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Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Colors headphones review
Ricardo Trejo Nov 18, 2011
Accessories, Audio, Exclusive, Geek Culture, Headphones, Okay Geek Review, Reviews 
Anyone who really is picky about their audio gear will tell you that there are two primarily two things that make up what will decide whether a pair of cans are passed up or purchased, and that’s their look and the way they sound. The Beats line by Monster have for years been the standard for not just style but also a sense of exclusivity. But just how do they sound? Well, we’re taking a look at a pair of the limited edition Colors line for the Beats Studio ‘phones, which don’t bring anything new to table in terms of functionality but sure do look sexy.
Features
- Battery powered by 2 AAA batteries (Included)
- Monster iSoniTalk iPhone enabled headphone cable
- Packaged w/ carrying case, airplane adapter, 1/8 to 1/4” adapter, cleaning cloth
Our Impressions
The Beats by Dre headphones line has been a product that is pretty hard to miss if you’re into watching sports of any kinda, as I’m sure you’ve caught any number of ball players wearing them before and after a game. They are designer status, and while that may or may not be your thing, to the Beats headphones it’s what makes them what they are. But what makes them so special?
Well, these limited edition Colors edition of the Beats by Dre studio headphones aren’t anything new. In terms of their design and functionality, it’s all gone unchanged since they first debuted back in 2009, of course with the exception of the new special, limited edition colors (10 total if you count the original white, black, and RED). But what do we — y’know, Okay Geek — think about them? While we’ve been able to take a look at the Solo’s a few years back, we’ve never done a full written review on the Studio’s… but that’s about to change.
Let’s start with the packaging. We’ve seen lots of boxes where headphones have been sealed in a clam-shell box and it feels as if the buyer was the last thing on the company’s mind. When it comes to the Beats you get nothing but the best, even with the way in which you unbox your new set of cans. You’ll first see a large black box with an open flap that can be opened to reveal the contents of your $300+ purchased. Let’s preface the rest of this review by saying that, yes, this is an expensive product so the bar is set a little higher than just any pair of portable, wearable audio device. Alright, now inside the box you’ll find a heavy-duty carrying case, multiple cables (one standard Monster audio cable and the other a Monster iSoniTalk iPhone enabled cable — the only difference between the two is an included mic and answer button found on the latter), a 1/8” to 1/4” plug, airplane adapter, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Oh, and not to mention a pair of shiny Beats Studio headphones.
Though one issue we found out about almost immediately was the fact that both provided audio cables angle off to the side at the plug. Well, on one end they angle and on the other end they’re are straight. The old Monster Cable audio cables used to be straight on both ends, which is weird that they went ahead with this change. The reason why this is a big deal is because certain iPhone cases are thick and sometimes cause the headphone jack to be a little recessed and hard to get into. So having an angled end to the cable kinda sucks and is a little bit of an inconvenience.
Comfort
On the outside they ooze with style. When set next to a pair of Apple earbuds, or just your average run-of-the-mill headphones, it’s like watching a sportscar pull up to a couple of SUV’s stopped at an intersection. There’s just no comparison when it comes to its hip appeal, which may have to do with the designer and the namebrand upon which that iconic lower-case b stems from. Now mind you, we have yet to even go into how they sound, but up to this point you can be ensured that their glossy finish, easily adjustable headband, and vinyl earcuffs are enough to make your eyes want more. But what will your ears say?
As soon as you put them on you’ll feel the snug embrace of the vinyl earcuffs, which don’t feel like they’re there even after prolonged use. Now that, for me in particular, is a huge plus. When choosing headphones I always start with the looks, then how they feel, and then finally, how they sound. So far, the Beats studios have passed with flying colors on these first two sections, but what of their audio capabilities?
Okay, so they look sexy and they feel great, but for a $300 and a half investment they better sound pretty darn good, right? Well, that all depends on your interpertation of good sound quality. Confused? Well, let’s break it down. If you’re an audiophile then there’s little to be said, but for those unaware of the terms, to be able to distinguish the many layers of sound means to be somewhat of an audio aficionado. While others are completely content listening to their library on Apple earbuds, others scoff and throw up a little in their mouth at the thought alone. A good pair of headphones is able to relay the sound from its source and deliver it to your ears for your auditory pleasure without you noticing they’re there in the first place.
Performance and Audio Quality
For these Beats Studio headphones, features like noise-canceling and the ability to pump out bass help to isolate you away from the sounds coming from the very real world around you. Setting the volume even to a medium level will ensure that anything on the outside will have some trouble getting inbetween you and your music. That being said, there are at times when the Studios simply can’t get the job done without causing a bit of distortion.
We tested a number of genres of music and artists with the Studio’s and got some surprising results. When listneing to Death Cab for Cutie’s “Stay Young, Go Dancing” Ben Gibbard’s vocals sounded a little deeper and lower than usual, almost as if the bass was masking his voice from coming in sharper. But when it comes to guitar heavy tracks, the bass-happy Beats do an impressive job at flushing out all the layers found on even songs that are are more heavy on mid’s and high’s side — something like “Monday Morning”, again from Death Cab’s Codes and Keys album.
Now on the spectrum of low’s and tracks with a much deeper bass, songs like “Around the World” by Daft Punk or Madeon’s “Pop Culture” you can’t help but force you to bob your head uncontrollably. It’s obvious that it’s this style of dance and even hip-hop is what these particular set of headphones were designed for. For anyone who isn’t a picky audiophile the Studio’s are more than enough to get the job done on just about any piece of music. But sometimes there are exceptions that anyone could notice easily, for instance when listening to Foster the People’s “Helena Beat”, it’s intro can be a bit messy and a little too much for the headphones to handle as there’s just too much emphasis on every single piece of sound that it just sounds like a big mess of pick-up sticks.
Songs are either a hit or a miss randomly, all dependant on the style, recording, and way in which instruments come to play with each other. For instance when listening to Come On, Come On’s “Pop Fiction” it feels like there’s just too much happening all at the same level of sound, especially when the back vocals start coming in. But in other instances, like NeverShoutNever’s “First Dance”, the Studio’s can easily take on Christoher Drew’s vocals and all the back up lala’s, drums, and ukele like a peice of cake.
So in all in all, drums and guitar riffs can easily get jumbled together but it all depends on what you’re listening to, which show off some of the headphones weaknesses, though they are rare and far-inbetween for anyone who can give a pair of headphones some slack in that department.
Overall
When it comes to deciding whether the Beats by Dre Studio headphones a buy or a pass will all come down to exactly what type of music you’re listening. However, the subtle nuianssances and differences in audio are pretty hard to spot for anyone who simply just wants a sexy pair of headphones to grace their head or neck. The audio is above average, well leaps and bounds beyond Apple earbuds, but nothing spectacular when compared to perhaps other headphones and earphones we’ve check out before — Atomic Floyd’s SuperDarts, to name one in particular.
We can definitely recommend these to anyone who’s looking for something that will make them stand out in a crowd. And with the limited edition color set… well, let’s just say that you won’t be just another kid walking around with the signature, white Apple earbuds. If you care about music then make sure you make it look like you’ve got some class.
Pro’s
- Above average sound quality
- Comes packed with all kinds of goodies and cables
- Colors edition splash personality into a perfect headphone design
Con’s
- Cables included angle at the plug, causing issues with certain iPhone cases
- Sound quality isn’t spectacular, thus making the price tag a little expensive
Where to buy
Beats by Dre/ Monster Cable — MSRP: $349.95
This review was done by Ricardo Trejo, who was provided limited edition Beats Studio Color headphones by Beats Electronics.
