, they are highly recommended for focused workout sessions where durability and sweat resistance are paramount.
