Beats By Dre Studio 2013 Review | 93 Data compared

The 2013 redesign of the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones offers a recognizable fashion-forward aesthetic that appeals heavily to bass enthusiasts rather than audio purists. Priced at $299.95, these circumaural over-ear headphones deliver a highly sculpted sound signature featuring powerful audio with deep bass and very crisp highs. A major design improvement is the transition from AAA batteries to an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery providing up to 20 hours of life. The headphones prioritize user comfort with a well-padded headband and large earpads that remain cool during long listening sessions. They also come well-equipped with a zip-up hard shell carrying case and two detachable red cables, including one with an inline three-button remote control and microphone. Despite these improvements, the review highlights several notable functional drawbacks that hold the headphones back. A main disadvantage is that the headphones cannot be operated in passive mode; the active noise cancellation circuitry must always be running to stream music, which constantly drains the battery. Additionally, the active noise cancellation underperforms compared to Bose's QuietComfort series and introduces an audible hiss to the...

The 2013 Beats Studio headphones upgrade the original noise-cancelling model by replacing the old AAA battery design with a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers roughly 15 to 20 hours of life and charges via MicroUSB. Visually overhauled to be shinier, smoother, and lighter than prior versions, they feature a brilliant folding design and a rugged plastic frame with a rubber headband that easily handles drops and twists. In terms of audio performance, the headphones leverage the Beats Acoustic Engine software to provide enhanced sonic detail alongside a gigantic, deep bass response that excels with pop, rock, and hip-hop tracks. However, the headphones come with several distinct disadvantages, most notably a noticeable and louder noise-cancelling hiss that can disrupt softer songs, especially when listening in silent rooms. Sonically, they still cannot compete with premium home-listening rivals like Philips or Bowers & Wilkins, and the mandatory power requirement means the audio turns off entirely if the battery dies. Additionally, the switch away from AAA batteries means users can no longer quickly buy replacements at transit hubs, forcing them to rely on carrying...

The 2013 version of the Beats Studio headphones represents a total design overhaul from the original model, prioritizing a bass-heavy, impactful sound profile tailored specifically for mainstream pop, hip-hop, and underground music genres. On the positive side, "bassheads" will be thoroughly impressed by the powerful, booming low-end that mimics strapping a speaker set to your head. The headphones offer significantly improved sound isolation compared to their predecessor, a comfortable and lightweight fit with soft marshmallow-like foam earcups, and an adjustable, flexible headband. Additionally, they replace AAA batteries with a convenient built-in rechargeable battery that delivers roughly 20 hours of playback, complete with a helpful five-LED visual battery gauge and an auto-off feature when unplugged. Despite these improvements, the headphones come with several notable drawbacks, starting with a steep £270 to £275 price tag that feels at odds with the highly plasticky exterior and its tendency to act as a major fingerprint magnet. Performance-wise, the aggressive bass-heavy tuning does not suit all music genres, often making vocals sound dense and overly compressed. Listeners will also experience an audible hiss during quiet...

The Beats Studio headphones feature a comfortable, durable, and highly portable folding design that fits well for hours of continuous wear. Musically, they excel with genres like dance, hip-hop, metal, and industrial due to a tight, responsive bass profile and surprisingly clear mid-range vocals. The physical seal effectively isolates external noise, and the included 3.5mm headphone cable offers seamless phone compatibility via its integrated microphone and mute button. However, the headphones suffer from severe drawbacks, most notably an aggressive active noise-cancelling feature that cannot be turned off and generates an audible hiss during quiet tracks. This system fails to mute basic environment noises like trains or PCs, and the glossy plastic build can initially look cheap. Furthermore, they require power to work, yet severe interference prevents users from listening while charging via micro USB. The heavy digital processing also alienates purists and fans of classic rock, folk, or classical music by over-emphasizing low-end tones.

The Beats Studio 2.0 headphones offer a masterful unboxing experience, an eye-catching commuter design, and impressive physical features. The sleek aesthetic improves upon its predecessor with a glossy finish, comfortable oval memory foam earpads, and an innovative floating earcup angling mechanism that accommodates various head shapes. Functional highlights include a 20-hour battery life, a 5-LED fuel gauge meter, solid passive noise isolation, and a convenient "push to hear" button that mutes audio to let external sound in. Furthermore, its folding design makes it highly compact for travel, and the included high-quality, tangle-resistant cables add great overall value to the packaging kit. However, the headphones fall significantly short in build and audio quality for their original $400 asking price. The exterior construction is overly plastic, prone to creaking, and difficult to keep clean, while the headband feels cheap and tacky. Acoustically, the active noise cancellation is mediocre and emits a loud, constant background hiss. The sound signature is heavily flawed; the bass is bloated and lacks sub-bass extension, which severely spills into the lower midrange, masking detail and muddying male vocals....

