The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and features like sweat resistance and active noise canceling for use during exercise or travel, the Beats Studiobuds may be a better fit, although their sound quality for critical listening may not match the AKG K361. Conversely, the over-ear AKG K361 headphones offer superior overall sound quality and are better suited for home use, especially for TV and gaming due to their wider soundstage, but they lack the portability and exercise-friendly features of the Studiobuds. While the AKG K361 may be a bit pricier, they could be worth the investment for an enhanced listening experience, particularly if you don't need wireless features. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Beats Studiobuds
Good for phone calls
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
6.3/10
5.2/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for gaming, while the Beats Studiobuds is poor.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
7.0/10
The Beats Studiobuds is good for phone calls, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
9.0/10
The Beats Studiobuds is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
5.6/10
The AKG K361 is good for TV and video, while the Beats Studiobuds is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
6.5/10
The Beats Studiobuds and AKG K361 are both only fair for noise reduction, though the Beats Studiobuds is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
6.0 Hours
The AKG K361 does not have a battery. The Beats Studiobuds has 6 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$150
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The AKG K361 has a price of $100 and the Beats Studiobuds costs $150.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
"For less than the price of the AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds delivers a good fit, great sound, and active noise cancellation. This is also the first set of Apple-owned Beats earbuds to feature quick pairing with Android devices, albeit at the expense of some key features for Apple users."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Beats Studiobuds
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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