Beats Studio Buds

Beats is not readily associated with muted or minimalist aesthetics. So, a demure little box that could hardly house a bar of soap feels like a marked change in direction from the brand, especially since the model it contains is emphatically Beats’ next big thing.

Twist to lock

The Studio Buds’ ergonomically tilted acoustic nozzle features a laser-cut micro-vent to help ensure pressure relief on the eardrum, and with three silicone eartip options, there’s decent scope to find the right fit. Certainly, they fit very comfortably and securely for us, even without switching the pre-fitted eartips.

Each earpiece is refreshingly small, weighs 5g and is cleverly formed to taper from the rounded capsule buds to a thinner pill shape – like a switch – where the ‘b’-branded multi-function button meets driver housing. It helps promote the twist-to-lock method of fitting known to most true wireless headphone users.

The sound is driven by a proprietary 8.2mm dual-element diaphragm driver, which features a central rigid piston with flexible outer surround, coupled with a two-chamber acoustic design.

The case is svelte, pocketable and well-finished, and the earpieces snap in easily, via magnets in both case and lid. The buds offer up to eight hours of listening (five with ANC on) with two more charges from the case. That’s up to 15 hours’ play time with ANC on, 24 hours without – a shade under class-leading, but perfectly acceptable at this level. A five-minute Fast Fuel charging gives up to an hour of playback via the USB-C charger.

The multi-function ‘b’-buttons on each earpiece click reassuringly and work very well indeed for functions including playback control, call-handling and toggling between ANC and Transparency profiles, however they cannot help with volume adjustments. A shame, especially since on-device volume control was a TECH SPECS Bluetooth 5.2 Battery life Up to 8hrs (buds); up to 24hrs (from case) Dimensions 1.5 x 1.5cm Weight 5g Finishes x2 feature of the Beats Powerbeats Pro. Beats says support for volume control could be added via a firmware update, and even now, long-pressing the ‘b’ can be customised even without the dedicated app, via the iphone’s Bluetooth menu.

Six-mic set-up

For Apple Music users, Beats Studio Buds will automatically play Spatial Audio for available tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos, so you can enjoy Apple’s multidimensional presentation. Android users can download the Beats app to unlock additional features, and for the first time, Beats Studio Buds feature one-touch pairing for both Android and IOS.

There’s no H1 chip on board, and while you are getting Bluetooth 5.2 thanks to Beats’ all-new software platform, you will never get multi-device pairing for automatic switching between your laptop and phone, say. There are three listening modes: Transparency, and Active Noise Cancelling on or off. Beats claims its ANC employs an algorithm that monitors and corrects audio-compromising artefacts at up to 48,000 times a second, and it’s efficient at cancelling low-level noise, though you can’t tweak the levels.

External-facing microphones mix your surroundings back in with your music for a natural listening experience in the similarly effective Transparency mode. During phone calls, the dual beamforming mics on each earpiece do a good job of filtering out wind noise for vocal clarity, completing a six-mic set-up in total.

We stream Clash by Dave and Stormzy on Apple Music in Dolby Atmos, and it is immediately apparent that Beats is keen to shed its bass-heavy notoriety with the new Studio Buds. The bass floor is expansive but not to the detriment of space within the mix. The low end is grippy and times pretty well, with the defining nuances in both rappers’ voices celebrated with a healthy dose of petulance. The vocal is textured and emotive in R.E.M.’S Man On

The Moon, with good separation between the bass, electric and rhythm guitar and drums. It’s a cohesive, energetic mix. We stream Captain Beefheart’s Electricity and score the Beats Studio Buds high marks for spacious presentation and placement, with the raucous vocals snaking between our left ear and the back of our skull, even in the more frenzied musical passages.

It’s only when we switch to the class-leading Melomania 1 Plus earbuds that we hear an extra ounce of detail and refinement in the backing vocals through the treble. The track-ending feedback through the top end is more detailed and clear through the competing in-ears.

The Studio Buds mark nothing short of a full rethink from Beats sonically, and it’s a resoundingly positive decision. The fit is light, secure and comfortable and the audio clean and more agile through the bass. Although we noted a slight harshness through the treble during certain songs, the sound profile will suit Beats fans looking for a cleaner listen through lower frequencies. All in all, the Studio Buds make for a compelling, affordable Beats alternative to Airpods.