Can You Take Calls and Talk on the Beats Solo 3 Wireless? Yes, and Here‘s Why They Shine for Phone Conversations

The short answer is – yes, absolutely! The Beats Solo 3 Wireless are designed for excellent call quality in addition to great music listening. Between the high-performing built-in microphone, effective noise cancellation, and easy onboard controls, you can make and take calls with crisp, clear sound. Read on as we fully break down the call capabilities of these popular Bluetooth headphones.

As a tech reviewer who‘s tested countless headphones, I can confidently say the Solo 3 are one of the best for taking calls thanks to their microphone quality, natural voice pickup, and noise reduction capabilities. While not the absolute top-of-the-line for call optimization, they offer tremendous value for those wanting great music and call performance in one stylish package.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about using the Beats Solo 3 wireless for calls:

Taking Calls is Easy with the Onboard Controls

Placing, answering, and managing calls on the Beats Solo 3 Wireless is seamless thanks to the well-designed onboard controls:

• Answering Calls: When a call comes in, simply press the "b" button on the left earcup to answer.

• Ending Calls: Press the "b" button again to end the call when finished.

• Rejecting Calls: Press and hold the "b" down for two seconds to reject an incoming call if needed.

• Switching Between Calls: If a second call comes in, press the "b" button twice quickly to put the first call on hold and switch to the new call.

• Volume Control: The "b" button also allows you to control volume on the headphones by pressing up or down.

• RemoteTalk Cable: The included cable with inline remote provides you all the same call control functions.

With these simple controls, you can seamlessly go from music listening to taking a call without ever taking your phone out. As someone who‘s on calls throughout the day, having accessible onboard controls is a must-have that Beats gets right.

Call Quality is Clear, Natural, and Consistent

But what really matters is how well you can hear and be heard. Here‘s an in-depth look at why call quality shines on the Beats Solo 3 headphones:

Clean Voice Pickup and Transmission

Starting with microphone performance – the built-in mic effectively picks up your voice and transmits it clearly to the person on the other end. Many headphones can make voices sound thin, robotic or distorted. But on the Solo 3, your voice comes through with excellent clarity and consistency.

In my usage, it accurately captures the full range and nuances of your voice for very natural-sounding conversations. Friends and colleagues say I always sound crisp without any high-end harshness or muffling of the low end.

Impressive Noise Cancellation Optimizes Voice Isolation

What really separates the Solo 3 is the stellar noise cancellation powered by Apple‘s proprietary W1 chip. It drastically reduces ambient noise around you so your voice is isolated perfectly for the person on the other end.

Noise cancellation is truly impressive for this headphone class – it noticeably minimizes loud environments like traffic or crowds. My voice remains clear even with pressure blowers or construction sounds in the background. While extreme noise can still bleed through, it‘s amazing how much gets blocked out.

Wind Noise Handling is Decent for Outdoor Calls

When outdoors, the Solo 3 do a respectable job reducing wind interference thanks to the acoustic microphone port design. While wind noise isn‘t eliminated, it‘s minimized well enough to enable outdoor calls. As long as gusts aren‘t too strong, the person you‘re speaking with will still hear you decently.

Natural Voice Tones Are Maintained

Many headphones process the voice in an attempt to optimize call quality. But this can often result in an unnatural, hollow and almost robotic tone. The great thing about the Solo 3 is it doesn‘t heavily process or digitize the voice – it maintains the natural nuances and tones. Voices don‘t sound closed-in or processed allowing for warm, natural-feeling conversations.

Call Quality vs. Other Headphones

The Beats Solo 3 have emerged as a top choice for call quality – but how do they compare to other leading headphones? I‘ve evaluated them head-to-head with top competitors:

Beats Solo 3 vs. AirPods

For iPhone users, AirPods are the natural comparison. Solo 3 advantages:

• More accurate voice pickup with less distortion
• Significantly better noise blocking for improved voice isolation
• More natural voice tone vs occasional robotic tone on AirPods

However, AirPods do offer:

• Greater convenience with automatic ear detection
• Quick access to Siri voice assistant

Overall for pure call clarity in noisy environments, the Beats Solo 3 win out. But AirPods are better for voice assistant access and mobility.

Beats Solo 3 vs. Bose 700

The Bose 700 headphones are heavily optimized for calls:

• Bose 700 microphones capture voices with a bit more openness and transparency.
• But the Solo 3 have much better noise reduction during calls.
• The 700‘s voice pickup is more directional vs the Solo 3‘s uniform pickup.
• Bose 700 also allows adjusting voice pickup directionality.

Considering the Bose 700 cost nearly twice as much, the Beats hold their own very well in direct comparison. But for those wanting the most advanced microphone system, the 700 have the edge.

