Are you searching for alternatives to Beats headphones without compromising on sound quality and style? COMPARE.EDU.VN provides a detailed comparison to help you discover the best substitutes. This guide highlights trendy, bass-heavy headphones that rival Beats, offering exceptional audio performance and features.
1. Best Value Headphones: Sony WH-CH720N
The Sony WH-CH720N is an excellent option for those seeking Beats-like features without the premium price. These over-ear headphones offer a comparable build quality to the Beats Studio3 and excel in comfort, battery life, and practical features like multipoint connectivity.
Harley Maranan / SoundGuys
The Sony WH-CH720N offers a compelling package for anyone seeking Beats-like features without the premium price.
1.1 Key Features of the Sony WH-CH720N
- Comfort and Build Quality: Matches the Beats Studio3’s build quality.
- Battery Life: Offers long-lasting battery performance.
- Multipoint Connectivity: Allows seamless device switching.
- Customization: Features a dedicated app with detailed EQ controls and adaptive listening modes.
- Codec Support: Supports high-quality codecs, including LDAC for Android and AAC for Apple devices.
1.2 Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation
The Sony WH-CH720N provides a bass-forward sound signature similar to Beats, which can be refined using the app’s equalizer. The noise-canceling performance is effective for most environments, making these headphones suitable for commuting and office use.
1.3 Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $148.00 |
| Weight | Lightweight |
| Noise Canceling | Active Noise Canceling |
| Battery Life | Up to 35 hours |
| Built-in Assistant | Alexa |
| Ambient Sound Mode | 20 levels of control |
1.4 Sound Profile
The WH-CH720N has a bass-heavy sound profile with boosted low frequencies between 100-400Hz and emphasized treble between 5-10kHz. This can be adjusted using the Sony Headphones Connect app’s equalizer.
1.5 Noise Canceling Performance
The noise canceling performance is solid, offering around 20dB of reduction for low frequencies and peaking at 28dB around 80Hz. Combined with passive isolation, it effectively reduces most environmental noise.
2. Best Bass Headphones: Sony ULT Wear
If you’re drawn to Beats for their powerful bass response, the Sony ULT WEAR takes that concept to the next level. These over-ear headphones feature a dedicated “ULT” button that lets you dial in different levels of bass emphasis, though you’ll likely want to fine-tune this through Sony’s Headphones Connect app to avoid excessive boom.
Christian Thomas / SoundGuys
The Sony ULT WEAR look a lot like the WH-1000XM5.
2.1 Key Features of the Sony ULT Wear
- ULT Button: Allows different levels of bass emphasis.
- Multipoint Connectivity: Enables seamless device switching.
- High-Quality Codecs: Supports LDAC and AAC for high-quality audio.
- Active Noise Canceling: Consistently attenuates more than 25dB above 80Hz.
- Comfortable Design: Features wider 40x65mm ear cups and plush padding.
2.2 Battery Life and Additional Features
Battery life is impressive, offering over 32 hours with ANC enabled. A quick 10-minute charge provides 5 hours of playback. The Sony ULT WEAR also supports Sony 360 Reality Audio and more extensive EQ controls through its companion app.
2.3 Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $199.99 |
| Comfortable | Yes |
| Battery Life | Long battery life |
| Immersive Sound | Yes |
| Folding Design | Yes |
| Active Noise Canceling | Yes |
2.4 Sound Profile
The ULT WEAR has a very bass-heavy sound profile by default, with strong emphasis in the sub-bass and bass regions. Even without engaging the ULT button, these headphones deliver powerful low frequencies that may require EQ adjustment for more balanced listening.
2.5 Noise Canceling Performance
The noise canceling performance is strong, delivering over 25dB of attenuation above 80Hz through a combination of active noise canceling and passive isolation.
3. Best for Studios: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 hails from a storied lineage of studio headphones and is optionally wired or wireless. The sound sits between studio and consumer-friendly, but you can use the app to adjust EQ to your tastes.
A two-second press and hold of volume buttons skip forward or back.
3.1 Key Features of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
- Studio Heritage: Part of a well-known line of studio headphones.
- Wired or Wireless: Offers both wired and wireless connectivity options.
- EQ Adjustment: Allows users to adjust EQ settings via the app.
- Isolation: Relies on isolation to block noise.
- Long Battery Life: Provides over 64 hours of battery life.
3.2 Comfort and Design
The folding design and plush padding, alongside quality codecs like LDAC and AAC, mean that the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is a music-focused set of headphones that fits in multiple scenarios.
3.3 Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $199.00 |
| High-Quality Sound | Yes |
| Fast Pairing | Yes |
| Long-Life Battery | Yes |
| Optional Headphone Jack | Yes |
3.4 Microphone Quality
Audio-Technica supplies the ATH-M50xBT2 with a decent-sounding mic. It even has a sidetone so you can hear yourself while taking calls. Noise rejection is perhaps not the best, but for the price, it’s good enough for most.
4. Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2: Sounds Better Than Beats Fit Pro
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 takes workout earbuds to the next level with exceptional durability and features that outshine the Beats Fit Pro. With an IP68 rating for the earbuds and IP54 for the case, these can handle any workout condition far better than the Beats Fit Pro’s IPX4 rating.
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are great all-around earbuds.