The Beats by Dr. Dre Studio 2.0 headphones offer a refined, lighter, and foldable design compared to their bulky predecessors, making them an excellent portable option. They deliver around 20 hours of active noise cancellation (ANC) via a microUSB rechargeable battery, though they lack a passive playback mode once the battery drains. Sonically, these cans provide a powerful, upfront, and highly exciting listening experience that excels with lively genres like pop, hip-hop, and rock. The performance highlights include a rich, deep bass that is much better balanced than original models, a clear and open midrange, and crisp treble that displays good agility and dynamic confidence. Despite these improvements, the headphones come with several notable drawbacks that may deter audiophiles and critical listeners. While the ANC successfully reduces heavy background noise, it is less effective than competitors and introduces a noticeable background hiss during quiet tracks or classical music sessions. Additionally, the audio presentation favors a forgiving character over strict analytical insight, causing vocals to lack depth and subtle details to be smoothed off. The automatic power-off feature is also somewhat...

The Beats Studio Wireless headphones offer a mix of good design and average performance for a high price of £329.95. On the positive side, they feature a stylish and comfortable design with a padded headband and soft ear cups. They easily fold up for travel and include active noise cancelling that blocks out the drone of trains and planes. You can use them wirelessly via Bluetooth or with an optional cable, and the battery lasts for about 12 hours. However, the headphones have major drawbacks when it comes to sound quality and controls. The biggest con is the weak sound, which lacks deep bass and makes mid-range music sound thin or muddy. It is also impossible to turn off the noise cancelling feature, causing a quiet hiss in silent rooms. Finally, the controls are fiddly because there are no separate buttons to skip tracks, and the headphones will not work at all if the battery dies—even when using the audio cable.

The Trusted Reviews evaluation of the Beats Studio highlights a refined, comfortable, and tight-fitting design with effective active noise cancellation for commuters. However, the headphones are criticized for a cheap-feeling, fingerprint-prone plastic build and a thick sound signature that causes poor instrument separation and harsh treble.

The redesigned 2013 Beats Studio headphones (£269.95) offer a more mature, refined design that is lighter and physically stronger than previous versions, eliminating visible screws and straight lines for a less bulky fit. Key advantages include an improved active noise cancellation system that provides a clearer, cleaner audio experience, and a more balanced sound signature thanks to the new Beats Acoustic Engine. While it maintains its signature heavy bass, this version allows users to hear nuances and mid-to-high frequencies over the low end, unlike its predecessor. Additionally, the inclusion of a 5-LED fuel gauge and a handy auto-off feature helps users track the built-in 20-hour battery life. However, the headphones suffer from several noticeable drawbacks, most notably the transition to a built-in lithium battery that renders the headphones completely unusable once dead, requiring a MicroUSB recharge. The exterior glossy plastic remains a massive magnet for fingerprints, and the faux-leather ear cup material feels low-quality and plastic-like. In terms of audio quality, there is a persistent background hiss from the noise cancellation feature when music is not playing. Finally, the steep...

The 2013 Beats by Dre Studio headphones are praised for offering good, bass-heavy sound quality, effective active noise-canceling that rivals Bose, and strong value for travelers and media consumption at $299. However, the review notes the headphones are not suitable for professional mixing due to a lack of neutral sound and highlights flaws in build quality, specifically a cheap-feeling, fingerprint-prone plastic exterior and loose, clanking ear cups.

The 2013 reimagined Beats Studio headphones offer a substantial upgrade over the 2008 original, featuring a lighter, sturdier plastic construction that eliminates visible headband screws. The updated model replaces traditional AAA batteries with an integrated lithium-ion rechargeable battery boasting a 20-hour life, accompanied by a five-light LED fuel gauge and a convenient auto on/off feature. Sonically, they depart from the overwhelmingly bloated bass of their predecessor to deliver an exciting, highly detailed sound signature paired with dual-mode adaptive noise cancellation. The retail package provides added value by including a protective carrying case, a straight cable, and an Apple-friendly remote/microphone cable. Despite these advancements, the review highlights several drawbacks, most notably the $300 price tag and the fact that the headphones become completely non-functional if the internal battery dies. While the adaptive noise cancellation performs adequately on daily commutes, it fails to match the class-leading isolation of the Bose QuietComfort 15 and introduces a faint, audible hiss in quiet rooms. Additionally, the deliberate "treble push" designed to cut through environmental noise can overemphasize high frequencies and overwhelm vocals when listening in...