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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want cooler, longer listening sessions on the Beats Studio headphones you already own, choose WC Freeze Studio; if you need a complete wired studio monitor headphone with USB-C and a microphone built in, choose ENCASED USB-C Over Ear.
These two products sit in the same aisle of the store — over-ear audio — but they solve opposite problems. One is a replacement part that upgrades headphones you already have. The other is a full set of closed-back studio headphones you plug straight into a laptop, phone or interface. Figuring out which one belongs in your cart comes down to a single question: are you fixing something, or buying something?
• WC Freeze Studio — biggest strength: cooling gel layered into the padding, so your ears stay comfortable during long sessions instead of overheating.
• WC Freeze Studio — biggest trade-off: it is not a headphone. It only fits Beats Studio over-ear models, and nothing else.
• ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — biggest strength: a complete wired studio headphone with 50mm neodymium drivers, USB-C and 6.5mm cables included, plus an in-line mic and remote.
• ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, and it is a monitor-style headphone rather than a casual Bluetooth pair.
• Pick WC Freeze Studio if you already own Beats Studio 2 or 3 and the pads have gone flat or started splitting.
• Pick ENCASED USB-C Over Ear if you need one headphone for mixing, mastering and everyday listening on a USB-C device.
WC Freeze Studio is a set of replacement ear pads for Beats Studio over-ear headphones — specifically the Studio 2 (B0500 wired and B0501 wireless) and Studio 3 Wireless. It is not a headphone, and the compatibility list is deliberately narrow: Beats Solo is explicitly out. If your headphones are not on that list, this product is not for you, full stop.
What it does best is attack the two most common complaints about original Beats Studio pads. The first is heat. The enclosure combines memory foam, PU leather and cooling gel, so the pad keeps the plush leather feel while adding a gel layer that is meant to keep your ears cooler over long listening sessions. The second is durability. Seams inside each pad are reinforced with stitching and heavy-duty glue to stop the splitting that plagues worn-out stock cushions. The pads are also described as noticeably thick and ergonomically shaped, which matters because a thicker, better-sealing cushion changes how the headphone sits on your head and how much outside noise it blocks.
Installation is tool-free, backed by a step-by-step video guide and an instruction manual, and the kit includes industrial-grade adhesive for a long-lasting bond. A 365-day full warranty covers the pads.
ENCASED USB-C Over Ear: Who It's For
The ENCASED USB-C Over Ear (Thore V200 Pro) is a closed-back, wired studio and DJ monitor headphone. It is a complete product: over-ear, around-ear earcups in a polycarbonate enclosure, with 50mm dynamic drivers and neodymium magnets delivering a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency range at 32 ohms impedance. Every pair is RVRB-8 digitally tuned, which the brand frames as consistency — each unit is calibrated to the same target sound rather than left to manufacturing variance.
Connectivity is the headline. You get a 4ft USB-C audio cable and a 4ft 6.5mm aux cable in the box, so the same headphone plugs into a USB-C phone or laptop and into a studio interface or mixer without an adapter. That dual-wire setup is what makes it genuinely usable for both mastering and mixing and for casual listening. The in-line remote adds a microphone plus volume and playback controls, so it works for calls and quick pauses, not just monitoring.
Comfort is handled with protein leather ear cups and headband, foam padding behind the pads, and a 16-point fully adjustable headband that the brand says fits a wide range of head sizes. The padded cushions are also meant to improve noise isolation — passive isolation from a closed back, not active noise cancelling. Weight is listed at 0.37 kg. A 2-year manufacturer warranty backs it.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one wired headphone for studio work and daily listening, especially if their phone or laptop is USB-C only. Who should skip it: anyone who wants wireless freedom, and anyone who needs a replacement part rather than a new pair of headphones.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for reviving headphones you already own → WC Freeze Studio. It exists to replace worn Beats Studio pads, nothing more.
• Best for a complete plug-and-play studio setup → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. Drivers, cables, mic and remote all included.
• Best for hot, sweaty ears on long sessions → WC Freeze Studio. The cooling gel layer is the entire point of the design.
• Best for mixing and mastering reference → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. Closed back, 50mm neodymium drivers, RVRB-8 tuning, 20 Hz–20 kHz.
• Best for fit on a wide range of head sizes → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. A 16-point adjustable headband is a deliberate fit feature.
• Best for durability against seam splitting → WC Freeze Studio. Reinforced stitching and heavy-duty glue inside the seams.
• Best for wireless listening → neither. Both are wired solutions. If Bluetooth is a requirement, look elsewhere.
In my opinion, the right pick depends entirely on what you already have on your desk. If you own Beats Studio 2 or Studio 3 and the pads are the problem, I would buy the WC Freeze Studio — replacing flat, splitting cushions is cheaper than replacing working headphones, and the cooling gel plus reinforced seams target exactly what fails first. If you have no headphones to fix and you want a wired studio monitor that plugs into USB-C and a 6.5mm interface without adapters, I would buy the ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. It is the more complete product by design. Before you commit, check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your situation.
how to wear over ear headphones
Over-ear means the cushion surrounds your entire ear rather than pressing on it, which is how both of these are designed to sit. On the WC Freeze Studio pads, the whole ear sits inside the cushion opening; on the ENCASED USB-C Over Ear, the around-ear cups plus the 16-point adjustable headband are meant to be positioned so the pad seals around the ear for isolation.
how do over ear headphones work
A driver inside each cup converts electrical signal into sound, and the sealed cup around your ear shapes what you hear. The ENCASED USB-C Over Ear uses 50mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets and a closed-back design, which uses the sealed cup for passive sound isolation. The WC Freeze Studio works the same way — a thicker, better-sealing pad helps block outside noise and dials in the sound.
are studio headphones worth it
If you mix, master or monitor audio, a wired closed-back pair like the ENCASED USB-C Over Ear is worth considering because it is built for accurate, consistent sound — here, RVRB-8 tuning across every pair and a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range. If you only listen casually and already like your headphones, a comfort fix like the WC Freeze Studio pads can be the smarter, more targeted spend.
what headphones do professional studios use
Studios typically use wired, closed-back or open-back monitor headphones rather than consumer Bluetooth models. The ENCASED USB-C Over Ear fits that mold with a closed back, 50mm drivers, 32 ohm impedance and both USB-C and 6.5mm cables — the 6.5mm connection being the standard plug for studio interfaces and mixers.
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See also: SOULWIT Replacement Ear Pads vs WGHWQ 3.5mm: Studio Over Ear, SUUNTOK Over Ear vs MIDOLA Headphones: Wired Over Ear, CozyPhones Over vs Cowyawn USB Type C: Adjustable Headband