TechAudioBeats Studio Pro review: keeping it classyBeats' updated flagship noise-cancelling headphones are classier than ever and sound pretty solid, tooWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictBeats' new flagship noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the Studio Pro, will no doubt be popular among fans of the brand and the predecessor of the cans. It’s also likely that the improved sound quality, better fit, and refined feature set will attract even more people to try them. They might not be flawless, but the Beats Studio Pro are pretty darn good.Reasons to buy+Premium build quality and materials used+Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection+Same price as Beats Studio 3+Folding design+Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on+Native features on iOS and Android smartphonesReasons to avoid-Noise cancelling could be better-No wear detectionWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechAudioBeats Studio Pro review: keeping it classyBeats' updated flagship noise-cancelling headphones are classier than ever and sound pretty solid, tooWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictBeats' new flagship noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the Studio Pro, will no doubt be popular among fans of the brand and the predecessor of the cans. It’s also likely that the improved sound quality, better fit, and refined feature set will attract even more people to try them. They might not be flawless, but the Beats Studio Pro are pretty darn good.Reasons to buy+Premium build quality and materials used+Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection+Same price as Beats Studio 3+Folding design+Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on+Native features on iOS and Android smartphonesReasons to avoid-Noise cancelling could be better-No wear detectionWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Beats' updated flagship noise-cancelling headphones are classier than ever and sound pretty solid, too
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictBeats' new flagship noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the Studio Pro, will no doubt be popular among fans of the brand and the predecessor of the cans. It’s also likely that the improved sound quality, better fit, and refined feature set will attract even more people to try them. They might not be flawless, but the Beats Studio Pro are pretty darn good.Reasons to buy+Premium build quality and materials used+Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection+Same price as Beats Studio 3+Folding design+Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on+Native features on iOS and Android smartphonesReasons to avoid-Noise cancelling could be better-No wear detection
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
T3 VerdictBeats' new flagship noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the Studio Pro, will no doubt be popular among fans of the brand and the predecessor of the cans. It’s also likely that the improved sound quality, better fit, and refined feature set will attract even more people to try them. They might not be flawless, but the Beats Studio Pro are pretty darn good.Reasons to buy+Premium build quality and materials used+Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection+Same price as Beats Studio 3+Folding design+Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on+Native features on iOS and Android smartphonesReasons to avoid-Noise cancelling could be better-No wear detection
T3 VerdictBeats' new flagship noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the Studio Pro, will no doubt be popular among fans of the brand and the predecessor of the cans. It’s also likely that the improved sound quality, better fit, and refined feature set will attract even more people to try them. They might not be flawless, but the Beats Studio Pro are pretty darn good.
T3 Verdict
Beats' new flagship noise-cancelling wireless headphones, the Studio Pro, will no doubt be popular among fans of the brand and the predecessor of the cans. It’s also likely that the improved sound quality, better fit, and refined feature set will attract even more people to try them. They might not be flawless, but the Beats Studio Pro are pretty darn good.
Reasons to buy+Premium build quality and materials used+Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection+Same price as Beats Studio 3+Folding design+Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on+Native features on iOS and Android smartphonesReasons to avoid-Noise cancelling could be better-No wear detection
Reasons to buy+Premium build quality and materials used+Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection+Same price as Beats Studio 3+Folding design+Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on+Native features on iOS and Android smartphones
Premium build quality and materials used
Impressive audio quality, even via Bluetooth connection
Same price as Beats Studio 3
Folding design
Improved battery performance with ANC/Transparency on
Native features on iOS and Android smartphones
Reasons to avoid-Noise cancelling could be better-No wear detection
Noise cancelling could be better
No wear detection
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and build qualityErgonomics and comfortAudio performanceVerdictAlso consider
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and build qualityErgonomics and comfortAudio performanceVerdictAlso consider
Beats Studio Pro deals
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No one can blame Beats for sitting on their laurels. Two months after theBeats Studio Buds Pluslaunch – my favouritenoise-cancelling headphonesso far this year – the Culver City-based brand is back with another exciting release: the top-tier Beats Studio Pro. In hindsight, it almost feels like Beats were trying the whet our appetite for the Studio Pro with the Studio Buds Plus. One thing is for sure: my appetite was thoroughly whetted for Beats' flagship cans when I received them.
