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Before we get into the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 vs. Beats Studio Wireless comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
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What I will bring you in this review
For this article, I will compare and contrast the QC35 with the Beats Studio Wireless, and then link to some articles towards the end! 🙂
- Iterations of Beats by Dre
- Introduction
- 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 models.
That said, if I’m missing anything, please let me know!
Beats Studio Wired (Discontinued)- Beats Studio 2.0 Wired Over-Ear (Circumaural)
- Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ear (Decent)
- Beats Studio Wireless 2.0. (Decent)
- Beats Studio Wireless On-Ear (Supra-aural)
- Beats Pro Wired Over-Ear (Decent)
- Beats Executive Wired Over-Ear
- Beats EP Wired On-ear
Monster Beats Solo (Discontinued)Beats Solo HD Wired On-Ear (Discontinued)Beats Solo HD “drenched in color” 2.0 (2013). Really? No.- Beats Solo2 Wired On-Ear (Good)
- Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear (Better)
- Beats Mixr Wired On-Ear (Decent)
So for the purposes of this article, I will be comparing the QC 35’s with the highest rated studio version which happens to be the Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ear. Do keep in mind that there are two versions of the Studio’s, but today we’ll cover the newer one since the old is pretty much obsolete at this point.
Introduction
I got a chance to demo both the Bose QC35 and Beats Studio Wirless and was relatively impressed with my findings, although I didn’t think the Studio’s measured up with the Beats Solo3. I find that headphone to be a major step up from previous Beats models, and do believe the company under Apple is headed in the right direction.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the QC35, though I don’t think the price tag is 100% warranted. Equal or better sound can be had for a lot less. Bose has always been extremely proud of their products, and for the most part they do deliver. However, their price ranges are quite ridiculous considering my Sony MDR V6 sounds just as good if not better, for a fraction of the cost.
That said, there are a few huge differences between these two headphones, so let’s get into specifics!
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both the Studio Wireless and QC35 have a form of noise cancellation. The QC35 uses Active Noise Cancelling, while the Studio Wireless has Adaptive Noise Cancelling. The basic difference is that Adaptive eliminates noise in a more versatile way by canceling it based on where you are. It “adapts” to the environment at hand, while Active only cancels static, immediate sound. It does not adapt to say, a noise that progressively gets louder. It uses a microphone to capture everything in the vicinity, and then replays the sound through a speaker to cancel out the peaks and valleys. The process is called interference, or phase cancellation. Also, adaptive noise cancelling enables you to drown out sounds even when there’s no music playing. It’s important to keep in mind quality here. The QC35’s get rave reviews for their NC properties, while the Studio Wireless has been accused of being sub-par in this regard. I would have to agree; the QC35’s do a better job overall. This is probably due to the fact that the 35’s have 2 internal mics to pick up sound, while the Studio’s only have 1.
- Features. Both can take calls, and you can also adjust the volume and skip songs with each.
- Both are closed back, circumaural headphones. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Both have wireless capabilities, and both are Bluetooth.
- Both can also use a wire to connect to various devices.
- Both have a battery life indicator.
- Both have a travel case included.
- Both have the standard 3.5mm jack.
- Both can be folded.
Differences
- Sound. The QC35 is what I like to call “pleasant.” It’s not going to blow you away with regards to any particular frequency. What you will get is some nice clarity and definition, with no added emphasis on bass, treble, or the mid-range. It’s about as balanced a sound as you’re going to get. By contrast, the Beats Studio Wireless is very bass heavy, but it feels looser than say the Solo3. It doesn’t come across as cohesive. The bass has plenty of low rumble, but the sound signature has a tendency to become sibilant. What does Sibilant mean? One of the best things I can say about the QC35 is that it will absolutely never become sibilant under any circumstance. This is a huge plus, because headphones in general can become very fatiguing after a short period of time depending on their intensity levels. For instance, I love my Sennheiser HD25, but I can’t listen to it for extended periods on loud because it is simply very tiresome. The sound is incredible, but it’s fiercely intense.
- Treble. This is perhaps the biggest noticeable difference at high volume. The QC35’s treble is very tame and relaxed, while the Studio Wireless is aggressive and in your face. This becomes a problem at louder levels, but turning down the volume a notch or two should help considerably.
- Comfort. While the Studio Wireless is a pretty comfortable headphone overall, it pales in comparison to the Bose. We all know Bose is famous for comfort, and we’ve come to expect it, but I’m here to tell you that it’s not exaggerated in the slightest. I’m pretty sure they make their living off of this fact a lone. The QC35’s are simply some of the most comfy cans I’ve ever worn, and I’ve tried a lot. If anything could be compared to pillows on your ears, these are it hands down. The clamp force is just right, the cups are soft and plush, and the headphones themselves are lightweight but don’t feel like they’re going to snap. The Studio’s are a bit heavier, and I must say they are very comfortable as well. However, I can see myself having to adjust from time to time, whereas with the QC35’s I don’t think I will ever.
- Weight. The QC35’s are a bit heavier than the Studio’s. 309g. vs. 260g.
- Noise cancellation off? With the QC35’s you cannot turn off noise cancelling, which may be an issue if you really need to hear your surroundings.
- Battery Life. The QC35’s get a whopping 20 hours, while the Studio’s only get 12 wireless and 20 with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Finish. The QC35’s have a matte black finish while the Studio Wireless are mostly gloss.
- Sound pressure level. The Studio’s are 115dB/mW vs. 90dB/mW. What is SPL?
- Ear-pads. The Studio Wireless’ pads can be replaced.
Final Word
I honestly do enjoy the sound of both of these headphones, but believe that they are a bit overpriced. That said, the QC35 is in one of those strange, very targeted niches and occupies such a specific need that I almost feel it’s justified. Where else can you find a balanced Bluetooth headphone with amazing comfort and great durability? It’s very hard to come by and I do think the QC35 succeeds with flying colors for it’s intended purpose. Interested in learning more about it?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL BOSE QUIET COMFORT 35 REVIEW!!
As for a bass heads dream, you may think the Beats line fits the bill. Well, I do like the Solo3’s, but in my opinion it’s the only model in the lineup that truly measures up. However, there is another headphone I like even better: The V-Moda Crossfade M100. Why is it better than Beats? It comes down to one very important component: clarity. The M100’s are astonishingly clear and precise, especially being that they’re suited towards bass above all. I really was taken aback when I started hearing laser like precision details that I had previously missed in recordings. A headphone that can present to you a thumping, controlled bass line and subtle details while being extremely durable and comfortable? That’s the M100 in a nutshell. Interested in learning more aobut 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 Bose Quiet Comfort 35 vs. Beats Studio Wireless comparison.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Forget something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these tickles YOUR pickle? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
