Hey friend. Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Beats Pro vs. Beats Studio comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
For this article, I will outline the Beats Pro model, and then compare and contrast them with the Beats Studio towards the end! 🙂
- Iterations of Beats by Dre
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- Amp/DAC requirements
- Who these headphones benefit?
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Iterations
Wow. Okay. So before we even get into the specifics, let’s go over all the different versions of this headphone so we have a clear idea of what we’re getting into. This review will not cover any In-ear models. The models underlined in green are the only that have received overall positive reviews on amazon. I honestly wouldn’t even bother with the other ones.
Beats Studio Wired (Discontinued)- Beats Studio 2.0 Wired Over-Ear (Circumaural)
- Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ear
- Beats Studio Wireless On-Ear (Supra-aural)
- Beats Pro Wired Over-Ear
- Beats Executive Wired Over-Ear
Beats Solo HD Wired On-Ear (Discontinued)- Beats Solo2 Wired On-Ear
- Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear
- Beats Mixr Wired On-Ear
This article will take into account the Beats Pro Wired, as well as both the old Beats Studio Wired and the newer Beats Studio Wireless.
Beats Pro (Wired Over-Ear)
Ratings/Price
- Check eBay!
Specifications
- Type: Closed back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Fit: Circumaural.
- Connector: 3.5mm.
- Accessories: 1/4″ adapter, cleaning cloth, storage case.
- Weight: 9.2 oz.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Microphone: No
- Remote: No
- Cable color: Red
- Year: 2011
Summary
The biggest thing to keep in mind with these is counterfeit models. Most of the ones that appear as a bargain are probably fake. In general, to me, it’s just not worth the risk. The original asking price for these was also not worth it for the sound you’re getting. Most of the positive reviews even said that you could find equal or better sound for a fraction of the price.
Build/Comfort
Durability wise, the reviews were mixed, although the vast majority of people said that they were uncomfortable or too heavy. As far as clamp force, it was just too much, with the protein leather and ear-cups in general being hard on your ears and causing pain/discomfort and fatigue. A lot of people also mentioned of a defect in one speaker, with one side either coming in too low or not at all.
Sound
The sound is your typical bass heavy affair, and does sound good with a select number of genres. You know the culprits: Rap, Hip-Hop, EDM, etc. Anything with a nice hard slam. They don’t work really well for a wide array of music however, which makes them less versatile and thus valuable.
Pros
- Stylish and modern.
- Look cool.
- Good sound isolation.
- Heavy and durable.
- Good thick monster cable. Can be removed and plugged into either side of the headphones.
- Good packaging.
Cons
- Uncomfortable/too heavy. The headphone clamp force is too much. The protein leather is a bit hard on your ears.
- Build quality suspect. Defect in one speaker and ear-cushion defect.
- Travel case is bad.
- Overpriced.
Video Review
Amp/DAC requirements
These do not require an amp and you really shouldn’t use one at all with them. How to choose a headphone amp!
Who these headphones benefit?
They mainly do well with bass heavy genres like:
- Rap
- Hip-Hop
- R&B
- EDM
- Dance
Bands/Artists that got mentioned:
- Jay-Z
- Skrillex
- Hans Zimmer
- Enya
Consensus/Conclusion
An overpriced headphone originally, with a lot of counterfeit models floating around. Tangle free chord is a plus, and they generally work pretty well for bass heavy genres. The build quality is suspect, but still there were people who saw it as a plus being that they are heavy. Discomfort was pretty much unanimous even in positive reviews.
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Do not buy from Worldwide on amazon. They were selling a different, discontinued version of the headphone and passing it off as the one advertised on amazon. In general, be careful of who you buy from. A good rule of thumb if you’re not sure of the seller credibility is to only buy from amazon when it says underneath the price, “sold from and shipped by amazon.” So basically: Beware of counterfeit models.
- They rest on the ears, and become uncomfortable after about an hour. The discomfort is mainly due to ear ache, and a sensation of circulation being cut off.
- For the most part these are muddy and lack definition. The bass is there, and it works for rap and hip hop, but it’s much too artificial and bloated sounding for anything else.