Beats vs. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony‘s WH-1000XM3 are top-rated especially for music quality. For calls:

• Voice pickup quality is excellent on both Beats and Sony.
• Beats Solo 3 block ambient noise a bit better during calls.
• Sony allows you to optimize directional voice pickup which is useful.

Overall both deliver clear, natural call quality – so choice largely depends on other factors like comfort, pricing, and music performance needs.

Mic Performance Breakdown

So what makes the call quality so clear and consistent on the Solo 3? The built-in microphone delivers excellent performance:

• Type: MEMS silicon microphone
• Pickup Pattern: Multi-directional
• Frequency Response: 50 – 15,000 Hz
• Bit Depth: Up to 16-bit
• Sample Rate: Up to 48 kHz

With this wide frequency range and 16-bit depth, the mic accurately picks up the nuances in your voice for minimal distortion. And the multi-directional pattern allows consistent voice capture regardless of positioning.

The mic is further optimized by Apple‘s W1 chip for efficient connectivity and transmission when paired with Apple devices. Overall the components and tuning deliver exceptional call clarity you can rely on.

Specs	Description
Type	MEMS silicon microphone
Pickup Pattern	Multi-directional
Frequency Response	50 – 15,000 Hz
Bit Depth	Up to 16-bit
Sample Rate	Up to 48 kHz

My Tips for Getting the Best Call Quality

While call quality is great out of the box, here are my pro tips for making it even better when using your Beats Solo 3 Wireless:

Ensure Headphones are Fully Charged

Keep the battery fully charged for optimal microphone performance and wireless range. The headphones last up to 40 hours, but regular charging helps.

Position the Mic Near Your Mouth

Point the mic upwards so it‘s as close to your mouth as possible without touching – about 1-2 inches away. This guarantees the best voice pickup.

Find a Quiet Environment

While noise cancellation is excellent, finding a quiet space avoids fighting loud ambient noise. Keep background noise to a minimum for best results.

Point Mic Away From Wind

When outdoors, position the mic away from any wind by turning the headphones sideways or backwards. This reduces wind interference.

Get the Best Earcup Fit

Try different earcup size adjustments and fit options to block more ambient noise. The tighter seal improves noise cancellation.

Keep Firmware Updated

Update your Solo 3 firmware and paired phone software to ensure optimal mic performance. Updates often include call quality improvements.

Following these tips will maximize your voice clarity and minimize background noise for best-in-class call performance.

My Expert Opinions on the Beats Solo 3 Wireless for Calls

After extensively testing and reviewing dozens of headphones models over the years, here are my summarized opinions on using the Solo 3 Wireless for calls:

• For the price, call quality is outstanding: At under $200, the Beats Solo 3 punch far above their weight for call performance. Many more expensive headphones don‘t match their crisp, natural microphone quality and noise cancellation abilities.

• Reliably excellent call quality: Consistent voice pickup along with ambient noise blocking allow you to make calls in virtually any environment with assurance. I never worry about friends or colleagues not hearing me clearly when I‘m on my Solo 3.

• Not quite top-tier, but more than good enough: The very best call-optimized headphones like the Bose 700 still have a slight edge. But for most people‘s daily calling needs, that extra 10-20% performance boost isn‘t worth 2x the price.

• A versatile, stylish headphone option: With great music and impressive call abilities, the Solo 3 are a versatile option at a reasonable cost. For those wanting a go-anywhere headphone that can handle important work calls, the Solo 3 get the job done in style.

So in summary – yes, you can absolutely talk with excellent clarity on the Beats Solo 3 Wireless. Give them a try for your next phone call!

Can You Take Calls on the Beats Studio 3 Wireless?

The Beats Studio 3 Wireless are the over-ear sibling to the Solo 3 on-ear model. They offer the same great call performance:

• Clear voice pickup and natural call quality
• Excellent ambient noise cancellation
• Onboard controls plus RemoteTalk cable
• Apple W1 chip for great iPhone integration

Some differences to consider:

• Over-ear design feels more closed-in on calls
• Heavier design less portable if wearing around neck
• On-ear Solo 3 allow you to hear your own voice a bit better

But for premium noise cancellation on phone calls, the Studio 3 are an excellent choice. If you prefer over-ear headphones, call quality is on par with the highly capable Solo 3.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless deliver excellent call quality you can rely on. Thanks to the well-designed controls, natural voice pickup, and outstanding noise cancellation, they are one of the best microphone-equipped headphones available today. While more expensive models excel slightly in advanced microphone engineering, the Solo 3 offer tremendous bang for your buck.

So you can confidently take hands-free calls knowing your voice will come through clearly no matter how noisy the environment. For great music and even better phone conversations, just reach for your Beats Solo 3!