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Beats’ range of over-ear headphones has swamped the headphone market in recent years thanks to their heavy marketing and hype. Despite questions over their quality, it has been hard to criticize the success of the brand.
However, when it comes to calling your headphones Studio and Mixr, then you’re in the firing line as users will expect the quality required to help music creators, and aficionados work at their best or get the best from the music listening.
The Studio and Mixr lines are designed for rather different tasks, but do producers and dee-jays really want to be lugging multiple sets of cans around with them? Both are also popular with the casual listening audience, so which is best?
Our comparison between the Studio vs Mixr lines takes into account the key features and the pros and cons of each product. Of course, the best way to find your perfect pair is to try them in-store, but with the best prices online, our guides can help you decide.
Key Features of Both Headphones
- Wired vs Wireless: The second generation Studio range comes with wired and Bluetooth Studio wireless models, allowing the producer the freedom to prowl their studio or stay hooked up to their console. The Mixr line is wired, as the DJ will be crouched over their desks, mixing away at a party. Music fans wanting to listen to their tunes will be swayed by their natural preference for freedom or the security of a wired connection.
- Folding Mechanism: Both units fold up for when not in use, but in slightly different ways, the Studio models fold up into a neat pivoting bundle, while the Mixr models rotate the cups up, which isn’t as space-efficient but means there’s one less pivot point to go wrong though extended use. Both models come with a neat case to keep them in, and a one-year warranty should something break or go wrong.
- Audio Quality:Â The Studio models feature Beats Acoustic Engine and DSP software, plus adaptive noise cancellation. Designed to provide studio-quality audio, there will always be concerns that these features are hype over audio product reality.
- Bass: The deep bass is often accused of drowning the complexities of your music, but if that’s what Beats fans like and want, then why stray from the formula? It has done wonders for the brand so far, and buyers know what they are getting, while audiophiles have learned to steer clear.
- Durability: The Mixr models come with high volume and heavy bass at a premium to help DJs at the mixing desk hear their work over the crowd, so that’s excusable and desirable. They’re also designed to be more durable and portable as DJs are the jet-setting type and even at a casual glance, they look sturdier, with less to go wrong.
Pros and Cons
Beats Studio’s new models are lighter and more refined than the originals and seem to be less prone to breaking or cracking. The wireless models use a built-in rechargeable battery, offering 12 hours of life, recharging via USB connector. A battery level shows you how much power is left. The wireless models do come with an audio cable in the package, so you can plug them in if that’s convenient.
In use, they again tend to focus on Beat’s obsession with heavy bass and compared to rival brands, often cheaper models, don’t seem to be able to provide a balanced sound.
The Mixr models look and feel slightly more refined and sturdy than the Studio editions. Despite being dedicated to the DJ market, they also seem to provide a better overall sound, which is a bonus for listeners.
Their design makes them good for the DJ to lift one cup to hear the general audio, and then shut things down again to concentrate on refining their sound. As a side effect of that, they are rather tight and may not be comfortable for long term use. But, in short blasts, they do a brilliant job.
An additional benefit of the Mixrs is the extra audio port on the headphones, so someone can plug their headset into yours and share the music you’re playing or creating. A handy touch that more should follow.
As an additional note, the Studios can be used for working out or jogging, but the Mixrs are too rigid are more likely to come off.Â
Overall, most users (including me) find the Beats Studio to be more comfortable. This is especially true for extended periods of time as the Mixrs can feel quite stiff at times.
Finally, both are now fully supportive of Apple devices, with only limited Android or Windows Phone support, which may be a consideration for some buyers.
Comparison of the Beats Studio vs Mixr Headphones
Let’s take a quick look at how these two headphones stack up side by side:
| Specs | Beats Mixr | Beats Studio |
| Connection | Bluetooth or Wired | Â Wired |
| Weight | 210g | 260g |
| Colors | Black, White, Green, Yellow, Blue | Black, White, Titanium, Red, Blue |
| Price |
Key Advantages of Both Headphones
For another quick look, this is my overall take on these two headphones.
| Beats Studio Advantages | Beats Mixr Advantages |
| Better for working out than the Mixr’s | Extra audio port |
| Better for extended listening | Better for DJs (due to noise reduction) |
| Â More comfortable for long periods | Much better price tag. |
| Excellent bass response for the money |
Final Recommendation – Which is Best?
The Studio range is often maligned as overpriced and under-performing and that still seems the case, despite the claims to recreate that studio sound. The Mixr range on the other hand do their job against a baying audience or a stack of amplifiers and speakers, allowing DJs to hear their music.
That makes it easy to recommend the Mixrs, which do a better job of reproducing high and mid-range sounds compared to the Studio line. The Mixrs also happens to be the less expensive product, which means buyers are getting something of a bargain, while still staying loyal to that Beats branding.
With personal choice such an emotive subject when it comes to music, there can be endless debate about what’s the best sound, but when it comes to these two products, the Mixrs are definitely ahead in terms of overall sound quality and the ability to provide kicking bass and raw volume.
Yes, the Mixrs might not be ideal for extended listening, but if you tend to tune in short bursts or on journeys then they are the better choice.