I Upgraded to Beats Studio Pro Headphones — and the Sound Quality Is Unreal (2024)
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I purchased my first pair of Beats headphones in 2014: the Dr. Dre Solo HD Headband Headphones. They were so popular on my college campus you would have thought they accompanied admission letters. Mine were a striking shade of teal, which, at the time, felt very cool. After wearing them constantly for years, they fell by the wayside for Apple AirPods, which became a near-permanent fixture in my ears. But now, half a decade after trading my sizable Dr. Dre headphones for compact earbuds, I find myself again drawn to over-the-ear models, heralding a new headphone era with the Beats Studio Pro Headphones ($256, originally $379), which are on major sale right now, FYI. Ahead, I share everything you need to know about them in case you're contemplating a headphone switch, too.
Beats Studio Pro HeadphonesFrom$256$379 Now 32% off
What I love most about the Beats Studio Pro Headphones is how seamlessly they pair with my iPhone — it took just a few seconds to connect them. You just press and hold the small button on the left-ear side of the headphones for three seconds, and voilà, a prompt appears on your iPhone to connect. The simplicity of this process is hardly surprising, given that Apple owns Beats, but I'd be doing you a disservice not to mention it.
Another thing I appreciate is that there are two listening modes: fully-adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode. I'll be honest: I never once tried to use transparency mode on my AirPods, nor did I know it was an option until just recently. Nonetheless, it's super easy to switch between the two with the Beats Studio Pro headphones; you just double-press the power button (the same one you use to sync it with your other devices). The noise-cancellation effect is excellent; I'm able to hear when someone's speaking to me while canceling out background noise almost entirely.
I have a lengthy list of features I love about these headphones, but my third favorite standout is their top-notch battery life of 40 (!) hours. I can go days without charging them (which is honestly a godsend to me because I'm always running on low battery). A few more things I adore that I can't resist sharing? These headphones come in a compact and stylish case that's perfect for both storage and travel. The color options are more classic and timeless compared to my previous teal headphones, which is a win. Plus, they're comfortable during workouts, including long runs on the treadmill.
The most important factor about the Beats Studio Pro Headphones is that you don't get the full experience without activating Spatial Audio personalization. (Note: This feature requires an iPhone X or later.) While it sounded like a hassle to set up, it was anything but. The process took just two minutes and enhanced my listening experience significantly. Its purpose is to replicate an immersive, three-dimensional theater-like sound, and it lives up to the hype. One of the thousands who rated them five stars wrote: "This feature is the cherry on top of an already delicious cake. Watching videos becomes an immersive experience, akin to being in a theater with surround sound. The spatial audio envelopes you in a cocoon of sound, making every scene more impactful and every note more poignant." That said, though, if you're not planning to utilize this feature, I'd consider shelling out less money on a different model because that's one of the biggest appeals of this pair.
The Beats Studio Pro Headphones are best for those like me, who are looking for a high-quality pair of over-the-ear headphones. Their timeless design is especially appealing for those who may regret past decisions of opting for bold-colored headphones (hi). They offer comfort during workouts for gym enthusiasts and provide an immersive audio experience for entertainment aficionados.
Where Are the Beats Studio Pro Headphones Available?
I purchased the Beats Studio Pro Headphones on Amazon, but you can also purchase them via Apple, Target, or Best Buy, among other big-name retailers.
The Beats Studio Pro Headphones come in four colors: black, deep brown, navy blue, and sandstone (light gray).
You can purchase them for a lower price ($256) via Amazon if you opt out of AppleCare+.
They're available for delivery as fast as overnight when you purchase them through Amazon Prime.
Check that your audio source is on and working. If your audio source is a computer or laptop, try adjusting the configuration settings. If you still hear distorted sound, try a different audio source and an alternate cable.
The USB-C cable that comes with your Beats Studio Pro enables EQ-optimized sound profiles and lets you charge your headphones while you listen to audio or stream lossless audio.
Going wired over USB-C also enables three EQ modes optimized for music, entertainment and calls (unfortunately, ANC and Transparency aren't available when connected to a USB-C port).
Use your device's EQ: Most music players and streaming services have built-in EQs. Look for a bass boost setting or adjust the bass slider to your preference. Try the "Bass Boost" preset on the Beats app (iOS only): If you have an iPhone, download the Beats app and connect your headphones.
Check headphone battery charge and recharge if low. Carefully clean headphone speakers/earpads to remove any debris or blockages. Inspect headphones for any visible damage to speakers, wires, or controls. Perform factory reset on headphones to clear any software issues.
Distortion can happen if you record too loud or too quiet, use the wrong microphone or input, or have a faulty cable or connection. To avoid distortion, you should use a suitable microphone for your source, adjust the gain or level to avoid clipping or noise, and monitor your input with headphones.
Beats earlier today introduced new truly wireless Beats Fit Pro earbuds after they were leaked last month. However, the company has also quietly discontinued three other headphones in the Beats family, which are the Powerbeats, Beats Solo Pro, and Beats EP.
The Studio Pro are compatible with spatial audio for iOS via Bluetooth and can deliver lossless audio playback when connected to a device via its USB-C port.
Instead, a built-in inertial measurement unit (IMU) with a gyroscope and an accelerometer handles everything from spatial audio with head tracking to audio personalization to Dolby Atmos audio. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds have integrated wing tips that help keep them secure during runs and workouts. They also have excellent noise cancellation, and their sound has just the right amount of bass and kick to keep you motivated.
Use Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode
Your Beats Studio Pro let you control how much you hear your surroundings. To switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, press the system button twice. You can select which modes the press-and-hold action switches between.
In the Beats app for Android, tap , then tap My Beats to display the device screen. Scroll down, tap Press and Hold, then tap Volume Control. Tap the Volume Control switch to turn it on. Tap Left or Right to assign an action to that earbud, then select Volume Up or Volume Down.
EQ settings for bass instruments and kick drums are critical in achieving a solid foundation in a mix. For bass instruments like bass guitars, a common technique is to boost the upper bass around 100 Hz to add fullness while cutting slightly around 250 Hz to avoid muddiness.
Do Beats Studio 3 have good bass? Yes, the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are known for emphasizing bass, appealing to listeners who favor bass-heavy music.
On your Android, open Bluetooth settings and then tap the gear icon next to your headphones. Turn off the toggle to disable phone calls with the headphones (depending on your Android version this could be called Phone Audio or something else), then try listening to your audio again.
Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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