We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to fix a pair of Beats over-ear headphones you already own, choose cipher Replacement Audio Cable; if you need a complete wireless studio over-ear headphone for video calls, choose JLab Studio Pro+. That is the whole decision in one line. One is a 1.4 m AUX cord with an in-line mic, the other is a Bluetooth 5 over-ear headphone with fabric and memory foam earcups. They are not rivals in the usual sense — they solve completely different problems, and the "studio over ear headphones" angle only really applies to one of them.
• cipher Replacement Audio Cable — biggest strength: It is a direct replacement cord for a long list of Beats models (Studio, Solo, Pro, Mixr, Executive, Detox, HD), with a 3.5 mm male-to-male plug, an in-line mic and remote, and a tangle-free, soft wire.
• cipher Replacement Audio Cable — biggest trade-off: It is a cable, not a headphone. It only helps if you already own compatible Beats, and the remote/volume functions only work on Apple devices plus some Android phones.
• JLab Studio Pro+ — biggest strength: A complete wireless over-ear headphone with Bluetooth 5, over-ear fabric and memory foam cushions, sound isolation, and a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range — plus a cable in the box.
• JLab Studio Pro+ — biggest trade-off: No headphone jack on the headphone itself, so wired listening depends on what's included, and it is wireless-first by design.
• Who each pick is for: cipher for anyone repairing or rewiring existing Beats headphones; JLab for anyone who needs a working pair of over-ear headphones for video calls, music and gaming right now.
The cipher cable is a repair part, and it's honest about that. It exists to replace the cord on Beats Studio, Solo, Pro, Mixr, Executive, Detox and HD on-ear and over-ear headphones. Two male 3.5 mm plugs — one straight, one L-shaped — and a 1.4 m length that gives you enough slack to move around a desk without yanking the plug out of your laptop.
What it does best is restore function. If your original Beats cable has a frayed end, a dead mic, or a remote button that stopped responding, this is a low-drama swap: plug and play, no setup, no pairing, no charging. The in-line mic and control handle answer/hang-up, volume up/down, and track skipping — but only on Apple iPod, iPad and iPhone, plus some Android smartphones. On anything else, expect audio to pass through fine while the buttons do nothing.
Who should buy it: people who already own compatible Beats and want them working again for wired listening or a call. Who should skip it: anyone without Beats headphones, anyone who wants wireless freedom, and anyone hoping to use the remote on a device that isn't Apple or a supported Android phone. It's also worth noting the compatibility list covers iPhone 3GS through 6/6 Plus for the remote — older Apple hardware. Check your own phone before assuming the buttons will work.
JLab Studio Pro+ is a finished product, not a part. It's a Bluetooth 5 wireless over-ear headphone in black, with fabric and memory foam earcups that sit around your ears rather than pressing on them. That over-ear enclosure is exactly what the "studio over ear headphones" framing is about: the cups surround the ear, which spreads pressure across a wider area and is generally more comfortable over a long session than an on-ear design.
The spec sheet tells a simple story. Frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz covers the standard audible band — nothing exotic, just full-range coverage for music, speech and game audio. Sound isolation is the noise control approach here, meaning the cushions physically block some outside sound rather than using active noise cancelling electronics. Controls are button and touch based, so you adjust things on the earcup itself. There's no headphone jack on the headphone, and the box includes both a cable and the headphones — so think of it as a wireless-first design with a wired fallback in the package.
Who should buy it: anyone who needs one pair of over-ear headphones for video calls, music, and casual gaming; anyone who wants wireless freedom and doesn't want to manage a dongle or a cord; anyone who prefers a soft fabric-and-foam fit over plastic-on-ear pressure. Who should skip it: people who want active noise cancelling rather than passive isolation, and people who insist on a built-in 3.5 mm jack on the headphone itself.
• Best for repairing Beats headphones → cipher Replacement Audio Cable. It's the only one of the two that fits Beats Studio, Solo, Pro, Mixr, Executive, Detox and HD models.
• Best for wireless freedom → JLab Studio Pro+. Bluetooth 5 with no jack on the headphone means no cord tether at all.
• Best for video calls on a laptop or phone → JLab Studio Pro+. Over-ear cups, an in-line-free wireless setup, and onboard button/touch controls make it the more practical call headphone. If you're comparing this against hifi stereo open ear earbuds for video calls or active noise cancelling clip on earbuds for video calls, note that JLab uses sound isolation, not ANC — so it blocks some noise passively rather than electronically.
• Best for long-session comfort → JLab Studio Pro+. Fabric and memory foam over-ear cushions versus a bare cable.
• Best for a wired, zero-setup connection → cipher Replacement Audio Cable. Plug and play, no charging, no pairing, 1.4 m of reach.
• Best for full-range audio coverage → JLab Studio Pro+. A stated 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range versus a cable that simply passes signal through.
• Best for gaming on a budget-minded setup → JLab Studio Pro+. For anyone hunting the best gaming headset for video calls and general use, the over-ear isolation and wireless range matter more than a replacement cord.
• Best if you own nothing compatible → JLab Studio Pro+. The cipher cable is useless without compatible Beats headphones.
For most people reading this, I'd buy the JLab Studio Pro+. It's a complete, working over-ear headphone for video calls, music and gaming, with Bluetooth 5, memory foam cushions, sound isolation, and a cable included as a fallback — no dependency on hardware you may not own.
I'd only recommend the cipher Replacement Audio Cable to one specific buyer: someone who already has compatible Beats headphones sitting unused because of a bad cord. In that case it's a smart, simple fix. Everyone else should go JLab.
how to wear over ear headphones
Over-ear headphones are worn with the earcups surrounding your ears, not resting on them. The headband sits over the top of your head and the cushions should seal gently against the area around each ear — that seal is what makes sound isolation work on a model like the JLab Studio Pro+. Adjust the sliders so the cups sit centered over your ears, not forward or back.
how do over ear headphones work
They convert electrical audio signals into sound through drivers inside each earcup, with the over-ear enclosure surrounding your ear to shape and contain the sound. Wireless models like the JLab Studio Pro+ receive audio over Bluetooth 5 instead of a cable, while the cipher Replacement Audio Cable works the opposite way — it carries an analog signal over a 3.5 mm AUX connection to headphones that need a cord.
are studio headphones worth it
It depends on what you need. If you want over-ear cups, full-range 20 Hz–20,000 Hz coverage and a comfortable fabric-and-foam fit for calls, music and gaming, a studio-style over-ear like the JLab Studio Pro+ makes sense. If you already own compatible Beats and only the cord is broken, a replacement cable like the cipher is the more practical spend.
what headphones do professional studios use
Studios typically use wired over-ear headphones with a flat, full-range response so they can hear detail accurately. The JLab Studio Pro+ covers the standard 20 Hz–20,000 Hz band, but it's a Bluetooth 5 consumer headphone with sound isolation rather than a wired studio monitor. The cipher Replacement Audio Cable isn't a headphone at all — it's a cord designed for Beats Studio, Solo, Pro, Mixr, Executive, Detox and HD models.
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