The physical design of the noise-cancelling over-ear cans looks even sleeker than ever, and the audio quality feels more refined than the Beats Studio 3 (can’t believe it was launched six years ago!), and those were pretty good, although certainly not flawless. Have the Studio Pro managed to iron out all the issues, or are you better off choosing one of the similarly priced alternatives, like theSony WH-1000XM5orBose QuietComfort 45? Let’s find out.
[First reviewed July 2023]
Beats Studio Pro review
Beats Studio Pro review: price and availability
Beats Studio Pro are available to order from 19 July 2023 in four colours, Black, Deep Brown, Navy and Sandstone, for $349.99/ €399.95/ £349.95 fromApplein the US, Canada, France and Germany with shipping and on-shelf beginning 20 July 2023. That’s the same recommended retail price as the Studio 3 used to sell for (you can get it much cheaper these days). For comparison, the suggested retail price of theSonyWH-1000XM5 was £379 when it was launched.Bose’s QuietComfort 45 was £319 when it was released.
Beats Studio Pro review: specifications
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Beats Studio Pro review: design and build quality
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Saying that Beats completely overhauled the physical design of the Studio would be a bit of a push, but it’s safe to say there have been serious improvements. Beats enlisted Samuel Ross to ’re-think' the colour, materials, packaging, and branding of the Studio Pro to bring the franchise up to speed in the new decade. I like what they did with the headphones, as I wasn’t the biggest fan of the accents on the Studio 3.
The ear cushions underwent the most significant changes (more on this below), but minor tweaks had the most significant impact on me. The Beats Studio Pro feels sleeker than the Studio 3; the angles are more refined, and the almost monotone colours help further reinforce this feeling of unity and class.
Beats made an effort to make the Studio Pro more environmentally friendly. Of course, it’s still made mostly of plastic, but Beats claims up to 26% of the headphones' plastic parts are recycled. The rare earth elements in the driver and the tin solder of the main logic board are both 100% recycled, and the Studio Pro are also PVC-, Beryllium- and Mercury-free.
The all-plastic construction (with brushed metal accents and metal sliders) feels good in the hand, and the Beats Studio Pro don’t make any creaks when you flex or twist the headphones, either. I noticed that the brushed exterior of the Studio Pro does pick up grease and fingerprints easily, which in turn makes the headphones look less snazzy, so if you prefer your cans to look box-fresh, I’d recommend keeping your hands super clean when operating and putting on/removing the headphones.
Beats Studio Pro review: ergonomics and comfort
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
UltraPlush design is memory foam padding wrapped in a seamless engineered (vegan) leather cover. The ear cushions have a soft, leathery feel but without genuine leather’s sweaty, ventilation-blocking properties. On occasions, I wore glasses while listening to music with the Beats Studio Pro; nevertheless, my ears felt fine, even after wearing the headphones for over an hour.
The padding at the top is made from a different material and feels almost sticky. I liked this a lot as it ensured the headphones didn’t slide forward or backwards on my head – a nice touch. I’m sure the moderate clamp of the headphones also helped.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The Beats Studio Pro have three tactile buttons on the left faceplate, allowing you to perform basic action without having to interact with your smartphone. These work fine and the interactions are also straightforward – no issues here. I have a slight problem with the system button, though, which is tiny and not easy to locate and operate.
Beats Studio Pro review: audio performance
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Beats went above and beyond to improve the sound quality of the Studio Pro. They use a fully custom 40mm active driver, and the diaphragm is constructed using a two-layer design, combining a rigid inner core with a flexible outer surround for “exceptional performance across the frequency spectrum,” as Beats put it. It also features 25% stronger magnets compared to the Beats Studio 3.
