Are you searching for a reliable headphone that comes with a noise-canceling feature? Then you are reading the right post. Because today we will read about two amazing models produced by two popular brands, Sony and Beats.
Over a decade now, the active noise canceling (ANC) headphone market has belonged to names like Bose, Sennheiser, Shure, and Sony. With more players today, that scenario is changing immensely.
You can find several brands vying for each other to gain the top spot in the market. Among them is Beats, which Apple owns. As you might know, Apple company is also frayed into the headphone market with the release of the Apple AirPods Max model.
Beats has released some phenomenal active noise canceling (ANC) headphones over the years. Are they good enough to take on the likes of Bose and Sony? That is what we are going to find out today in this review.
We will discuss the Sony WH-XB910N EXTRA BASS Noise Cancelling Headphones vs the Beats Studio 3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones. Sony has been making splendid models over the years.
They only seem to be getting better with each passing year. Some of their models are currently ranked number one in the market. That does not mean Beats is not good in any way. They are backed by Apple, which has successfully sold their headphone in the market.
The Sony WH-XB910N headphones come infused with tremendous potential and phenomenal features. That is not surprising as they are a product from Sony. It has a similar design to the earlier Sony MDR-100AAP headphone.
But this unit is comfortable and robust to wear and look at. The sound is nicely balanced, and the bass range is second to none in the market. You can hear the vocals and instrumentation. Sadly, the weak noise isolation and lengthy period to charge make them a bit disappointing.
The Beats Studio 3 headphones are a decent and useful model. It comes luxuriously produced and elegantly designed when compared to most of the previous units. Besides, the noise cancellation feature in this unit is much improved.
It has an audio reproduction and active noise canceling (ANC) system that can adapt to any kind of environment. There are some inconsistencies when there is a lot of noise using the feature. Without wasting further time, let us read the comparison post and find out the winner.
Also read: Jabra Elite 85H vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-XB910N | Beats Studio 3 |
PROS | PROS |
The model is quite comfortable and has a well-built design. The unit has a dual noise-canceling for intense music. It provides you with a clear hands-free calling ability. It comes with a 30-hour battery working life. The product allows you to switch effortlessly between devices. | The model comes with a comfortable and stable fit. The unit has Apple’s W1 chip and industry-leading Bluetooth technology. It has an exceptional ANC feature. It comes with a 22-hour battery working life. The headphones are compatible with iOS and Android devices. |
CONS | CONS |
The headphones are average-at-best noise canceling. | The headphones have no NFC or multi-device pairing. |
CHECK ON AMAZON | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Design & Comfort
The design & comfort of any headphone is very important. Let us read how these model’s fare. The Sony WH-XB910N headphone is a successor of the earlier noise-canceling model of the MDR-100AAP.
Its design is quite eloquent and nice. They look and appear pleasant but not too premium. However, it comes with a thick padding and a sturdy build quality. You can notice the standard oval-shaped earcups that are found on them.
The earcups are denser than what is found on most Sony models. Besides, you will be glad to know that they are durable when compared to most models of different brands. You can find them available in several tones that can blend with your personality.
They come in black and blue colors that make them appear quite elegant to say. Of course, users may not want to compare them to other top-end models like the WH-100XM3 or the WHi-100XM4 that have a sublime design.
It is quite comfortable when you wear them, and you can have them on for prolonged hours. The fitting is also good and not very tight. That is a good sign. Sony models have always ensured that they are comfortable; sure enough, this model lives up to that reputation.
Sadly, our tester felt that the earcups were smaller than what you can find in most other models. The frame is also kind of rigid, not providing you with the best of music quality. If you want to use them for lengthy sessions, it might become a slight issue.
They are a good option for travel. It is also quite lightweight and, more importantly, does not leak any sound. It offers you an ambient noise setting, and you can turn the audio volume. What about the Beat Studio 3 headphones?
It comes with a top-notch design & comfort features. As Apple backs them, you know that the model is comfortable for wearing for several hours seamlessly. They come with a compact and sleek appearance on them.
It has an amazing look to them that makes it slightly better and sharp than the Sony model. We do not say this often, but the unit is much better than the Sony unit in looks. Besides, you can also find that the earcups are nicely padded, offering you optimum comfort.
You can notice that the ear pressure is balanced beautifully on each ear. The headband is not cushioned as you would want it to and must not be an issue.
Also read: Bowers & Wilkins PX5 vs Sony WH 1000XM4
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Build Quality
The Sony WH-XB910N headphones have had a powerful build quality for several years. The model is robust and phenomenal similar to the previous headphone. It has a frame design that is quite thicker and can manage little stress compared to other models.
The headphones’ earcups are dense, and the hinges are not loose. You can fold the headphone as and when you want. This aspect makes it quite durable. It comes with a design that is produced from plastic, and the headband is made from a metal frame.
Users can see that the outer cover is made from plastic and can break easily if you stretch it. They are stable and much better built than the MDR-100AAP as they are wireless in design. There is no cable to get yank items on the table.
You may not want to use them for exercising as they can fall off. They come with a powerful control scheme present on them. It is almost on par with the Sony WH-1000XM2. Users can control the volume setting effortlessly.
Like the top-end Sony WH-1000XM2, users can cover the right earcup for an aware feature. This feature is useful when you want to listen to something important at the subway, station, or airport without removing the model.
Please do note that your ears can become warmer if you use them for more than 2 hours. So, we suggest that you adjust them once in a while if you are in for a lengthy journey. It is common among most closed-back design models and ideal for the casual listening purpose.
Yes, they are portable, and you can place them easily inside your backpack if you want. The maker has offered you with a small pouch to put the headphone on. But the pouch will not protect your model from falls and scratches.
The Beats Studio 3 headphones are sturdy and of robust build quality. It is produced from a soft yet powerful matte plastic. We found it nice to touch and feel on the head. This aspect makes it quite elegant in looks and comfort to wear.
The fingerprints do not stick on to the surface of the headphones. The leatherette is also fantastic, enabling you to wear them for several hours before they hurt slightly. Unfortunately, the headband is produced from a rigid plastic that can be a little frustrating to manage.
It is ideal for travel because you can fold them and place them inside your back. That is a good sign of a high-quality headphone. Yes, they do feel stiff at times, and you may not want to push them beyond a certain point, or they can break.
Unlike Sony and most other brands, the carry case here is quite robust in design. You can place it inside and not be concerned about the damage that can happen. They are suitable for use on journeys because of the decent noise cancellation.
However, you can use the 22 hours of battery working life for 2-3 days without charge. Its control scheme is easy to use and much better than the Beats Studio Wireless headphones. They are slightly flat, so the buttons can be somewhat confusing initially when used.
You can sweat a lot if you wear them for several hours. We found them to be slimmer than the Beats Executive, and the headband can get scratches easily on them. Otherwise, they look spectacular and fine.
Since they do not come with a cable, they are decent for using anywhere you want. The headphones do not fall off your head, and they are quite bulky. It is a good thing for large heads. The unit can slide around based on the physical routine that you intend to work.
Also read: Sony WF 1000XM4 vs Airpods Pro
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Audio Performance
The Sony WH-XB910N headphones come with a good frequency response consistency. Its active noise canceling feature is flawless, along with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Sony WH-1000XM2.
It has good bass, and the punches and warmth provided are fantastic. The bass does not sound muffled or too loud at any given moment. The Beats Studio 3 headphones come with a warm sound profile.
The unit can auto-calibrate depending on your requirement and also with the environment. Please do note that the sound quality is not consistent. At times, it also performs slightly inconsistently because of the fit.
If you have long hair or wear glasses, good sound quality can be difficult to get. It has decent bass and is quite loud. The instrument and the vocal sound as they should. But the midrange boost enables the headphones to be simple to hear.
Also read: Sony WH 1000XM4 vs Apple AirPods Max
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Microphone Performance
The Sony WH-XB910N headphone comes with amazing microphone performance. However, we noticed that the recording capability is below average and the sound relatively thin. Your speech sounds quite muffled and lacks detail.