- The mid-range is pretty much non-existent. Vocals lack clarity and definition, generally getting lost in the mix.
- The ear-cups swivel but do not lay flat.
- They come with two cables: The iPhone cable and a Beats cable. They also come with a cleaning cloth, manual, and a threaded 1/4-inch adapter.
- Hinged ear-pad allows you to rotate the cup backward so you can hear someone babbling. 😛
- One reviewer mentioned that the volume isn’t as loud with an Android device but sounds fine with Apple. Also, the built in controls seem to favor Apple primarily, and don’t work as well with other devices.
- The sound starts to get muddy specifically when you turn up the volume halfway. They aren’t the type of headphones to give you an accurate sound as well. These are more for sheer enjoyment.
- You can daisy chain chords for some group fun with these headphones meaning: two people can listen at the same time.
- For the most part, these aren’t worth the asking price and you could find a more affordable pair with better sound. Do keep in mind this version is rather old and I wouldn’t even bother trying to look for a non counterfeit model. Most of the sub $200 models out there are likely to be counterfeit. The sound quality is not worth the original asking price as well. There are simply much more affordable options out there with a better sound.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Packaging is almost identical, with the Pro box being a bit shorter.
- At retail price, the Beats Pro are more expensive than the Beats Studio.
- Neither run off of batteries, although the old Beats Studio model did. The newer wireless version charges via USB.
- Both have detachable cables, though the Beats Pro can not be used without a wire.
Differences
- Hard vs. Soft. The Beats Studio Wireless have a hard case, while the Beats Pro have a soft one. A lot of people complained about the case for the Pro’s, arguing that for a headphone this price, they should come with a hard case by default. I would have to agree.
- Build Quality. The Beats Pro have a better build quality and use aluminum as opposed to plastic. They also will be better equipped to take a beating than the Beats Studio. You’re more likely to take the Pro’s on the road with you. It’s important to keep in mind that both the old wired Studio’s and the newer wireless version are both very similar in build, and are more likely to break than the Pro’s.
- Weight. The Studio’s are lighter than the Pro’s.
- Fit. The Pro’s contour to your head a bit better, but the clamp force is a lot tighter as mentioned in the review. The Studio’s fit a bit looser by contrast.
- Cable. The Beats Pro includes a coiled cable while the Beats Studio does not.
- Sound. The Beats Pro sounds better than the Studio’s. There’s better separation between sounds, and overall it’s tighter and more defined with better clarity. The Beats studio feels loose by comparison. The Beats Pro has a brighter sound with more bass, while the Studio version is more laid back. The Pro’s are also a lot easier to EQ to your liking.
- Driver size. The Beats Pro has a larger 60mm driver compared with the 40mm of the Studio’s. What is a Headphone Driver?
- Ear-cups/comfort. The ear-cups are replaceable on the Pro’s while the Studio’s are not. Also, the ear-cups on the Pro’s are more rounded, while the Studio’s are oval shaped and may fit your ears better. In essence, the Studio’s are more comfortable overall. However, if you have a big melon head, the Pro’s will probably be more comfortable for you.
- Noise Cancellation. The newer Studio Wireless features noise cancellation while the Pro’s do not.
Final Word
I don’t like the sound of the Studio’s much, and would recommend the Pro’s if I had to make a choice. However, I have a much better option today for all you bass heads out there, and it comes in the form of the V-Moda Crossfade M100. The perfect solution for your bassy desires. 😛 Not only is the bass tight, but it sits extremely well in the mix and doesn’t draw any unnecessary attention to itself. The sound is so lively and engaging, yet still very detailed and articulate. This is something that is lost in over hyped bass-head cans, and today I’m here to tell you that the M-100 gets the formula spot on. Interested in learning more about them?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL V-MODA CROSSFADE M100 REVIEW!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Beats Pro vs. Beats Studio comparison.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these tickles YOUR pickle? What do you think of the M-100’s? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
2 comments
Can you make a new review about the new beats pro vs the studio3 wireless I heard that they have some things redisign for the pro series
Sure man I will write it down and let you know when I finish it.