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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a wireless experience and active noise cancelling, the Beats Studiobuds are the better choice; they also have a higher overall sound quality and are suitably sweatproof for exercise. However, the Koss Porta Pro, being an open-back headphone, offers a wider soundstage which is great for gaming and TV. They are also lighter and foldable for portability. The Koss comes with a cable, which eliminates latency issues for audio-visual sync in gaming and videos, but lacks sweatproofing and active noise cancellation. Keep in mind the Beats have a more modern aesthetic and the Koss have a retro appeal. 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 Beats Studiobuds
- Good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.2
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for music, while the Beats Studiobuds is good.
Gaming
5.2
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for gaming, while the Beats Studiobuds is poor.
Phone Calls
7.0
6.1
The Beats Studiobuds is good for phone calls, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.0
6.8
The Beats Studiobuds is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
TV and Video
5.6
7.6
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is good for TV and video, while the Beats Studiobuds is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
2.5
The Beats Studiobuds is only fair for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Battery
6.0 Hours
N/A
The Beats Studiobuds has 6 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) does not have a battery.
Cost
$80
$60
$50
$60
$70
$80
$90
$100
The Beats Studiobuds has a price of $80 and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) costs $60.
Build Quality
8.8
6.0
The Beats Studiobuds has very good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
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How the Beats Studiobuds and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Beats Studiobuds | Koss Porta Pro (with mic) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$80 | $60 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Beats | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.2/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.9 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 24 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.9/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | In-Line | |
Shopping
Beats Studiobuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Chase Bernath | May 2023
"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."
Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
Get a great deal on the Beats Studiobuds or the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
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.
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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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