by Finding the perfect pair of noise-canceling over-ear headphones can be difficult unless you’ve tried it yourself. For a frequent flier, comfort will be as important as noise cancellation. For audiophiles, sound quality is the hallmark of success. And for everyone (well, almost everyone), price is undoubtedly a factor. Below, I share my thoughts on the Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones – a slim device that promises a “premium listening experience.” To read my review and see if the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are worth their $227 price tag, scroll below.
Walmart
These Beats by Dr Dre headphones actively block external noise while preserving sound quality.
$286 at Walmart
What is that: Over-ear headphones with pure adaptive noise cancellation (pure ANC) to actively block external noise. Beats Studio3 headphones offer up to 22 hours of battery life on a single charge. A quick 10-minute charge gives an extra three hours of playtime when the battery is low.
Where to buy: Walmart | Best Buy Canada | Amazon | Staples | The Source
What’s included: Beats Studio3 wireless headphones, RemoteTalk 3.5mm cable, carrying case, universal USB charging cable (USB-A to USB Micro-B), quick start guide and warranty card.
Editor’s rating: 3/5
Best for: Travel and flights, office work, Apple users.
The details
Beats Studio3 over-ear headphones feature pure adaptive noise cancellation (pure ANC) technology that actively blocks unwanted external noise such as airplane sounds, noisy office neighbors and outside traffic.
The Apple W1 chip headphones boast industry-leading Class 1 wireless Bluetooth connectivity and battery efficiency. Their rechargeable battery offers up to 22 hours of full-day wireless playback and up to 40 hours of battery life when pure ANC is turned off.
Studio3 headphones connect easily to Android and Apple devices right out of the box and are comfortable to wear throughout the day. Multifunctional controls on the ear can take calls, control music and activate Siri when you need a hand.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones: Review
Although I’m no headphone expert, I wear them several hours a day and, as such, have formed opinions on what makes a good pair. I love Apple AirPods for their size and convenience, and until recently, my Bose QuietComfort Headphones They were my top choice for over ear noise cancellation and comfort (they died after five years – tragedy!).
Best Buy Canada
Looking to replace my Bose QuietComfort headphones with another pair of over-ears, I chose the Beats Studio 3 – an inexpensive device with thousands of five-star reviews on Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy and more.
To read my thoughts and learn what I like and don’t like about these Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, scroll below.
What I like about them
Apple Connectivity: If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, the Beats Studio3 Wireless is a piece of cake to set up. They have an Apple W1 chip for Bluetooth Wireless Class 1 connectivity, which, in layman’s terms, equates to seamless pairing with your iPhone, MacBook and Apple Watch. While I can’t speak to the Android user experience, most Android reviewers seem to agree that it’s seamless.
Noise cancellation: I haven’t worn the Beats Studio3 on a plane yet, but the noise cancellation is good enough for office work and commuting. To turn on the ANC, you double-click the power button. The ANC is designed to adapt to the sound around you and can be turned off to extend battery life. I was expecting better ANC for the price, but overall, it works in quiet and fairly loud spaces.
Sound quality: I’m not one of those people who is very picky about sound quality, so I can’t tell you the technical details of the sound quality of Studio 3. However, the sound quality is great for someone who listens to their music at a low level to medium and loves a good audio book. No cracking, no muffling, no notes.
Look: Beats Studio3 Wireless has plenty of color options and a smooth matte finish. Compared to other over-ear headphones, they’re not too heavy and, as a bonus, they’ll keep your ears warm in the cold (a must for winter in the Great White North).
What I don’t like about them
Call quality: If calling the locals on walks is your love language, these aren’t the headphones for you. The Beats Studio3 Wireless picks up an incredible amount of external noise on calls – so much so that I often cut them off mid-conversation.
They are fine for phone calls in quiet indoor rooms. However, if you’re outside, they pick up so much wind, traffic and pedestrian noise that your telephone colleague will worry about your safety.
Comfort: Across the internet, thousands of people call the Beats Studio3 one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones they’ve ever tried – I’m not one of those people. On your ears, yes, they are extremely comfortable. However, compared to my previous pair, the Bose QuietComfort, I find the padding (or lack thereof) on the Beats headband uncomfortable to wear at times. Maybe I was spoiled by my Bose’s (or an oddly shaped one), but I don’t think the Beats are nearly as comfortable.
Another thing: without fail, my hair gets caught on the outer ear cups every time I wear them. If you have short hair, this is not an issue. However, if you have long hair, prepare to kiss two or three strands every time you remove them from your head.
Is the Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones worth it?
If you have the budget to spend hundreds of dollars on headphones, I don’t know if I would recommend the Beats Studio3 Wireless. While they connect seamlessly to Apple devices and offer decent sound quality, the abundance of external noise on phone calls puts them off in my opinion. If you don’t call often, maybe theirs sale price it’s worth a try. However, I much prefer the Bose QuietComfort comfort, call quality and noise cancellation.
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