Users may want to use the model in a quiet environment to achieve better sound results. Likewise, the Beats Studio 3 headphone comes with an integrated microphone. Its recording is just about average, and your voice can sound feeble and does not come with detail.
Sadly, it does not come with noise handling. Your voice struggles to separate from the ambient noise that is present even under a moderately loud environment. We found the Sony unit to be slightly better than the Beats model here.
Also read: Sony MDR-1AM2 vs Sony MDR-Z7
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Compatibility
The Sony WH-XB910N headphones offer you great compatibility. It can connect to several devices using the Headphones Connect app. It can be connected using iOS and Android. It comes with a barrage of features.
It also has the NFC compatibility feature. But you cannot switch between several devices seamlessly. You cannot connect it directly through Bluetooth to the PS4 or Xbox One consoles. They support aptX HD for listening to higher-quality wireless playback.
The Beats Studio 3 headphones support the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. It also comes with Class 1 Bluetooth and the Apple W1 chip. At the bottom, you can find the left earcup having the 3.5mm input for plugging into the microphone.
There is also a power button and 5 small LED lights on the right earcup. It allows you to find out the battery level. You can use the app to toggle noise canceling using Android devices and make use of a micro-USB port that is not a USB Type-C because you know why.
Also read: RAZER OPUS VS SONY WH 1000XM4
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Price
The Sony WH-XB910N EXTRA BASS Noise Cancelling Headphones is priced under $250. It is available for $128 on Amazon. If you are keen to own a new pair of wireless headphones from Sony, then here is your best chance to do so.
It comes with effortless features like you can switch seamlessly between any device you want. This feature is a nifty element that Sony provides. You can control anything on the headphone that you want.
With the help of the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can have your sound performance likewise. The Beats Studio 3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones is priced under $210.
This model is a sublime wireless noise-canceling headphone with many features. You can work on both iOS and Android devices effortlessly; the adaptive noise canceling (pure ANC) can block all the external noise present there.
It also offers you with real-time audio calibration providing an immersive experience. The model comes with a battery working life of 22 hours. This means that you can use it for 2-3 days or even more, depending on your usage.
Also read: Sennheiser HD 450BT vs Sony WH-1000XM3
Sony WH-XB910N Vs Beats Studio 3: Verdict
We have come to the end of our comparison review about the Sony WH-XB910N EXTRA BASS Noise Cancelling Headphones vs the Beats Studio 3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones.
We hope that you enjoyed reading the post that we compiled for you. The Sony and Beats models are stunning headphones with a few awesome features. However, there can be only a single winner.
The Sony WH-XB910N headphones are exceptional in features and come with an elegant design. You can also expect the model to have a great and well-balanced sound. There is good wireless and noise-canceling feature, but the noise isolation is weak at the highest setting.
Likewise, the Beats Studio 3 headphones have decent comfort and outstanding audio production. But we noticed that it comes with high bass and low mids. It gives the users less thump, and they can see that the sound becomes muddy.
Otherwise, the model can offer you a well-balanced audio performance. Additionally, you can feel the inconsistent audio reproduction. The headphone also has some issues with poor soundstage, but that does not mean they will not be suitable for users.
The Sony WH-XB910N headphones could be the better unit because they have 13Hz lower low-frequency, 5000Hz higher high-frequency, and a neodymium magnet. The unit also comes with a 1.2 newer Bluetooth version, 8g lighter, and it comes with a tangle-free cable.
It also has a USB Type-C and a mute function. Similarly, the Beats Studio 3 headphones are the better model as it comes with an 18dB/mW higher sound pressure level, 10hours longer battery life, and has 16 Ohms lower impedance.
It comes with an in-line control panel and has a straight plug. Our winner in this comparison review between the Sony WH-XB910N headphones vs Beats Studio 3 headphones is the Sony model.
It comes with a similar performance to that of the Beats unit. But the default sound profile is much better and has more customization options. It is because of their companion app. The model is also sleek in design, and the audio quality is slightly optimum for the Beats unit.
The Beats unit comes with powerful noise isolation, and there is a low leakage. You will want to know that they can charge quicker than the Sony unit. You can also make use of them outside and in the gym as well if you want to.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.