Review: Beats Studio Wireless

Less bass than before, but heaps more class

$479, au.beatsbydre.com

For the second iteration of Beats’ wireless cans there has been a complete redesign both inside and out. The results are uncharacteristically understated.

The new look is lighter and the build more sturdy. Sure, it’s not as eyecatching as before, but we prefer the more subtle styling, especially on the matte black version. The redesigned ear cups are more comfortable for long listening sessions, too.

A similar approach has been taken with sound quality. The Studios sound very good indeed, with bass actually feeling reduced since last year’s version, which will come as a relief for some. Instead, the mid-range has been boosted, resulting in a more overall balanced sound.

But don’t fear, Beats hasn’t totally grown up. The price is still in the territory of “How much?!” for a start, and in much the same way that the harder you push a racing car the more it grips the road, the louder you pump up the volume, the better they sound. Commuters, brace yourself.

In reverse, the noise-cancelling works well, managing to block out most noise for up to 12 hours, but at low volumes it does produce an audible hiss. Bluetooth, meanwhile, is seamless. Arguably Beats’ best cans yet, we reckon. love More sophisticated design. Comfortable fit. Well-rounded sound quality. Good noise cancelling hate Pricey. Noise cancelling audible at low volumes T3 says The best Beats yet, though its niggles make that price tag a bit hard to swallow