If you ’re looking for a premium set of over - the - ear earphone , then Apple ’s AirPods Max are the ones that have probably have been at the top of your list . They ’re attractively design and have great strait , but be a pocket-size fortune . Now , Beats ( also made by Apple ) has released its unexampled Studio Pro headphones , which have pot of the same features , but at a importantly low terms . so , which one should you spend your money on ?
Our Verdict
The AirPods Max are graceful with incredible audio , but at $ 549 it ’s backbreaking to commend them over the Beats Studio Pro , which tender interchangeable sound , a nice design , and lossless audio for $ 349 .
Best Prices Today: Apple AirPods Max
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: At a glance
Before we turn over into the pros and confidence game of the phone , here ’s a quick sum-up of their specification so you know how they compare :
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Design
TheBeats Studio Prokeep with the aesthetical and construction that has made the brand instantly recognizable , such as with the Beats Studio 3 headphones . You get a full credit card molded skeletal frame with the renowned “ b ” logotype on each earpiece , plus some smartly integrate controls . Tap the “ b ” on the leftover earpiece and you’re able to act / pause your audio while tapping above the logotype increases volume and below it shorten the horizontal surface . The right headphone has a lonely clitoris that can be used to power the headphone on / off , switch between sound modes , or put them in pairing mode .
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Leather earcups make the Beats Studio Pro comfortable to wear for long music sessions , help by the headphones ’ lightweight , especially when compare toAirPods Max .
Beats Studio Pro
Apple ’s exchange premium offering takes a dissimilar approaching , opt for an Al incase on the earpieces and unsullied steel rods ( shrouded in India rubber ) for the headband . The spike shock also have a more insurance premium palpate due to their balmy , mysterious , breathable coverings . These are replaceable if they wear out , but it will set you back a rather overprice $ 69/£69 per pair . Controls are keep to a minimum , with the right headphone home to a push button for switching between sound mode , plus a digital summit similar to that on the Apple Watch that can be used to adjust mass , playback , and summon Siri .
Foundry
All of this bounty cloth does tote up significantly to the weight though , with the Apple variant count in at 385 g while the Beats Pro keep things to a lighter 260 g.
Apple AirPods Max*
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Sound
As you ’d wait of headphones at this toll , both offer excellent audio quality and plenteousness of modes to tailor your hearing experience . You ’ll bump 40 mm drivers in either modeling , aided by combat-ready noise cancellation , spatial audio , and financial backing for Siri . Neither have a categoric response as you ’d find with studio apartment - grade earphone ; instead , they are both tweaked to give the intelligent profile that the developers conceive will be most pleasing to drug user across a wide ambit of musical fashion . Our own Jason Cross review both headphones and had this to say about the mix on the Beats as they compared to Apple ’s offer : “ The gloomy end has as much lucidness and plug as AirPods Max , but the high frequencies are noticeably crisper . I never recollect ginger snap and hi - hats sounded dingy on AirPods Max , but putting them on directly after the Beats Studio Pro open that opinion . ”
Obviously , audio recording is a subjective thing , but it seems that the Beats do n’t have the heavy bass profile that could be reasonably dictatorial at times . You should be quite sure though that either set of these earphone will save first-class execution whatever music you choose to indulge in .
If you opt to get around Bluetooth and go to the higher calibre tones offered by a pumped up connective , then you could well do so on the Beats Studio Pro as they boast a standard 3.5 millimeter output jack . It ’s also possible on the AirPods Max , although you ’ll need to buy a Lightning to 3.5 mm arranger , which costs around $ 35/£35 . That ’s not idealistic for a pair of $ 549 headphones , but at least the ANC features still work when you use its adapter , whereas the feature is disabled on the Beats Studio Pro when plugged in .
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Active noise cancellation
When we refresh AirPods Max in 2021 , we praised the noise strike down as “ perhaps the best [ we ’ve ] ever heard . ” The transparency mode , in particular , was singled out , as the ambient noise that is flux into the signal make it so that “ it ’s almost like not wearing earphone at all , except you’re able to still hear your music . ” However , we were evenly impressed by Beats Studio Pro ’s noise cancellation , so both devices should keep noises in your local environment at bay .
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Spatial audio
Another feature article shared across the platforms is Spatial Audio . This basically creates a 3-D soundstage around you , using Dolby Atmos , which reacts as you move your head word , give you a deep sensory faculty of immersion in the audio . Apple Music has an extensive library of spacial audio tracks , but other servicing such as Amazon Music also bid spatial audio tracks .
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Lossless audio
It might come as a surprise , but the AirPods Max do n’t support lossless audio even though Apple Music does , chiefly due to the analog to digital conversion that are require due to the Lightning port as the only connector . If you want this premium audio feature , then you ’ll need to go to the Beats camp , as the Studio Pro can handle lossless audio up to 24 - bit/48KHz out of the box thanks to its built - in DAC .
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Value
This one is n’t even close . Yes , the AirPods Max are premium in their materials and innovation , but the lack of a 3.5 mm phone jack , lossless audio recording support , not to mention a rather pathetic and poorly - conceive carry - eccentric that offer up perfectly no protection , makes the $ 549/£549 price tag very firmly to withdraw . This is compounded by the fact that the Beats Studio Pro offer comparable sound quality , plus the summation of a wired connection , lossless sound recording capabilities , and a much good subject for $ 200/£200 less .
Beats Studio Pro vs AirPods Max: Which one should you buy?
Make no mistake , the AirPods Max are gorgeous , well-to-do , and sound capital . If you need Apple tone and styling then these are the way to go . But , you should n’t . The Beats Studio Pro offer much of the performance you ’ll get with the AirPods Max , but also have a new Bluetooth criterion ( 5.3 as opposed to 5.0 ) , a 3.5 mm phone jack for convenience , plus a terms ticket to is considerably lower . Do n’t get blinded by the Apple aura , in this shootout the Beats mannequin is distinctly the good choice .
For more advice read ourcomparison of AirPods Max and other over - ear headphones , we also have news about thenext coevals of AirPods , and if you require to save money record our round up of thebest AirPods deals .
