I tried Beats Studio3 headphones — they're good, but not great
The Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones missed the mark — but here's a pair that's worth the money.
Finding the perfect pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones can be tricky unless you're testing them first-hand. For a frequent flier, comfort will be as important as noise cancellation. For audiophiles, sound quality is the marker of success. And for all (well, nearly all), price is undoubtedly a factor. Below, I share my thoughts on the Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones — a sleek device that promises to deliver a "premium listening experience." To read my review and see if these Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are worth their $227 price tag, scroll below.
These Beats by Dr. Dre headphones actively block external noise while preserving audio quality.
What is it: Over-ear headphones with pure adaptive noise cancelling (pure ANC) to actively block external noise. Beats Studio3 headphones offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a single charge. A quick 10-minute charge gives three additional hours of playtime when the battery is low.
Where to buy: Walmart | Best Buy Canada | Amazon | Staples | The Source
What's included: Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones, a 3.5mm RemoteTalk cable, a carrying case, a universal USB charging cable (USB-A to USB Micro-B), a quick start guide and a warranty card.
Editor rating: 3/5
Best for: Travelling and flights, office work, Apple users.
The details
The Beats Studio3 over-ear headphones feature pure adaptive noise cancelling (pure ANC) technology that actively blocks out unwanted external noise like airplane sounds, noisy office neighbours and outside traffic.
The headphones boast an Apple W1 chip for industry-leading Class 1 Wireless Bluetooth connectivity and battery efficiency. Their rechargeable battery offers up to 22 hours of full-featured all-day wireless playback and up to 40 hours of battery life when the pure ANC is turned off.
Studio3 headphones connect easily to Android and Apple devices right out of the box and are comfortable for all-day wear. Multifunction on-ear controls can take calls, control music and activate Siri when you need a hand.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones: Review
While I am not a headphones expert, I wear them for several hours a day and, thus, have formed opinions on what makes a good pair. I love Apple AirPods for their size and convenience, and until recently, my Bose QuietComfort headphones were my top choice for over-ear noise cancellation and comfort (they died after five years — a tragedy!).
Shop these best-selling Bose headphones in two colours at Best Buy Canada.
Looking to replace my Bose QuietComfort headphones with another over-ear pair, I opted for the Beats Studio3 — a less expensive device with thousands of five-star reviews on Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy and more.
To read my thoughts and learn what I like and dislike about these Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, scroll below.
What I like about them
Apple connectivity: If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, the Beats Studio3 Wireless is a piece of cake to set up. They have an Apple W1 chip for Class 1 Wireless Bluetooth connectivity, which, in layman's terms, equals seamless pairing to your iPhone, MacBook and Apple Watch. While I can't speak to the Android user experience, most Android reviewers seem to agree it's pretty seamless.
Noise cancellation: I have yet to wear the Beats Studio3 on a plane, but the noise cancellation is pretty good for office work and commuting. To turn on the ANC, you click the power button twice. The ANC is designed to adapt to the sound around you and can be turned off to elongate the battery life. I expected better ANC for the price, but all in all, it works in quiet to moderately loud spaces.
Sound quality: I am not one of those people who is super picky about sound quality, so I cannot tell you the technical ins and outs of the Studio 3 sound quality. However, the sound quality is great for someone who listens to their music at a low-to-medium level and loves a good audiobook. No crackling, no muffling, no notes.
Look: The Beats Studio3 Wireless has plenty of colour options and a smooth matte finish. Compared to other over-ear headphones, they're not too bulky and, as a bonus, will keep your ears warm in the cold (a necessity for winter in the Great White North).
What I dislike about them
Call quality: If calling loved ones on outdoor walks is your love language, these are not the headphones for you. The Beats Studio3 Wireless picks up an incredible amount of external noise on calls — so much so that I often take them off mid-conversation.
They're fine for phone calls in silent rooms indoors. However, if you're outside, they pick up so much wind, traffic and pedestrian noise that your phone-mate will worry for your safety.
Comfort: Across the internet, thousands of people call the Beats Studio3 one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones they have ever tried — I am not one of those people. On your ears, yes, they are incredibly comfortable. However, compared to my previous pair, the Bose QuietComfort, I find the padding (or lack thereof) on the Beats headband uncomfortable for hours-long wear. Perhaps I was spoiled by my Bose's (or have an oddly shaped head), but I don't find the Beats nearly as comfortable.
Another thing: without fail, my hair gets caught on the exterior ear cups every single time I wear them. If you have short hair, this is not an issue. However, if you have long hair, prepare to kiss two to three strands goodbye every time you remove them from your head.
Are the Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones worth it?
If you have the budget to spend several hundred dollars on headphones, I don't know if I would recommend the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While they seamlessly connect to Apple devices and offer decent sound quality, the abundance of external noise on phone calls ruins them for me. If you're not a frequent caller, perhaps their sale price is worth a try. However, I much preferred the Bose QuietComfort for comfort, call quality and noise cancellation.
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