How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a dedicated, wired-only tool for tracking and mixing at a desk, choose Audio Technica ATH-M20x; if you need one pair that flips between wireless convenience and a USB-C or analog wired connection, choose Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro.
• Audio Technica ATH-M20x — biggest strength: a purpose-built wired studio monitor with 40 mm dynamic drivers, a closed-back circumaural fit, and a 15 Hz–20 kHz range tuned for enhanced low end.
• Audio Technica ATH-M20x — biggest trade-off: it's wired only. There's no Bluetooth, no active noise cancelling, and no battery — it lives on the end of its 9.8' cable.
• Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro — biggest strength: versatility. Bluetooth wireless plus USB-C lossless audio and a 3.5 mm analog cable, adaptive ANC, Transparency mode, and up to 40 hours of battery life.
• Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro — biggest trade-off: it's a renewed unit (90-day limited warranty, not new), and its 20 Hz–20 kHz range and noise control are built around active processing rather than raw monitor accuracy.
• Who each is for: the ATH-M20x is for someone who records and mixes at a desk and wants a reliable wired reference. The Beats Studio Pro is for someone who wants one pair to commute with and still plug in at the computer.
The ATH-M20x is the simpler, more single-minded product of the two. It's a closed-back, over-ear monitor with 40 mm dynamic drivers, rare-earth magnets, and copper-clad aluminum voice coils — the kind of parts list that exists to do one job well: put sound in your ears accurately while you work. The 15 Hz to 20 kHz range, tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance, means kick drums and bass lines sit forward enough to hear clearly without drowning the mids. If you're a bedroom producer, podcaster, or songwriter tracking vocals and guitars, that low-end emphasis is genuinely useful.
The design leans practical. Circumaural earcups contour around your ears rather than pressing on them, which is what gives you the sound isolation that matters when you're recording a mic and don't want headphone bleed. The 15° swiveling earcups and generous headband and earpad cushioning make long sessions less punishing. The cable exits from the left earcup only, which cuts down on tangles and makes it obvious which side is which. A 3.5 mm plug covers phones and computer soundcards, and the included 1/4" snap-on adapter handles audio interfaces, mixers, and stereo receivers.
Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro: Who It's For
The Beats Studio Pro is the flexible one. It's a wireless over-ear headphone built around Beats' custom acoustic platform, with Bluetooth for everyday listening and two wired paths: USB-C for lossless audio and a 3.5 mm analog cable in the box. That combination is the reason it's worth a look for anyone who wants studio-adjacent monitoring without giving up wireless. Three built-in sound profiles let you shift the tuning depending on what you're doing, and a 20 Hz–20 kHz range covers the standard audible band.
The features are aimed at real-world use, not just desk work. Fully-adaptive Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode let you flip between shutting the world out and letting it in — something the ATH-M20x simply can't do. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking adds a 360-degree effect for movies and games. Voice-targeting mics filter background noise for calls, and one-touch pairing plus native Apple and Android features make switching devices painless. Battery life runs up to 40 hours, and a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge adds up to 4 hours of playback — useful when you forgot to plug in.
The trade-offs are real and worth stating plainly. This is a renewed item under Amazon Renewed, carrying a 90-day limited warranty rather than a full new-product warranty, and the unit ships with a mix of metal, engineered leather, and plastic. It's also heavier — about 1.4 pounds — and its noise control is active and processed, which is a different thing from the passive isolation a monitor headphone gives you. For mixing, an ANC headphone colors the sound by design. Who should skip it? Someone who wants a pure, uncolored reference pair and nothing else.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for honest mixing and tracking → Audio Technica ATH-M20x. Closed-back isolation, 40 mm drivers, flat-ish monitor intent, no processing in the signal path.
• Best for versatility → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro. Wireless, USB-C lossless, and 3.5 mm analog in one pair.
• Best for long battery-free sessions → Audio Technica ATH-M20x. No battery to manage, ever; it just works off the cable.
• Best for travel and calls → Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro. Bluetooth, voice-targeting mics, and up to 40 hours of playback.
• Best for a fixed home studio desk → Audio Technica ATH-M20x. The included holder and case fit a permanent setup.
• Best for a wider frequency floor → Audio Technica ATH-M20x. Its 15 Hz low end reaches below the Beats' 20 Hz rating.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → Audio Technica ATH-M20x. A new bundle versus a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty.
If I were buying purely for wired studio work — recording, tracking, and mixing at a desk — I'd take the Audio Technica ATH-M20x. The 40 mm dynamic drivers, the tuned low-end response, the closed-back isolation, and the single-side cable are all built for exactly that job, and there's no battery or wireless circuitry to complicate it. I'd only reach for the Amazon Renewed Beats Studio Pro if I needed one pair to do everything: commute, take calls, and still plug in via USB-C or analog when I sit down to edit. Two different jobs, two different answers — pick the one that matches how you actually listen.
what are the best wired studio headphones
There's no single "best," but for a wired-only monitor at a desk, the Audio Technica ATH-M20x is a strong pick: closed-back, 40 mm dynamic drivers, a 15 Hz–20 kHz range, and a single-side 9.8' cable. The Beats Studio Pro can also run wired via USB-C or the included 3.5 mm analog cable, but it's designed primarily as a wireless headphone.
what are wired headphones
Wired headphones connect to your device through a physical cable rather than Bluetooth. The ATH-M20x uses a fixed 3.5 mm cable with a 1/4" adapter for interfaces and mixers, while the Beats Studio Pro offers both a USB-C cable for lossless audio and a 3.5 mm analog cable alongside its wireless mode.
what headphones do professional studios use
Studios tend to favor closed-back monitor headphones for tracking because the sealed fit limits bleed into microphones. The ATH-M20x is built for that role with circumaural earcups and passive isolation. The Beats Studio Pro leans the other way — its noise control is active ANC, which is great for listening but adds processing a reference monitor avoids.
are all studio headphones wired
No. Plenty of modern headphones marketed for studio-adjacent use are wireless, like the Beats Studio Pro, which supports Bluetooth and up to 40 hours of battery. But traditional monitor headphones such as the ATH-M20x are wired by design, because a cable removes battery, latency, and codec variables from the equation.
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 Beats Fit Pro vs HIFI WALKER A2, Logitech 981-000650 vs Amazon Renewed Logitech G PRO, Astro Gaming Logitech G vs Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK