Key Points
- Beats Studio3 headphones have diminished in quality under Apple’s ownership and are overpriced compared to competitors like Bose and Sony.
- The headphones still rely on a Micro USB port, which is outdated and prone to breaking.
- Beats Studio3 headphones have limited sound options and too much bass, making them unsuitable for audiophiles.
- The build quality of Beats Studio3 headphones is poor, with issues like falling apart pads and easily cracked headbands.
- Expensive headphones like Beats Studio3 are no longer as popular as they once were, with consumers opting for more affordable alternatives like earbuds.
Beats have long been a popular choice of headphones, but the Studio3 does not live up to the brand name. As an owner of each generation of Beats Studio headphones, I would avoid Beats Studio3 at all costs. The reason is that quality has greatly diminished under Apple’s ownership, and prices have remained staggeringly high.
More importantly, competitors are releasing far better options that cost much less and sound significantly better. In fact, Apple’s AirPods Max are much higher quality, and competitors like Bose and Sony have more affordable options. Additionally, Beats Pro headphones are now available and have the same MSRP as the aging Studio3.
A Quick Overview of Beats Studio Headphones
Beats was founded by legendary rapper and producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine. The original Studio headphones were the first product launched by Beats back in 2008. The headphones quickly became a staple in pop culture, thanks in part to many artists and celebrities wearing them.
Beats Studio stood out for its high-quality sound and heavy bass. The company later branched out into other products like earbuds and speakers, but the Studio headphones are still a core offering. Later versions added features like an internal rechargeable battery and wireless connectivity. Apple purchased Beats in 2014 for $3 billion and still retains sole ownership today.
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Reasons to Avoid Beats Studio3
Beats headphones are still very popular thanks to their wireless connectivity and active noise cancellation. However, there are also many reasons that you should avoid Beats Studio3. These issues mainly center around the age of the headphones and how much they still cost. Keep reading to find out the most important reasons that you should avoid Beats Studio 3.
Micro USB
The first reason to avoid Beats Studio3 is that they still rely on a Micro USB port. While this may seem minor, it will become a bigger aggravation as more time passes. Micro USB ports were once the standard on non-Apple smartphones, but it has since been replaced by USB-C. The older port still works fine and connects to your other USB devices.
However, the cables are becoming much less common, which could lead to problems finding a charger if you plan to keep these headphones for a long time. More importantly, Micro USB is clunkier and slower than the USB-C ports found on the newer Beats Studio Pro. Additionally, the older port is prone to breaking, and this is the headphone’s primary connector for both charging and audio signals.
High Cost
The next reason that you should avoid Beats Studio3 is that they cost way too much. Headphone prices are all over the place, and it is largely dependent on brand and quality. However, Beats is really overcharging for a brand name and not delivering on quality. The MSRP for Beats Studio3 is around $350, which is higher than the MSRP for the original Beats Studio headphones.
Tech products usually go down in price as the underlying components become cheaper to produce. Despite this being the case with nearly every other headphone manufacturer, Beats has kept prices over-inflated. It is also worth noting that the new Beats Studio Pro actually has the same MSRP. For comparison, the much higher-rated Bose QuietComfort 45 is priced slightly lower at around $330.
More Competition
The headphone industry has changed dramatically since the original Beats Studio headphones launched in 2008. At the time, few headphones offered the bass and deep tones that Beats did. However, that is no longer the case as most manufacturers began offering powered options that could achieve a similarly deep bass.
Popular headphones from companies like Bang & Olufsen, Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins, Bose, and Sony offer professional quality audio that is much better than Beats Studio3 at a more affordable price. There are also new entrants to the headphone market, like Apple with its AirPods Max. It is best to try out some of the competition to see whether or not Beats really are the best headphones for you.
Sound Quality
Beats were designed to deliver professional-level audio as if you were listening to the band recording the song. However, many argue that Beats Studio3 headphones do not provide a high-caliber sound. They certainly will not appease ardent audiophiles, to say the least.
A common complaint regarding the sound quality is that Beats Studio3 has few options to tune the audio that you hear. Another problem is that there are quality issues with mids and bass alongside very low highs. This lack of range is very disappointing for headphones that cost so much money, and it is a good reason for everyone, not just audiophiles, to avoid Beats Studio3.
Too Much Bass
Coinciding with sound quality is the consistent complaint that Beats have too much bass, and Studio3 is no exception. Designed in partnership with Dr. Dre and other artists, the original Beats Studio headphones added more bass than anyone ever packed into headphones before. That remains true for Beats Studio3, and it poses a real problem if you don’t listen to a lot of bass-heavy music.
For instance, bass will easily drown out the highs in most pop music and even some rock songs. The problem gets even worse in other genres like classical. The biggest issue with Beats Studio3 is that you cannot easily turn the bass level down. This alone destroys any credibility that the headphones have in recreating a realistic studio experience.
Aging Technology
The great thing about audio and speaker technology is that it advances very slowly. However, Beats Studio3 packs in a lot of technology, and they are nearly six years old. That really isn’t bad for most headphones, but recent advancements in noise-canceling technology, as well as changes in connectivity, are making them obsolete.
Studio3 headphones contain Apple’s W1 chip, which was used in the original AirPods. It allows for processing noise cancellation, as well as wirelessly connecting to Bluetooth devices. As mentioned, the Micro USB port is also outdated. In contrast, the newer Beats Studio Pro uses a new processor that supports much better noise cancellation and Lossless Audio.
Cheap Build Quality
Perhaps the biggest issue with the latest Beats headphones, including Studio3, is the poor design. Several aspects of the headphones feel cheap. Most notable are the pads that sit on your head. They are prone to falling apart after just a few months of use. Fortunately, you can replace these pads pretty easily, but you will continue experiencing problems.
Another flaw is where the headband mates to the speakers. The thin plastic that the metal bands slide into cracks very easily. Once one side breaks, the other is not far behind. Even worse, there is no easy or affordable way to replace these pieces. The USB port is also prone to breaking. The overall quality is poor, considering the high price tag.
Expensive Headphones are a Dying Fad
The popularity of Beats was largely due to heavy marketing, but that has mostly died off since Apple’s purchase. While Beats are still popular, they are no longer the pop culture staple that they once were. Similarly, other audio companies have experienced struggles as consumers become increasingly more knowledgeable about audio quality.
Sites like RTINGS perform objective tests that have found expensive headphones often fail to surpass the quality offered by lowered-price alternatives. In addition, smaller earbuds like Apple’s AirPods, Google’s Pixel Buds, and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are now a go-to since they offer comparable audio quality without the bulkiness of headphones.
Alternatives to Beats Studio3
If you’ve decided that Beats Studio3 headphones are not for you after looking at all of the reasons to avoid them, consider these alternatives. We’ve found several options that offer some variety for everyone. Each offers significant improvements over Beats Studio3 while also being more affordable.
Bose QuietComfort 45
- Excellent and comfortable design with an over-ear design
- High-fidelity audio with adjustable EQ settings on Bose's smartphone app
- Active noise cancelation includes both Quiet and Active modes
- Get up to 22 hours of battery life with a 15-minute fast charge for 3 additional hours
First up is Bose’s QuietComfort 45, which is the latest in the company’s long-running line of over-the-ear headphones. They offer active noise cancellation and wireless connectivity. Furthermore, QuietComfort45 relies on USB-C for charging. They don’t have as much bass as Beats Studio3, but these powered headphones offer much better sound quality at a slightly lower price.
Beats Studio Pro
- Up to 40 hours of battery life with fast charging capabilities
- Features two modes: Active Noise Control and Transparency
- Has Spatial Audio Technology which gives a 360-degree sound
- Wireless Bluetooth connection
- Take calls and activate voice assistant with the on-ear controls
Beats Studio Pro headphones are the latest entrant into the Beats over-the-ear product lineup. These headphones essentially replaced Studio3 and offer significant improvements like USB-C connectivity and a new processor. These additions paved the way for Lossless Audio and better active noise cancellation. Unfortunately, the build quality has not improved, and they have the same MSRP as Studio3.
Sony WH-CH720N
- Over-the-ear headset
- With microphone
- Alexa built-in
- Black
Sony’s WH-CH720N is a great choice of over-the-ear headphones. Sony is a well-respected manufacturer of headphones, and these live up to the brand name. The audio quality is excellent, and they are very comfortable to wear. Sony’s WH-CH720N offers active noise cancellation with wireless connectivity. Best of all, they won’t break the bank at an MSRP that is less than half of Beats Studio3.
Reasons to Still Consider Purchasing Beats Studio3
Although Beats Studio3 headphones are not as popular as they once were, there are still some reasons to consider purchasing a pair. Despite the problems mentioned above, they are still great headphones at a lower price point, so if you find them on a sale, buy them! With the discontinuation of Studio3 headphones, many retailers are clearing them out at fantastic prices.
Wrapping Up
Now that you’re familiar with various reasons to avoid Beats Studio3, it is time to decide. Carefully consider each of the reasons mentioned above and decide if they apply to you. If you are set on a pair of Beats headphones, then they may be a good choice. However, we do not recommend them to the average headphone buyer.
- $219.00Buy on Amazon
- Excellent and comfortable design with an over-ear design
- High-fidelity audio with adjustable EQ settings on Bose's smartphone app
- Active noise cancelation includes both Quiet and Active modes
- Get up to 22 hours of battery life with a 15-minute fast charge for 3 additional hours
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/09/2023 02:07 am GMT - $299.95Buy on Amazon
- Up to 40 hours of battery life with fast charging capabilities
- Features two modes: Active Noise Control and Transparency
- Has Spatial Audio Technology which gives a 360-degree sound
- Wireless Bluetooth connection
- Take calls and activate voice assistant with the on-ear controls
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
12/09/2023 02:13 am GMT - Buy Now
- Over-the-ear headset
- With microphone
- Alexa built-in
- Black
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©By Matthew Raymundo from Torrance - Dr. Dre Beats: Solo (White)Uploaded by MB-one, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10684808.
