Yes, Beats Studio Pro use active noise cancelling with a Transparency mode and an off setting.
Shopping for over-ear headphones often comes down to one thing: how well they tame the world around you. Beats Studio Pro are built to cut background sound with active noise cancelling (ANC), give you a pass-through mode when you need awareness, and run long enough for daily commutes and cross-country flights. This guide lays out what the ANC does, how it feels in daily use, how to set it up for the best result, and where the experience shines or falls short compared with other popular picks.
What Active Noise Cancelling On Studio Pro Actually Does
ANC uses microphones and processing to generate an inverse signal that reduces outside sound. On these headphones you get two main listening modes under the noise-control umbrella: Noise Cancellation and Transparency, plus a plain “off.” The ANC mode reduces a wide range of droning and steady sounds. Transparency lets outside sound in so you can hear announcements, voices at close range, or traffic. Apple’s Beats documentation confirms the three-mode setup and shows multiple ways to toggle modes on Apple and Android devices. You can skim the official steps in the Beats support guide for switching noise control modes, which applies to supported models including this one (noise control modes).
Are Beats Studio Pro Good At Noise Cancelling: What To Expect
In practice, these headphones cut a lot of steady hum—think air conditioner, fan noise, airplane cabin rush, and similar droning sounds. Office chatter and clacky keyboards still leak in more than low rumbles. Low-frequency thumps from trains and buses get trimmed, though you may still sense a soft whoosh. High-pitched whine drops well. If your daily soundscape is constant HVAC and street roar, the experience feels calm and steady. If your main battle is talky open offices, they quiet the room but don’t mute every word.
Independent testing backs this broad pattern: strong reduction on steady and higher-pitched noise, less bite on bass-heavy rumbles and mixed speech. Review labs also note that classes of ANC in this tier trail top Bose and Sony headsets, but remain plenty capable for travel, studying, and general work sessions. You can read a data-driven take from a measurement lab that ranks ANC and isolation across categories (lab measurements).
How Noise Control Feels During Daily Use
Flip ANC on and the room hushes without odd pressure or eardrum pull. There’s a soft sense of vacuum as steady noise fades. With music at moderate volume, outside sounds blend into the background. On a plane, engine roar drops and you can hear podcasts and dialogue tracks without cranking the volume. On a busy street, passing cars and scooters lose their bark, though loud horns still pop through.
Switch to Transparency when you need awareness. The mode keeps your mix clean while feeding in the world in a natural way. It’s handy for gate calls, quick chats, or checkout counters. If you prefer a silent shell during deep work, keep ANC on and lower the music volume; that combination gives a calm, focused bubble without blasting your ears.
Setup, Shortcuts, And Quick Controls
Controls are simple. A double-press of the system button cycles between Noise Cancellation and Transparency on Studio Pro, with a tone that confirms the switch. You can also change modes on your phone, tablet, Mac, or Android device through the system UI. If your mix sounds thin after toggling modes, switch back and forth once; the quick reset can clear a minor glitch. For step-by-step device menus and button maps, see Apple’s official Studio Pro help page (Studio Pro help).
Fit And Seal: The Hidden Factor Behind Better ANC
Seal matters. Over-ear cushions need to sit flush around the ear with no gaps at the jaw hinge or the top corner near your temple. A small gap lets mid and high noise slip in and weakens bass response. Adjust the sliders so the headband sits centered, not pushed forward. Glasses can create a leak; a slight tilt often restores the pad seal without pinching the frames. If you keep a beard, fluff under the cushions can open a path for noise—press and seat the pads gently to settle the hairs.
Comfort helps seal, too. The pads on this model use soft engineered leather with ample foam. Wear them for a few days to let the pads break in. If you feel heat build-up, a short cooldown every hour keeps things fresh and also protects the pads from sweat over time.
Sound Quality With ANC On Or Off
With ANC active, bass stays punchy and controlled, mids stay clear for voices and acoustic tracks, and highs hold detail without sharp edge. Turning ANC off opens the stage a touch and can lift low-end bloom in loud rooms, since more outside rumble creeps in. Transparency keeps the tuning intact and adds a light spray of room sound, which helps conversation but can thin bass in noisy spaces. If you want the cleanest vocal clarity for podcasts, keep ANC on and volume moderate; your ears will thank you after a long day.
Battery Life And Charging Facts
Battery life is a strong suit. Expect about one full day of listening with ANC or Transparency, and roughly two days if you stick to normal Bluetooth with noise control off. A quick top-up goes far: a ten-minute Fast Fuel charge nets hours of playback. Apple lists up to 40 hours with noise control off and up to 24 hours with ANC or Transparency on, plus a quick-charge claim of up to 4 hours from a 10-minute plug-in; those are the official figures on the product page (battery specs).
Connections: Bluetooth, USB-C Audio, And 3.5 Mm
You get three ways to listen: standard Bluetooth, direct USB-C audio to a phone or laptop that supports digital out, and an analog 3.5 mm cable. USB-C audio can carry higher-quality streams than typical Bluetooth codecs from compatible sources, and it keeps the headphone battery topped while you listen. The 3.5 mm jack works without power if you’re out of charge, handy for long flights or late-night editing sessions. Quick pairing works smoothly on iOS and Android, and spatial audio with head tracking is available on Apple gear for supported content.
