Beats Studio Pro

Measured

RTINGS labels the bass 'Balanced (0 dB)', the treble 'Slightly Emphasized (1 dB)' and the signature 'Balanced'. Its B&K 5128 curve, normalised at 500 Hz, sits about 4 dB above RTINGS' target at 20 Hz but within about 1 dB of it from 150 to 200 Hz, 3–4.5 dB above it from 1.5 to 4 kHz, and 3–6 dB above it from 6 to 12 kHz. On the same rig it has about 5 dB less bass than the Sony WH-1000XM5 between 150 and 300 Hz and about 6–10 dB more energy than the AirPods Max between 1.5 and 5 kHz. SoundGuys measures it close to its preference curve with an emphasis above 5 kHz (MDAQS overall 4.8 of 5); Fnac's lab scores its frequency response 7.3 of 10.

vs. listeners — The measurements back the balanced and bright camps — bass near target, upper mids and treble lifted — and contradict the bass-heavy verdicts of Fnac's lab and Tom's Guide. SoundGuys offers a mechanism: a broken seal (glasses, larger ears) loses bass and makes the highs louder, so the same headphone can read lean on one head and fuller on another; the comparison point matters too, since against older Beats it sounds tame and against neutral headphones it sounds hyped.

Measured

On RTINGS' 5128 rig the lift is in the sub-bass: about 4 dB over target at 20 Hz, 3 dB at 50 Hz and 2.5 dB at 100 Hz, then level with the target at 150–200 Hz and about 2.5 dB under it at 300 Hz. That is roughly 5 dB less mid-bass than the WH-1000XM5 on the same rig and within about 2–3 dB of the AirPods Max. Les Numériques finds the deep bass held back ('une retenue assez inhabituelle') and notes that switching on noise cancelling adds a little body; Fnac's lab, by contrast, calls the signature 'vraiment portée sur les graves'.

vs. listeners — A sub-bass lift with a flat mid-bass explains why some hear 'punchy sub-bass' and others 'less punch': the thump region of older Beats (100–300 Hz) is no longer boosted. The 'big bass' verdicts from TechGearLab, Fnac and Tom's Guide sit above what RTINGS measures; seal is the likeliest variable, since SoundGuys warns that any gap in the seal costs bass.

Measured

RTINGS' 5128 curve has no scoop in the upper midrange — it runs 2.5–4.5 dB above target from 1 to 4 kHz — but sits about 2.5 dB under target around 300 Hz, below a sub-bass lift. Les Numériques credits 'la très bonne reproduction des médiums et des timbres'.

vs. listeners — The data support 'clear, forward vocals' more than 'scooped mids'. The thin or scooped impression lines up with the dip in the lower midrange beneath lifted sub-bass and treble — the body of voices rather than their presence — and with the bright treble pulling attention away from the middle.

Measured

RTINGS' 5128 curve sits about 3 dB over target at 6 kHz, 4 dB at 8 kHz and 6 dB at 10–12 kHz, and 7–10 dB above the AirPods Max on the same rig from 4 to 8 kHz. SoundGuys measures 'a decided emphasis in the highs above 5kHz' and suggests cutting 5–10 kHz by 3–5 dB if sibilants grate. Fnac's lab lists 'Les aigus, oubliés' (the treble, forgotten) among its cons.

vs. listeners — Two labs measure the treble lifted, which backs the hot camp — though measurers in the Audio Science Review thread point out that the B&K 5128 overstates a peak around 7–8 kHz, so the size of the excess is uncertain. Fnac's 'forgotten' treble contradicts both curves; a poor seal, which raises perceived treble rather than lowering it, does not explain it.

Measured

No lab measures soundstage directly. Les Numériques attributes the narrow stage to the signature itself — the lifted upper frequencies and receded bass 'resserrer assez nettement la scène sonore' — and finds it short of the AirPods Max even with Spatial Audio on.

Measured

Les Numériques reports distortion handled 'tout à fait impeccable', Fnac's lab scores distortion 7.8 of 10, and Engadget found no distortion at full volume. What Hi-Fi? and Trusted Reviews both hear more detail and bite over USB-C than over Bluetooth.

Measured

Beats lists 260 g; reviewers' scales read 266 g (TechGearLab) and 268.6 g (RecordingNow) — a little heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and far lighter than the AirPods Max. SoundGuys and TechGearLab measure the cup openings at 59 × 40 mm. TechGearLab averaged about four hours of comfortable wear; Amazon owners mentioning fit split 516 positive to 337 negative.

Measured

Amazon's durability topic is the listing's only net-negative one (241 positive to 538 negative mentions, against 2,686 to 881 for quality). An Apple Support Community thread on left-ear static with noise cancelling on has 2,497 'Me too' votes, and about 33 owners in one r/beatsbydre thread report the same fault, several on their third or later replacement pair. Stiftung Warentest, testing new units, rated the construction comfortable and robust.

vs. listeners — Review units are judged in their first weeks, while the static fault and the cracking are reported after weeks to years of ownership — which is why the press is kinder than owners here. Workarounds owners report (a reset, toggling noise modes, turning off Personalized Spatial Audio, cleaning the microphone ports) help some; warranty replacement often fixes it, though not always for good.

Measured

TechGearLab measures an average 17 dB of reduction against 27+ dB for similarly priced rivals; Fnac's lab scores isolation 9.1 of 10 and reports close to 50 dB of attenuation in the bass; SoundGuys measures common commuting noise cut by 50–90% with a good fit. Les Numériques finds attenuation of low rumble and voices 'plutôt limitée'. Amazon owners mentioning noise cancellation split 1,141 positive to 546 negative.

vs. listeners — The labs disagree by more than the listeners do — 17 dB average at TechGearLab against nearly 50 dB in the bass at Fnac — and both are plausible for different seals and test signals. SoundGuys ties the result to fit: the small cups seal well on smaller ears and poorly with glasses.

Measured

Launched at $349.99; Apple's store now lists $299.99, and Amazon sold it for $199.95 (list $299.99) as of October 13, 2026. Reviewers and owners report sale prices of $150–$180.