The driver also employs a precise array of micro-vents and fine acoustic mesh to optimize airflow and minimise distortion, Beats claims. Coupled with advanced digital processing, Beats says this acoustic architecture delivers tonally balanced audio with less than .02% total harmonic distortion – even at high volumes.
The Studio Pro headphones moved away from theAppleW1 platform and now use Beats' second-generation Proprietary Audio Platform instead. This is so the headphones can provide a better listening experience on all platforms, not justiOSdevices. Indeed, Studio Pro offer native features on bothAndroidand iOS smartphones.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The Beats Studio 3 already had fully-adaptive active noise cancellation, but Beats say they improved this on the Studio Pro. Plus, they added a Transparency mode, which can be toggled with the System button mentioned above (if you can find it). Transparency mode is said to be different from Apple’sAirPodsPro 2 (that uses Apple silicone), although it’s very similar from the user’s point of view.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
How do the Beats Studio Pro sound? I found them pleasantly well-rounded, with minimal distortion across the spectrum. The sound stage feels balanced with some bassy undertones. The Studio 3 was criticised for having a somewhat lacklustre mid, but the Studio Pro sound more tonally accurate overall. I haven’t done any scientific tests to verify this, so you just have to take my word for it.
If you want to enjoy USB-C audio, you need an Android smartphone or buy a USB-C to Lightning cable separately, as there are only two cables in the box: USB-C to USB-C charging cable and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. Even sadder, you can only try the three EQ- optimised sound profiles when USB-C audio is enabled.
That said, I appreciate Beats offer these equaliser modes to provide a well-rounded package of sound customisation options. They allow you to tailor the headphones' sound to your liking and make the most of your listening experience. It’s a commendable feature that enhances the overall versatility and appeal of the Beats Studio Pro headphones.
Beats Studio Pro review: verdict
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
I’m becoming increasingly fond of Beats' audio products these days. I like the brand’s approach of not churning out yearly iterations of its most popular headphones. Instead, Beats focuses on addressing any issues the products might have, not being afraid to move to a completely sound different platform if needed.
Granted, I got instantly hooked on the Studio Buds Plus, but I can’t say the same about the Studio Pro. Don’t get me wrong; I like the headphones and love the changes Beats introduced. But there are a couple of niggles that hinder the otherwise harmonious audio performance.
The sound profile of the Beats Studio Plus headphones is geared towards fans of lively, energetic music with peppy treble and resonant bass. Mid is better than it used to be on the Beats Studio 3, but still imperfect.
If you’re looking for a pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that can make your favourite beats (pun intended) come alive with vigour and vitality, the Beats Studio Pro are worth considering. However, those seeking a more neutral sound signature or audiophile-level soundstage might want to explore other options in the premium headphone market.
Beats Studio Pro review: also consider
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
For something more premium, check out the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2. It’s priced similarly to the Beats Studio Pro and has immaculate audio performance as well as superb build quality you’d expect from the bard. Read Simon’s brilliantBowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 review.
A well-balanced sound, terrific sound imaging, and effective noise cancellation are only a few of the many things you’ll love about the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. If you want to elevate your listening experience without going full audiophile (just yet), this one’s an excellent introduction. Read Michelle’s fullBose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 review.
Beats Studio Pro: Price Comparison
98 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
98 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
$349.99$249.99View$378.99$278.99View$299.99View$349.95View$350View
$349.99$249.99View
$349.99$249.99View
$349.99$249.99View
$349.99$249.99
$249.99
$378.99$278.99View
$378.99$278.99View
$378.99$278.99View
$378.99$278.99
$278.99
$299.99View
$299.99View
$299.99View
$299.99
$299.99
$349.95View
$349.95View
$349.95View
$349.95
$349.95
$350View
$350View
$350View
$350
$350
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