Updates:
- 1/6/19.
- 9/15/19. Article cleanup.
1,940 word post, approx. 4-5 min. read
Hola Amigo and Welcome aboard!!
Let’s start with a quick chart!
Comparison Chart
Before we get into the Beats Studio 2.0 vs. 3.0 comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this comparison
Today I will outline the Similarities & Differences between the Beats Studio 2.0 and 3.0, and then give a recommendation towards the end. 🙂
- Introduction
- A Closer Look at the Studio 2.0
- Features: What to Expect?
- Sound
- Comfort
- What You Need To Know About 3.0
- Comfort
- Connectivity
- Sound
- Bass and Noise Cancelling Feature
- Similarities & Differences
- Video Review of the Studio 3.0
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Introduction
The Beats Studio line starting with the 2.0’s is pretty decent, although not in line with my preferences. For the average consumer or your standard issue bass-head, they certainly deliver. I really did enjoy the Solo 3 and Studio 2. I got a chance to try the 3’s and I liked them as well!
The bass is surprisingly well done for a headphone like this. I remember back in the day when Beats headphones were pretty much laughed and scoffed at. Not so much anymore. They are actually semi-respectable, but keep in mind I’m more of an audiophile and have heard the best of the best. The Focal Utopia is a good example of a headphone that pretty much outclasses anything I’ve ever heard. Learn more: Focal Utopia Review.
That said, I’m not here to try and convince you to become an audiophile, but you may be interested in the hobby nonetheless.
But I digress. 🙂
You may be wondering how the Beats Studio 2.0’s measure up against the 3.0’s.
Let’s take a gander!
A Closer Look at the Beats Studio 2.0
Beats headphones have this distinct style that has warmed up to us. When we see a pair of Beats, we can immediately identify them. The designers of these headphones have certainly succeeded in making the Beats a very unique product as far as style and looks are concerned. As for performance, comfort, and other factors that make a pair of headphones truly great, the Beats Studio 2.0 has been making its mark as well.
The Beats Studio 2.0 headphones are as comfortable as they are beautiful. You can expect that they will fit snugly whenever you wear them. However, this may not be the pair that you want to use when you’re working out. You wouldn’t want to sweat on these headphones. But for everything else such as commuting to and from work or just lounging at home, the Beats Studio 2.0 won’t disappoint.
Features: What to Expect?
When you buy a pair of Beats, you also get a protective case for them. This is great for when you have to store them in your bag or whenever you’re not using them. The Beats headphones have several features that are really nice, including the ease of use when adjusting the volume just by touching its outer circle. Another feature that’s getting much attention is its Adaptive Noise Canceling technology. Just as the name suggests, you don’t have to worry about hearing background noise while listening to your favorite music. Related: How Do Noise Cancelling Headphones Work?
However, there have been some reactions about this feature because others hear a hissing noise whenever it’s plugged in. A few users even report feeling nauseous and disoriented. The easiest way to address this would be to just disable the feature. Unfortunately, there is no known way to do that for now. But don’t worry. Happy and satisfied users outnumber those who found issues with the Beats Studio 2.0. A hunch is that they probably have more sensitive ears than the rest of us, thus, the issues with the feature.
How Good Does It Sound?
Overall sound quality is good and the bass is nice. When it comes to noise isolation, the Beats Studio 2.0 is awesome. This is because the headphones get to cover your ears fully. Sound will neither leak in nor out. But observe these headphones when it comes to the treble if you’re particular with each specific sound. It may not be as good as you hoped. The sound quality of the Beats Studio 2.0 is satisfactory. You could say that it could’ve been better though. Again, these are very minute details that you won’t notice unless you’re a committed audio geek.
How Comfortable are the Beats Studio 2.0?
Since the 2.0 is lightweight, it is very comfortable to wear. The earpieces are well-cushioned while the headband has a tapered design with great padding. It’s much better compared to the previous versions as it fits your head better. If you have small ears, maybe you’ll find the 2.0 somewhat bulky. Nevertheless, the grip is good and it’s comfortable.
How About Durability?
With the Beats Studio 2.0, you’ll find that they’re an improvement over the previous versions in many ways, including durability. The cable that comes with the headphones is much thicker but nonetheless flexible. You may find that the headphones have a lot of plastic material in them so it’s not exactly the among the high-end headphones on the market. It does come with a protective case as I mentioned earlier. Be sure to make use of them for storing your Beats so that they remain protected when you’re not using them.
What You Need to Know About the Beats Studio 3.0
Same Look But Comfier to Wear
At first glance, you would probably think: “What’s so different about this one? It looks exactly like the 2.0″
But don’t be deceived. The Beats Studio 3.0 has gone through a lot of tweaking. For instance, if you compare the ear pads you’ll find that the 3.0’s are softer and much more comfortable. You can wear them for a long time without discomfort, but it isn’t advised. Use them in intervals to prevent damage to your ears.
As for performance and sound, it’s also better. If you compare the 2.0 and 3.0 side by side, there is a noticeable difference in the sound they produce. The Beats Studio 3.0 still has that noise cancelling feature like the previous model, but that’s also been upgraded. Here are the things that you should know so you can better compare Beats Studio 2.0 vs. 3.0.