Real-Life Use Cases: Where ANC Shines
Flights And Trains
Airflow noise falls away to a hush. You can hear dialogue and audiobooks clearly at modest volume. The clamp stays stable during head turns for boarding and stowing. Keep a cable in the case for seat-back screens that still use jacks.
Open Offices And Classrooms
Keyboard chatter fades, AC rumble drops, and music masks the rest. Loud group talk still pokes through at times, so pair ANC with a gentle instrumental playlist to keep focus without overpowering your ears.
Cafés And Libraries
Milk steamers and grinders settle down a lot. In libraries, soft HVAC noise disappears. Flip to Transparency for a quick “order ready” call or a librarian’s tap at your table.
How To Get Better Noise Reduction Today
Dial In The Fit
Adjust the headband so the cups sit evenly around the ear. If you feel a gap near the jaw, tilt the cups slightly back.
Keep The Pads Clean
Wipe pads with a dry, soft cloth after sweaty sessions. Oil buildup stops the pads from sealing well.
Use The Right Mode For The Room
On trains and planes, keep ANC on. In a mixed-noise office, try ANC with low music. For street crossings and announcements, use Transparency.
Mind Your Source Volume
You don’t need to blast volume with ANC. Lower volume cuts ear fatigue and keeps detail intact.
Strengths And Trade-Offs You Should Know
Where These Headphones Shine
- Steady noise reduction is strong, especially for HVAC and cabin roar.
- Battery life is long, with handy quick-charge for last-minute top-ups.
- Flexible connections: Bluetooth, USB-C audio, and 3.5 mm analog.
- One-touch mode switching and clean Transparency when you need awareness.
Where They Can Fall Short
- Low-bass rumbles and lively group talk still slip in more than with class leaders from Bose and Sony.
- No manual ANC strength slider; you can’t fine-tune intensity inside a first-party app.
- Fit and pad seal change the result more than you might expect; glasses and thick hair can open leaks.
Noise Cancelling On Beats Studio Pro: Settings And Shortcuts
Here’s a quick cheat sheet you can save. It covers the fastest ways to switch modes on common devices.
On-Device Button
Press the system button twice to cycle ANC ↔ Transparency. A confirmation tone plays.
iPhone Or iPad
Pull Control Center → tap the audio card → tap the ear icon → choose Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off.
Mac
Click Control Center → Sound → pick your headphone → choose a noise control mode.
Android
Use the Bluetooth tile or device settings; on supported phones the Beats app exposes mode toggles and updates.
How They Stack Up In The Market
In the premium over-ear lane, Bose QuietComfort line and Sony’s WH-1000X family still set the ANC bar. Those models tend to hush speech and low-bass engines more. Studio Pro punch back with smooth pairing on both mobile platforms, long battery life, and handy wired options. If you want the deepest hush in a noisy office, Bose or Sony keep a small edge. If you want solid hush, steady comfort, and multi-connection flexibility for music, calls, and gaming, Beats land in a sweet spot.
Common Noises And What You’ll Hear With ANC
The table below gives a practical baseline. It reflects repeated use on trains, buses, cafés, and offices, along with lab reports that chart frequency bands. Results vary with fit, pad seal, and your music volume, but this grid helps set expectations.
Noise Type | What Changes With ANC | Tip For Better Results |
---|---|---|
Airplane Cabin Rush | Strong drop to a soft hiss; dialogue becomes easy to follow. | Keep ANC on and volume moderate; use over-ear seal checks after takeoff. |
Train/Bus Engine Rumble | Good trim; deepest thumps still faintly present. | Seat away from wheels when you can; add a low-volume playlist. |
Office Chatter | Muted but not gone; sharp consonants peek through. | Pick ANC and light instrumental tracks to mask speech peaks. |
HVAC/Fan Noise | Drops to near-silent bed. | Re-seat pads after moving your headband or glasses. |
Street Traffic | Engine and tire hiss trimmed; horns still cut through for safety. | Use Transparency at crossings; keep volume in the safe zone. |
Troubleshooting When ANC Doesn’t Sound Right
Start With A Fresh Connection
Power the headphones off and on, then reconnect. Switch modes once to trigger the tone and confirm you’re not stuck between states.
Check The Pads
Flattened or oily pads leak. If cleaning doesn’t help, new pads restore seal and lift bass.
Try Wired For A Quick A/B
Plug in USB-C audio to see whether Bluetooth artifacts or phone processing are the culprit. If the wired feed sounds cleaner, remove EQ or spatial tweaks on the source.
Update Firmware
Keep the Beats app (Android) or your Apple device up to date so the headphone firmware can refresh. New builds can smooth mode switching and fix small glitches.
Who Will Be Happy With These Headphones
Travelers who want calm cabins, students who need a quiet pocket in loud libraries, and remote workers who bounce between calls and playlists all fit the sweet spot here. If your goal is the absolute deepest hush in a talky office, you may want to audition top picks from Bose or Sony to compare. If you want sturdy hush, long runs between charges, and multiple connection paths in one set, this model makes a strong everyday companion.
Key Facts To Remember
- There are three noise-control states: ANC, Transparency, and Off.
- Best results show up against steady noise (HVAC, engines, fans); speech and deep rumbles drop but still breathe.
- Battery life reaches up to one full day with ANC or Transparency and up to two days with noise control off, with fast top-ups available (official product page).
- Quick toggles work on-device and through phone or computer menus, and the Beats support site lists the exact steps.