How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a compact true-wireless in-ear pair with real Active Noise Cancellation plus a dedicated Transparency mode and a pocketable charging case, choose Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds; if you need over-ear headphones with soft earpads, an adjustable headband and a transparent mode for all-day wear, choose YY KATTY Hybrid Active Noise.
• Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds — biggest strength: True-wireless in-ear design with two listening modes (Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency), three eartip sizes, and up to 8 hours per charge plus 24 more from the case.
• Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds — biggest trade-off: In-ear fit depends on getting the right eartip seal, and it ships as a Renewed Premium item, so the box contents and one-year warranty are the parts worth checking.
• YY KATTY Hybrid Active Noise — biggest strength: Over-ear build with soft earpads, an adjustable headband and a lightweight frame, plus transparent modes for staying aware of your surroundings.
• YY KATTY Hybrid Active Noise — biggest trade-off: It's a wired-free Bluetooth headphone with no headphone jack, and its noise control is listed as sound isolation rather than Active Noise Cancellation — transparency and blocking work differently than on the Beats.
• Who each pick is for: Pick the Beats if you want pocketable earbuds with true ANC and a case. Pick the YY KATTY if you want over-ear comfort and a transparent mode you can wear for hours at a desk or on a commute.
The Beats Studio Buds are a true-wireless in-ear set with a Bluetooth connection and no cable. The compact, rounded-tip form factor is built around a custom acoustic platform that Beats describes as delivering powerful, balanced sound from a small body. Two soft eartip sizes beyond the pre-fitted pair let you chase an acoustic seal — and that seal matters, because in-ear sound quality lives or dies on how well the tip sits in your ear.
The headline feature for this comparison is the adjustable noise control. You get Active Noise Cancellation to push down ambient sound and a Transparency mode to let the outside world back in. That combination is the entire point of the design: flip between "shut the world out" and "hear the platform announcement" without pulling the buds out. Battery is listed at up to 8 hours on a single charge, with up to 24 additional hours in the included pocketable charging case. The box includes the earbuds, eartip, the case, and a USB-C to USB-C cable, and the product carries a one-year warranty description under the Renewed Premium listing.
Who should buy it: commuters and gym-goers who want something tiny, cord-free and genuinely mode-switchable, and anyone who prefers the in-ear feel over a headband. Who should skip it: people who dislike things sitting inside the ear canal, or anyone who wants the over-ear, earpad experience. Also skip it if you're not comfortable buying a Renewed Premium unit — check what's included and confirm the warranty terms before you commit. If budget is your deciding factor, compare the current price on Amazon for both options rather than guessing.
The YY KATTY is a different animal entirely: an over-ear headphone with soft earpads, an adjustable headband and a lightweight build. The enclosure is cloth and foam in a yellow finish, and the whole thing is made for long sessions — the kind where earbuds would start to ache. There's no headphone jack here, so this is a Bluetooth-only headphone, and it includes a cable in the box along with a built-in microphone for hands-free calls.
The feature set centers on two things: hybrid active noise cancelling technology that the brand says reduces background noise, and transparent modes that let you stay aware of your surroundings while music plays. Audio is described as deep, punchy bass with a rich, detailed signature, driven by a dynamic driver covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. That's the same frequency range as the Beats, so the difference between the two isn't the range on paper — it's the physical format and how each one handles the outside world. Note one spec that matters: the YY KATTY's noise control field is listed as sound isolation, not Active Noise Cancellation, so treat its noise handling as a passive-plus-processing approach rather than the same class of ANC you'd expect from a dedicated cancelling headphone.
Who should buy it: desk workers, students and long-haul listeners who want over-ear comfort and a transparent mode for quick conversations. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a wired fallback via a 3.5 mm jack (there isn't one), or who wants the smallest possible carry. Warranty here is listed as customer service rather than a stated term, so keep that in mind.
• Best for genuine Active Noise Cancellation → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds. ANC is explicitly listed as the noise control type, with Transparency as the second mode.
• Best for all-day over-ear comfort → YY KATTY Hybrid Active Noise. Soft earpads, adjustable headband and a lightweight frame are the stated design goals.
• Best for portability → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds. In-ear buds plus a pocketable charging case beat a full over-ear headphone for a jeans pocket.
• Best for battery math → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds. Up to 8 hours per charge and up to 24 more in the case is a concrete, stated figure; the YY KATTY sheet gives no battery numbers.
• Best for hands-free calls → YY KATTY Hybrid Active Noise. A built-in microphone is called out for calls; the Beats sheet lists media controls, not a mic spec.
• Best for hearing your surroundings on demand → both, but differently. The Beats uses a named Transparency mode; the YY KATTY uses transparent modes layered over sound isolation.
• Best for wired backup → neither, strictly speaking. The Beats is wireless-only via Bluetooth, and the YY KATTY has no headphone jack despite including a cable.
• Best if you want a stated warranty term → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds. A one-year warranty description is listed; the YY KATTY lists customer service instead.
In my opinion, I'd buy the Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Buds. The reason is simple: the transparent mode question is the whole point of this comparison, and the Beats pairs a clearly named Transparency mode with real Active Noise Cancellation, a compact in-ear fit and a case that extends total listening time to a stated 32 hours. That's a complete, portable system.
I'd steer toward the YY KATTY only if over-ear comfort is non-negotiable and you want earpads and a headband rather than tips in your ears — its transparent modes and soft-pad design are the draw there. Just go in knowing its noise control is listed as sound isolation, not ANC. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one number this comparison deliberately leaves to the retailer.
what is transparency mode in headphones
Transparency mode is a listening setting that pipes outside sound into your ears through the headphone's microphones and speakers, so you can hear traffic, announcements or a coworker without removing the headphones. On the Beats Studio Buds it's one of two selectable modes alongside Active Noise Cancellation; on the YY KATTY, transparent modes sit alongside its sound-isolation approach.
what's transparency mode headphones
It's the same idea phrased differently: a mode that keeps you aware of your surroundings while audio keeps playing. Both products here advertise it — the Beats as "Transparency mode," the YY KATTY as "transparent modes." The practical effect is the same: you stay present in the room instead of sealed off from it.
how to turn off transparency mode headphones
You switch modes using the headphones' built-in controls — the Beats Studio Buds have built-in media controls and adjustable noise control, so you cycle between Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation from the buds themselves. The YY KATTY likewise relies on its on-board controls to move between transparent modes and normal listening. Neither sheet lists a companion app, so plan on using the hardware controls.
is the YY KATTY actually active noise cancelling like the Beats
Not in the same sense. The Beats Studio Buds list Active Noise Cancellation as their noise control type, which means powered cancellation of ambient sound. The YY KATTY's spec sheet lists noise control as sound isolation, so its blocking is a different mechanism even though the product name says "Hybrid Active Noise." If true ANC is your priority, the Beats is the safer pick.
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: Amazon Renewed JBL Live Buds vs Rulbovs NE92, SONY WHXB900N vs Amazon Renewed Razer BlackShark V2, ATTACK SHARK G300 vs TOZO Hybrid Active Noise: Over Ear