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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a complete, wired studio monitoring headphone built for tracking, mixing and critical listening, choose Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back; if you need to refresh a pair of Beats Studio Pro with comfortable memory-foam cushions, choose XANAD Replacement Ear Pads.
• Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back — biggest strength: a genuine studio tool with 50mm XXL membrane dynamic drivers, a 10Hz–36kHz frequency range, 95dB sensitivity and a closed‑back design rated at ‑28dB isolation.
• Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back — biggest trade‑off: it is a wired, single‑purpose headphone with a 3‑meter cable, a mini 3‑pin detachable connector and no wireless or noise‑cancelling features.
• XANAD Replacement Ear Pads — biggest strength: memory‑foam, faux‑leather cushions in six colour options that install in minutes and are made specifically for Beats Studio Pro.
• XANAD Replacement Ear Pads — biggest trade‑off: it is a pair of pads, not a headphone. No drivers, no cable, no sound of its own — and it only fits Beats Studio Pro.
• Who each pick is for: Monoprice for producers, engineers and home‑studio users who want an affordable reference monitoring headphone; XANAD for Beats Studio Pro owners whose original cushions are worn, flaking or uncomfortable.
The Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back is the SR Studio 600070, a wired reference monitoring headphone from Monoprice's SR Studio Series. The headline spec is the 50mm XXL membrane dynamic driver with 95dB sensitivity, paired with a 10Hz–36kHz frequency response. Monoprice is explicit about the tuning philosophy here: there is no exaggerated bass "bumping," so what you hear is meant to be what is actually in the recording. For studio work, that flat, honest character matters far more than a fun‑sounding curve.
The closed‑back enclosure is the other half of the story. Monoprice rates the isolation at ‑28dB, which serves two purposes at once: it keeps headphone bleed out of sensitive microphones during tracking, and it blocks some surrounding noise so you can focus on the mix. Add the ultra‑comfortable earpads, the lightweight auto‑adjustable headband and the low‑impedance design, and you have a headphone meant to stay on your head through long sessions. The detachable single‑sided cable is 99.99% OFC with a mini 3‑pin connector, and it terminates in a 3.5mm jack with inline volume control. The build mixes plastic, metal and foam/leather at roughly 0.53kg, and the package is one headphone with a one‑year warranty.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, this is for anyone doing recording, mixing, mastering or monitoring who wants one dependable wired reference headphone — especially if you track vocals or live instruments and need isolation to stop bleed into the mic. It is also a sensible pick for a beginner building a first home studio, since the low‑impedance design is intended to work across a wide range of gear.
XANAD Replacement Ear Pads: Who It's For
The XANAD Replacement Ear Pads are exactly what the name says: a 2‑pack of replacement cushions plus a plastic installation stick, designed specifically for the Beats Studio Pro over‑ear headphone. They are not a headphone — the listing is clear that the headphone itself is not included — so this is a maintenance purchase, not a new‑gear purchase.
What you get is memory foam wrapped in premium faux leather, described as ear‑friendly, compact and lightweight, with the intention of lasting a long time. The fit is model‑specific: XANAD states plainly that these are for Beats Studio Pro and asks you to verify your headphone model before buying. That is worth taking seriously, because a pad that does not seat correctly will not seal properly, and seal is what an over‑ear cushion is actually there to provide.
Installation is a no‑tool job. You remove the old pads, align and attach the inner mats, then push the new pads in and secure them. XANAD notes that once seated they should not come loose. The colour range is unusually broad for a consumable part — black, white, blue, brown, moon and dune — so you can match your existing finish or deliberately change the look of your headphones.
Who should buy it? Beats Studio Pro owners whose original pads have flattened, cracked or started flaking, and anyone who finds the stock cushions uncomfortable over long listening sessions. If you like the sound of your Studio Pro but the comfort has gone, replacing the pads is the straightforward fix. Who should skip it? Anyone who does not own Beats Studio Pro. These will not fit other headphones, and there is no warranty listed on the product.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for actual studio work (recording, mixing, mastering, monitoring) → Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back. The 50mm drivers, 10Hz–36kHz range and reference tuning are built for critical listening.
• Best for long‑session comfort out of the box → Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back. Ultra‑comfortable earpads plus an auto‑adjustable, lightweight headband.
• Best for cable flexibility and repair → Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back. The single‑sided 99.99% OFC cable is detachable via a mini 3‑pin connector.
• Best for restoring headphones you already own → XANAD Replacement Ear Pads. Memory‑foam, faux‑leather cushions made for Beats Studio Pro.
• Best for cosmetic choice → XANAD Replacement Ear Pads. Six colourways versus the Monoprice's single black finish.
• Best for a quick, tool‑free fix → XANAD Replacement Ear Pads. Remove, align, push in, done.
• Best for compatibility breadth → Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back. The 3.5mm jack and low impedance suit a wide range of equipment; the XANAD pads fit one model only.
If you are equipping a studio or learning to mix, I would buy the Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back. It is a complete, self‑contained reference headphone with the driver size, frequency range and isolation a monitoring job actually calls for — and its detachable cable means one worn part does not end the product's life. The XANAD Replacement Ear Pads are a good buy, but only in one situation: you already own Beats Studio Pro and the cushions need replacing. They are not competitors so much as different categories. Pick based on whether you need a headphone or need to repair one. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
how to wear over ear headphones
The earcups should sit fully over your ears, not press on them, with the headband resting on the top of your head. On the Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back, the auto‑adjustable headband is designed to settle into position on its own; on Beats Studio Pro with XANAD pads, make sure each new cushion is pushed in and secured so the seal is even on both sides.
how do over ear headphones work
A driver converts an electrical signal into sound inside a sealed or open cup. The Monoprice uses a 50mm XXL membrane dynamic driver with 95dB sensitivity and a 10Hz–36kHz range, and its closed‑back cavity plus ‑28dB isolation limits how much sound escapes and how much outside noise gets in. Replacement pads like the XANAD pair mainly affect that seal and your comfort, not the driver itself.
are studio headphones worth it
It depends on what you do. If you record, mix or monitor, a reference‑tuned closed‑back like the Monoprice is worth it because its unexaggerated bass response is intended to tell you the truth about your mix rather than flatter it. If you only listen casually on a phone, the wired 3‑meter cable and studio tuning will feel like overkill.
what headphones do professional studios use
Studios typically use closed‑back reference headphones for tracking and open or closed reference models for mixing, often alongside monitors. The Monoprice Over Ear Closed‑Back fits that closed‑back monitoring role with its 50mm drivers, ‑28dB isolation and detachable OFC cable. Note that no specific studio or brand endorsement is implied here — this is a spec‑based description of the product's intended use.
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