Easier Connectivity
Inside of these headphones, Beats also redesigned the DNA of the 3.0 completely. There are new drivers as well as circuitry. Related: What is a Headphone Driver? One of the best additions is the Apple’s W1 chip. This chip is also in other headphones from Beats such as the BeatsX, Solo3 Wireless, PowerBeats3 Wireless, and of course, Apple’s AirPods.
With the W1 chip, you can easily connect your 3.0 to the Apple devices you have. Apart from that, it also helps in maintaining the battery life of the headphones. You can go for 22 hours with the 3.0. That’s twice as much as the previous model’s capability. But of course, don’t wear headphones for hours at a time (on high volume) as you already know the damage this can cause. Take care of your ears!
How’s the Sound Quality?
Longer battery life is already something that the Beats 3.0 can boast about. But what about the sound? When compared to the previous models, the 3.0’s sound is much cleaner, the bass is more defined while still sounding natural. You may think that the 2.0 already sounded great but the 3.0 is truly an improvement by comparison.
Bass and Noise Canceling Feature
It may be too easy to assume that because this is a Beats headphone, the bass would be overwhelming. But Beats has come a long way from that. They now make headphones that produce fairly well-balanced sounds. The bass is still there in the 3.0 but it won’t be annoyingly overpowering.
The noise cancelling feature is also present in the 3.0 but it’s been upgraded as well. With this technology, your environment is being monitored consistently so that it can calibrate the noise canceling feature. There’s not much talk about people getting nauseous about it like that with the 2.0, which is great news.
Now that you know more about the Beats Studio 2.0 vs. 3.0, let’s have a recap of the similarities and differences between these two headphones so that you’ll have an easier time choosing which one to get.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both are noise cancelling.
- The packaging and presentation on both are identical.
- Build quality is more or less about the same.
Differences
- Microphones. Though both are noise canceling, the Studio 3’s use 2 microphones to effectively cancel the noise instead of just one. This results in a better noise cancellation experience than the technology apparent in the Studio 2.0’s. More noise will get drowned out. For instance, if you’re yelling with them on you most likely will not be able to hear yourself. The Studio 2.0’s, in all honesty, did not perform well at all as far as ANC. The Studio 3.0’s do perform better in this regard, but maybe not as good as a Bose, Sony, or Sennheiser model.
- Adaptive. A new feature of the Studio 3’s is software that compares the noise cancelled music with the original source file on your device. By continuously comparing these two in real time (over 50,000 times per second), the Studio 3’s will effectively remove unwanted artifacts in the music and also block out sound as you’re listening, without you noticing. This is called “Adaptive Noise Cancellation.” However, this isn’t new, as Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser all offer this in some form or fashion via their own methods.
- Battery life and W1 Chip. The Studio 3’s battery life is 22 hours with ANC on, and 40 off. Apple’s W1 chip, also present in the Solo 3’s, will extend battery life for an extra 1 hour and 45 minutes when you have 2 hours left on the charge. The W1 chip also automatically connects to your Apple device without you having to do anything. Learn more: Beats Solo 3 Review.
- Fast Fuel charging. With the Studio 3’s, 10 minutes of charging will give you 3 hours of playback.
- Comfort. The 3.0’s padding is more comfortable, as well as the headphone overall.
- Sound. The sound of the 3.0 is cleaner and more natural.
Video Review and Comparison!
Credit to Jim’s Review Room. Make sure to subscribe to his channel!
Final Word
Scenario 1:
You don’t already have the Beats Studio 2.0 but are looking for a really good headphone. You’re more of a casual listener, not all that concerned with balance. You prefer a bass heavier type of signature, and need a headphone for on the go. The Beats Studio 3.0 Wireless is an awesome solution in this instance. It’s extremely comfortable, has a solid build, and sounds rather fantastic.
Scenario 2:
What if you prefer a more balanced signature but still need the best noise canceling has to offer? I would suggest the Bose Quiet Comfort 35’s friend. They sound very pleasant and non-threatening like Mr. Rogers, and you’ll fall in love with the comfort factor and features as well. Learn more:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve gotten some valuable information out of this Beats Studio 2.0 vs. 3.0 comparison!
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!
Which of these headphones are you most likely to purchase? I would love to hear from you..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
2 comments
This is the guide I needed. I’m considering getting one or the other. Although I’m a casual listener for now, I am committed to build an audio room at my house to enjoy high quality music. This idea it’s on me since I experienced Daft Punk’s Discovery al bum with Holophonic speakers at a theater in pitch dark. Once you hear that, like some sort of drug, your brain DEMANDS a superior quality.
“like some sort of drug.”
You must be new here *snicker* MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAH NOW THAT I’VE GOT YOU RIGHT WHERE I WANT YOU!!!! ….. *I’d like to buy all of your chocolate* Sorry I went off on a weird cartoon reference tangent there.
Nah, the Studio 3 is actually a very good headphone along with the Solo series. I got a chance to demo the Studio 3’s and I really like them, so I will definitely not steer you away. As an audiophile, my tastes lean more towards balance over excitement, but I am a former bass head and still produce music, so I’m familiar with how a lot of products sound.
That said, the Studio 3’s are excellent, and have done a fantastic job in helping to sort of redeem Beats’ somewhat tarnished image from years past.
Will you be using them for purely music enjoyment, or is there something else I should know about?
Talk soon,
-Stu