Hey there friend and Welcome aboard!!
- Original Beats Solo vs. Studio comparison!
- Beats Solo 2 vs. Studio!
Before we get into the Beats Solo 3 vs. 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
Today I will simply give my impressions of both the Beats Solo and Studio, with some Similarities & Differences outlined. 🙂
- Introduction
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Introduction
I got a chance to try out both the Beats Solo 3 and Studio Wireless 2.0, and I have to say I wasn’t all that impressed with the Studio version. I honestly don’t understand how these headphones can be priced so high. What you’re getting ultimately is a bass heavy sound. That’s fine, if the bass were actually any good. It definitely has volume, but it’s loose and reckless. There’s no solidarity. Imagine Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs referring to these in an angry, annoyed tone: “What we need here is a little SOLIDARITY!!”
Lol. I mean don’t get me wrong; it’s not like nails on a chalkboard or anything, but you can definitely tell that they aren’t as balanced as they need to be, and the treble can sound artificial at times, even sibilant. It’s a very peaky sound. What does Sibilant mean?
I fully believe that you can have a bass heavy sound, but that doesn’t mean it has to come through like low grade dog food. Haha.
I suppose on it’s own, the Studio Wireless doesn’t sound bad. But next to the Solo? Different story. That said, I actually did enjoy the Solo version of this headphone line. Let’s get into why!
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- They both have that glossy finish.
- They are both Bluetooth, and have the Play/Pause button on the side with the “b” logo.
- Both are pretty comfortable overall.
- Both are Wireless, but also come with a cable in case you want to plug them into something.
- Both sport a higher quality protein leather. I really do appreciate this seemingly small and insignificant feature. I don’t think these will peel off and/or crack like the material on the Sony MDR V6’s or 7506’s. The cups on the Beats are very soft and plush, giving me a real sense of satisfaction.
- Both have that simple and elegant headband folding mechanism, which seems very sturdy. I never feel like I’m going to break them.
- Both are pretty utilitarian in appearance, which is actually hilarious considering that Beats set the trend of making flamboyant looking headphones when they first came out. Now that everyone else is copying them, they go and make a headphone as simple in looks as the Solo. It’s the classic bait and switch method. Brilliant. Tyll from Innerfidelity brought this to my attention in one of his articles, so I’m giving credit to him.
- Both are closed back headphones. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- I think both have a tendency at times to become a bit sibilant in the treble area. It’s nothing too earth shattering, but do keep it in mind.
Differences
- Size. The Studio Wireless are a little bigger and definitely bulkier than the Solo’s. I feel much more comfortable with the Solo’s as a portable headphone than I do with the Studio’s, although both are very on the go friendly.
- Ear-cups. The Solo’s have smaller ear-cups, and they rest On your ear (Supra-aural). The Studio Wireless sport bigger cups, and they go around your ear (Circum-aural).
- Noise Cancelling. Both have good sound isolation, but the Solo’s do not have a noise cancelling feature while the Studio’s do.
- Comfort. I would say that the Solo’s are more comfortable, but that’s initially. Because the Studio’s rest around your ear, over time they are more comfortable. I did find myself adjusting the Solo’s after about an hour or two. It was a slight annoyance but still noteworthy.
- Overall sound. Everything is much looser and artificial sounding on the Studio Wireless. Sound is sort of given “free reign” if you will. The bass rumbles much more, but not really in a good way. It also starts to distort at higher volumes, whereas the Solo’s do pretty well in standing their ground. The treble is a bit grating, and there isn’t too much of a mid-range to speak of. With the Solo version, you get the opposite. I was astonished at how different they are. The Solo’s have a much tighter bass. It sounds punchier but less in your face. It’s definitely there though. I would consider these the quintessential consumer bass head’s headphones; they sound exciting, and the sound is much more balanced as a whole. The Solo’s are crisper and tighter, while the Studio’s are much fuzzier.
- The Solo3 W1 Chip. The Solo3 offers the W1 chip which dramatically increases battery life + easy pairing with Apple Devices. I have an Android, and the pairing was relatively simple, although it did take a couple of times for the Solo’s to be recognized. The Solo3 also gets a nice 40 hours of battery life, while the Studio Wireless only gets 12.
Final Word
I would definitely steer clear of the Studio Wireless if I were you. They sound pretty bad in comparison to the Solo3’s. The sound is chunky, loose, and flabby. Imagine a dude with 25% body fat and little muscle mass. Now imagine that same dude at 10%. He’s tight, lean, but still has some muscle on him. He not only appears better and more healthy looking, but he is more healthy. He’s also stronger and more balanced as a man. This is how I can best make an analogy between the two headphones in question today.
As for the question of: Are the Solo3’s worth the price? I would say they are if you specifically need a Bluetooth Wireless headphone that has a fantastic, consumer oriented sound, great durability, much improved comfort over it’s predecessors, and the option of using it wired as well! The Studio Wireless are definitely overpriced and not worth it at all, but the Solo’s are. They really took me by surprise when I tried them out, and I would recommend them for sure.
SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
If you’re looking for more of a true audiophile type headphone with a monumental bass slam, look no further than the V-Moda Crossfade M100. It’s truly a bass-heads delight, with a low end that is controlled, but never lacks impact. Not only that, but it’s comfortable, durable, and has an incredibly detailed and articulate sound signature for a closed back model. Interested in learning all about it?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL V-MODA CROSSFADE M-100 REVIEW!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Beats Solo 3 vs. Studio comparison.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Looking for something else? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these tickles YOUR pickle? Would you invest in either of my recommendations? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
