How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want wireless noise cancelling with all-day battery and Apple-friendly pairing, choose Amazon Renewed Beats Studio3; if you need wired USB-C studio monitoring with a remote and a built-in mic, choose ENCASED USB-C Over Ear.
• Amazon Renewed Beats Studio3 — biggest trade-off: It's a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty, and the box does not include the microUSB charging cable or the Remote Talk cable.
• ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — biggest strength: Wired USB-C plus 6.5mm dual connectivity with 50mm neodymium drivers, an in-line mic/remote, and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — biggest trade-off: It's wired only — no Bluetooth, no noise cancelling, so you're tethered to your device.
• Pick the Beats if you want wireless freedom, active noise cancelling and long battery life for commuting, travel or Apple-device use.
• Pick the ENCASED if you want a plugged-in studio monitor for mixing, DJ work or latency-free listening on a USB-C phone or laptop.
The Studio3 is built around two ideas: block the room out, and stay untethered. Pure Adaptive Noise Cancelling actively reduces outside noise, and the soft over-ear cushions use venting and pivoting so the fit flexes to your head shape. That combination is why I'd point a commuter, a frequent flyer or an open-plan-office worker here first.
Battery is the other headline. A full charge runs up to 22 hours with Pure ANC on, or up to 40 hours with it switched off in low-power mode. Run low and Fast Fuel gives you up to 3 hours of playback from a short charge — a few minutes on the cable, per the specs. If your day is long and your outlets are scarce, that matters more than almost anything else.
Now the honest caveats. This is a renewed unit carrying a 90-day limited warranty, not a new-in-box one, so factor that in. The listing also states the microUSB cable and Remote Talk cable are not included — you supply your own charging cable. And this is active noise cancelling via Bluetooth 4 with on-ear controls; it's a consumer listening headphone, not a reference monitor. If you need a flat, wired, plug-and-play studio tool, look at the ENCASED instead.
ENCASED USB-C Over Ear: Who It's For
The ENCASED V200 Pro is the opposite philosophy: wired, tuned, and aimed at people who care about a clean signal path. The headline spec is the pair of extra-large 50mm neodymium drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, and each pair is RVRB-8 digitally tuned. The result, per the specs, is a wide-range, low-distortion sound with firm bass that doesn't swamp the mids and highs.
Connectivity is genuinely flexible for a wired set. You get a 4ft USB-C audio cable and a 4ft 6.5mm aux cable in the box — no adapter needed. That means it plugs straight into a USB-C phone or laptop for latency-free listening, and into a 6.5mm output on an interface or mixer for mastering and mixing. The braided nylon cable is described as ultra durable.
Comfort and controls are studio-minded too. Protein-leather ear cushions sit over an ultra-comfortable foam layer, the headband is 16-point fully adjustable so it fits a wide range of head sizes, and the closed-back design adds passive noise isolation. An in-line remote puts volume, playback and a microphone right on the cable. Impedance is 32 ohm, so it's easy to drive from a phone or laptop without a separate amp.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants a wired monitor for home recording, DJ practice, beat-making or simply a low-latency listen on a USB-C device — and who values the 2-year manufacturer warranty. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs wireless freedom, active noise cancelling, or the convenience of walking around untethered. It's a corded tool, and you'll feel the cord.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life and wireless freedom → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio3. Up to 22 hours with ANC on, up to 40 with it off, plus Fast Fuel top-ups.
• Best for wired studio monitoring and mixing → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. 50mm neodymium drivers, RVRB-8 tuning, and a 6.5mm cable for interface or mixer outputs.
• Best for USB-C phones and laptops, no adapter → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. It ships with a USB-C audio cable.
• Best for Apple-device pairing and multi-device switching → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio3. The W1 chip pairs with one press and moves between iPhone and Mac.
• Best for long-session comfort with a custom fit → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio3. Pivoting, vented over-ear cushions adapt to head shape.
• Best for a simple, latency-free plug-in with an in-line mic → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. Remote handles volume and playback, mic included.
• Best for a longer warranty and no renewal uncertainty → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. 2-year manufacturer warranty versus a 90-day limited warranty on the renewed Beats.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — but only if your priority is a wired, low-latency studio monitor. In my opinion, the 50mm neodymium drivers, the dual USB-C and 6.5mm cables, the in-line mic/remote, and the 2-year warranty make it the more predictable, more durable daily tool for mixing, DJ work and USB-C devices.
That said, if wireless freedom, active noise cancelling and 22-plus hours of battery are what you actually need, the renewed Beats Studio3 is the one I'd recommend — just go in knowing it's a renewed unit with a 90-day warranty and no charging cable in the box. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, since that's the one thing that can tip a close call.
For critical listening, mixing or DJ work, yes — in my opinion. The ENCASED packs 50mm neodymium drivers, RVRB-8 tuning and a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range in a wired, low-latency package, which is what studio work rewards. If you mainly want wireless convenience and noise cancelling, a consumer pair like the Beats fits better.
There's no single answer, but the traits studios favor are the ones in the ENCASED sheet: closed-back over-ear design, large dynamic drivers, a wired connection and a 6.5mm option for interface or mixer outputs. The Beats Studio3 is a consumer noise-cancelling wireless headphone with a 3.5mm jack, so it's a different tool.
Both of these are dynamic-driver over-ear designs: a driver converts the audio signal into sound inside a sealed cup that sits around your ear. The Beats adds active noise cancelling and Bluetooth, while the ENCASED is wired with passive closed-back isolation and larger 50mm drivers.
Set the cups fully around your ears, not on them, and adjust the headband until the fit is snug but not tight. Both models are built for this — the Beats uses pivoting, vented cushions, and the ENCASED has a 16-point adjustable headband for a range of head sizes.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: wireless travel headphones, eYotto Headphones vs Dunzy 2, QearFun Sparkly Unicorn Headphones vs SUUNTOK Over Ear, earbuds no mic