beaTs solo Pro

£269.95

Pros ImPressIve NoIse CaNCellINg balaNCeD eNJoyable souND uP To 22-40 hours oF lIsTeNINg TIme auTomaTIC Power oN aND oFF wheN uNFolDeD sTroNg CoNNeCTIvITy wITh Zero laTeNCy oN-ear CoNTrols NoIse CaNCellINg/TraNsPareNCy moDe FasT ChargINg CoNs No aux PorT For wIreD lIsTeNINg slIghTly Narrower FIT mIghT be uNComForTable For some

Whenever I see a host of celebrities endorsing a brand, I usually assume it is because that product doesn’t have the quality needed to promote itself and as a result, I have never been drawn to the Beats headphones. However, since the Apple take over in 2014 these headphones have seen improvements in both build quality and features with the year-old Beats Solo Pro being a great example of this. These headphones come in Red, Grey, Ivory, Black, Light Blue and Dark Blue, and sit on the ear rather than over the ear. They come in 70% recycled fibre packaging which unfolds neatly, like a flower blossoming, to reveal the compact and soft -shell carry case. The Headphones themselves are folded neatly inside the case; this dense little package makes a nice change from some of the bulky cases you get, making it simple to ease into your bag. The headphones automatically switch on when the ear cups are unfolded, they are also ready to connect without pressing a combination of buttons. This simple feature is a great addition for people like me who forget to switch things off and run down the battery unnecessarily. They look like they are worth every penny with a minimalist, once piece design, hidden hinges and mono colour matt finish. It is worth pointing out that the Solo Pro comes with a Lightning to USB-A charging cable (included) and this is the only port on the headphones, they are strictly wireless so when the battery is dead there is no option for wired listening. The head band and ear cups are comfortably padded and form a surprisingly effective seal for on ear headphones, even before you switch the tunes on background noise is greatly reduced. The ANC

wITh The overPowerINg bass Issue a ThINg oF The PasT These heaDPhoNes are ProvINg To be worTh every sINgle PeNNy oF TheIr askINg PrICe.

(active noise cancelling) works impressively and uses real-time audio calibration for a truly immersive sound, I couldn’t even hear myself singing when testing these out (probably for the best) and you don’t have to worry about sound leaking out and annoying people around you. The Transparency Mode allows you to hear the world around you when needed, when both Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode are switched off, the Solo Pro delivers up to 40 hours of battery life. Regular use provides up to 22hours with just 10minutes charging giving you an extra three hours of playtime. The Audio Sharing mode allows for two sets of Beats headphones or AirPods to be paired with one iPhone and enjoy the same song or film audio and the integrated on-ear controls allow you to take calls, skip songs and control volume directly intuitively, or simply use the hands-free voice controls to activate Siri on iOS devices. Beats have had a bit of a reputation for having an over baring bass but this is not the case with the Solo Pro, the sound is evenly balanced with clear top notes, but without sacrificing the bass, it makes EDM and Folk music sound equally good. My partner said that these headphones felt a little tight, especially when wearing sunglasses, so it maybe worth trying them on first if you wear glasses or have a larger head (there’s no putting it more politely). I found myself testing these headphones out for much longer than needed, they were just such a pleasure to wear and listen too, come for the noise cancelling and style, stay for the sound and the comfort.

xTeND+ClImb 3.8m ProserIes s2.0 TelesCoPIC laDDer

I had heard some great things about this product and my heavy to move about but the compact size of 0.9m is expectations were very high, I’m not usually easily pleased, great for smaller vans and storing in the shed. When fully but I’m happy to say the Xtend+Climb 3.8m ProSeries extended this ladder can reach up to 3.8m with the option S2.0 Telescopic Ladder exceeded my expectations with only of locking in everyone of the 13 rungs along the way. This one or two draw backs. ladder offers a max static vertical load of 150kg, the flat The build quality is exceptional with aircraft grade treads ensure your feet won’t slip even in wet conditions. aluminium alloy which provides a robust and reliable The sides of the ladder are thicker than usual but is still structure that you can put your trust in and the safety comfortable to ascend and descend and add extra strength, features are reassuring. As each telescopic section is slid out the corrosion-resistant anodised finish makes it suitable there are indicators on each step which change to green, for year-round use. When retracting the ladder, it has so you know it is safely locked in position. The automatic a no pinch closure system to protect your hands that Locking 620mm Stabilising Bar which opens at the foot has been tested to 4000 Cycles and it is in line with the of the ladder delivers wide and stable foundation, the Wall latest EN131-6 Professional (2019) safety standard. The Pads form a gap at the top of the ladder so you can hold on Xtend+Climb 3.8m ProSeries S2.0 Telescopic Ladder is a to the top rung whilst it is against a wall. The Lightning versatile and robust ladder suited for professional use with Latch allows you to move and retract the ladder easily. the added benefit of being able to fit into the back of a car. One of the down sides I found was at 15.5 kg it was quite

Pros

Durable aIrCraFT graDe alumINIum alloy Clear loCkINg INDICaTors No PINCh Closure sysTem ComPaCT sTorage easy To use sTroNg 0.9 To 3.8m exTeNsIoN CoNs

quITe heavy

ThIs TelesCoPIC laDDer Is IDeal everyDay use For The busy worker wITh lImITeD sTorage sPaCe.

£282