Beats updated its high-end flagship wireless headphones last year, bringing several upgrades to the Studio 3 Wireless, the model it replaced. The Beats Studio Pro has better sound, active noise cancellation (ANC), Spatial Audio and more. But at $350, it doesn't necessarily stand up to stiff competition from Sony and Bose. Well, now on Amazonthe premium headphones have a new draw that those rivals don't: They sell for just $170. That's 51 percent off and just $10 more than the record low.
Although the Beats Studio Pro doesn't look that different from the Studio 3 Wireless replaced it, it adds subtle aesthetic touches like new colors, a tone-on-tone finish and UltraPlush memory foam (leather-wrapped) earpads. Of course, you still get the brand's iconic lower-case “b” logo on each earpiece.
Beats
But the biggest change is inside. Using Beats' second-gen audio chip and new 40mm drivers with two-layer diaphragm, micro vents and acoustic mesh, they have improved clarity and a more balanced profile than the Studio 3 Wireless. While Beats used to be known for overpowering the bass at the expense of mids, highs and clarity, that's no longer the case. Engadget's audio guru Billy Steele found out that the cans do even-handed tuning and an attention to precision that was once unheard of in the brand's pre-Apple days.
Studio Pro has it too Spatial Audiofamiliar to anyone who has used Apple's recent AirPods. (Bose also added its equivalent to its Ultra line.) The technology simulates the 64 speakers around you, creating a more distinct separation between instruments and voices. You can choose between head-tracked and fixed mode, too. However, the effectiveness of digital trickery can vary depending on the track, from breathing new life into old tracks to barely making a noticeable difference in some other genres.
The headphones also let you listen to high-resolution and lossless music via USB-C wired listening — up to 24-bit / 48kHz. They also have transparency mode, up to 40 hours of listening time with ANC off (or about 24 hours with ANC or transparency mode on) and a fast-fuel feature that gives you four hours playback after just 10 minutes of charging.
If ANC isn't your priority, you might want to check out the cheaper Beats Solo 4, which is also on sale. Offering better sound quality and longer battery life than the Solo 3, this 2024 model is sold on Amazon for $100 — half
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