Let me first explain that I am a semi-casual listener. And by that I mean that I love live music however prefer the "clarity" that the studio will bring to a band. Also I am more of a rock & hip-hop/rock listener, so the depth of bass and overall balance of things is very important to me.

Beats By Dre has updated its headphone line with the new Studio, an active noise-cancelling model that improves on its predecessor in many ways. At $299, however, you're still paying for Dr. Dre's name and style and sound that's tweaked to fit modern (read loud and bass-heavy) tastes.

I should point out that as I wore the Beats By Dre for a few weeks during this review, multiple strangers asked me longingly where I acquired them. Initially in short supply, word is apparently out on them already, and they have become a bona fide object of lust: Even the squat, semi-hard case with...

Outstanding audio on a range of applications; Effective noise cancellation; Eminently comfortable; Sexy esthetics (these are the "turn-ons" after all

No sound at all without batteries; or when noise cancellation switched off; Monster warns against headband damage if handled roughly; Folds smaller but not flat

Beats, the Apple-owned lineup of audio hardware, has produced what might be their finest headphones to date. The Studio3 Wireless are (as you may have guessed by now) wireless, have noice cancellation and the Beats styling and sound profile many have grown to know and love.

Pure ANC cleans up noises very well; W1 made pairing experience easy for iOS users; Fast-charging

Short battery life with Pure ANC enabled; Still uses Micro-USB

Noise-cancelling headphones are more popular than ever, and this is the latest take on them from Beats. Well – the box says Beats Studio 3, but these are actually Apple headphones. There have been a few changes since the company took over, most notable among which is the use of Apple's W1 chip, also...

Solid construction; Comfortable fit; Excellent connectivity (with Apple; Great battery life (with Apple; Effective noise cancellation

W1 battery/connection boost only for Apple; Lower-mids could do with more separation

The $279 Beats Studio3 Wireless offer listeners a comfortable pair of over-ear headphones with decent sound and active noise-cancelling performance. Once connected, they provide stellar range with virtually no dropouts, while quick-charge technology adds 3 hours of playback with only 10 minutes on...

Comfortable Fit; Quick Charging tops up battery in 10 minutes for 3 hours of listening; Stabile connection over large area; Solid bass performance for bass heavy tracks; Offer extra volume over other headphones

Known pairing issues with Samsung S7; Lack of audible notifications for pairing mode and power toggle; Expensive

Great for Apple users, mediocre for everyone else

Satisfying bass thump; Collapsible design; Comfortable; cozy pads; Flawless operation with Apple devices

Battery life and Bluetooth suffer when not connected to Apple devices; Sound lacks refinement; vocals lack fullness; Competitors in same price bracket have more premium build; MicroUSB is an anachronism; especially in Apple ecosystem

Solid construction; Comfortable fit; Excellent connectivity (with Apple); Great battery life (with Apple); Effective noise cancellation;

W1 battery/connection boost only for Apple; Lower-mids could do with more separation;

Great gadget, bad headphones

Plenty of color options; Smooth matte finish; Batter life; Connection

Price; Sound quality; Build quality isn't what I'd expect for the price

The incorporation of Apple's W1 chip ups the wireless connectivity game all around (but you'll have to be using an Apple mobile device to get every benefit), and we get a big boost in the battery department. The sound quality is also improving.