4.1 Key Features of the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2
- Durability: IP68 rating for earbuds, IP54 for the case.
- ShakeGrip Coating: Ensures they stay put during intense workouts.
- Long Battery Life: 9 hours with ANC enabled.
- Customization: Jabra Sound+ app offers a five-band equalizer and customizable controls.
- Dolby Spatial Audio Support: Provides an immersive audio experience.
- Wired Connectivity: Ability to connect to wired sources through the charging case.
4.2 Noise Canceling and Sound Quality
The noise canceling performs admirably, reducing most environmental noise by 80% and handling low-frequency noise particularly well with up to 30dB of attenuation below 100Hz. The sound signature emphasizes bass out of the box, perfect for workout playlists, but you can easily adjust it through the companion app.
4.3 Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $229.99 |
| Wired Sources | Can connect to wired sources |
| Spatial Audio | Yes |
| Extremely Durable | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 (earbuds), IP54 (case) |
| Active Noise Canceling | Reduces environmental noise by 80%, 30dB attenuation below 100Hz |
| Battery Life | 9 hours with ANC enabled |
4.4 Sound Profile
The Elite 8 Active Gen 2 emphasizes low frequencies with strong sub-bass, while slightly under-emphasizing high frequencies above 8kHz. This bass-forward tuning works well for workout motivation, and you can adjust it using the app’s equalizer.
4.5 Noise Canceling Performance
The noise canceling is very effective, particularly with low frequencies, reducing environmental noise by about 80%. The earbuds achieve around 30dB of attenuation below 100Hz.
5. JLab Epic Sport ANC 3: Best Budget Alternative to the Powerbeats Pro
The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 brings premium features to a budget-friendly price point, making it an excellent alternative to the pricier Powerbeats Pro. It features a secure ear hook design and an IP66 rating that offers superior dust and water protection compared to the Powerbeats Pro’s IPX4 rating.
JLab
5.1 Key Features of the JLab Epic Sport ANC 3
- Budget-Friendly: Offers premium features at a lower price.
- Secure Ear Hook Design: Provides a secure fit during workouts.
- IP66 Rating: Offers superior dust and water protection.
- Hybrid Driver System: Combines Knowles balanced armatures with 10mm dynamic drivers.
- Long Battery Life: Claimed 15+ hours per charge with ANC.
5.2 Hybrid Driver System
The inclusion of the Knowles Preferred Listening Response Curve suggests these buds will deliver a clearer treble response while maintaining the energetic sound signature athletes appreciate. You can fine-tune the sound through the JLab app’s EQ settings.
5.3 Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $99.99 |
| Secure Fit | Ear hook design |
| IP Rating | IP66 |
| Hybrid Driver | Knowles balanced armatures and 10mm dynamic drivers |
| Battery Life | 15+ hours with ANC |
6. Notable Mentions: Best Beats Alternatives
Several other wireless earbuds and headphones provide excellent alternatives to Beats. These options offer a range of features and sound profiles to suit different preferences.
7. What to Look for When Buying Bluetooth Headphones
Before investing in Bluetooth headphones, it’s essential to consider several factors that can impact your listening experience. Here are some key aspects to keep in mind.
The Powerbeats Pro can still hold its own at the gym, though it’s pricey.
7.1 Brand and Quality
Just because a product is off-brand (i.e., not Beats) doesn’t make it inherently poor quality. More often than not, a direct competitor to a Beats model will be cheaper than the household name. The price disparity isn’t indicative of a lack of quality.
7.2 Bluetooth Chip and Pairing
If you really utilize that H1 or H2 chip for device switching, you’ll only find it in Beats or Apple headphones. In terms of pairing, these days, most wireless earbuds and headphones have remedied older Bluetooth connection and pairing problems. The H1 and H2 chips are less noticeable than you might think.
7.3 Frequency Response
Beats headphones are known for their bass-heavy frequency responses, but many other products emulate that sound.
The Powerbeats Pro (cyan) favors more bass than our headphones preference curve (in pink), but reasonably follows it.
7.3.1 Studio Headphones
Tinkerers (those who often EQ their music) may want to look into studio headphones, which are easy to EQ and can be less prone to distortion.
7.4 Bluetooth Codecs
A Bluetooth codec determines how data is transmitted from a source (phone) to a receiver (headphones). Different codecs provide different transfer rates and qualities.
Represented is the max transfer rate (kbps) of each respective Bluetooth codec (greater is better). Each waveform depicts a transfer rate of 100 kbps.
7.4.1 Codec Recommendations
iPhone users should get headphones that support AAC, and Android users should look out for aptX or aptX HD support or LDAC. If you’re looking to get the absolute best audio quality, wired listening is still superior to wireless.
7.5 Active Noise Canceling (ANC)
Active noise canceling headphones use destructive interference to combat external sounds. Microphones record your surroundings to produce anti-noise through phase inversion.
Constructive and Destructive Interference Sound waves of equal amplitude, offset at half wavelengths, result in compression waves with an amplitude of 0—canceling out the sound.
7.5.1 ANC Performance
More advanced systems like Sony and Bose’s flagship headsets tend to work much better than sub-$100 noise canceling headsets. However, there are diamonds in the rough regarding a $100 budget.
8. How COMPARE.EDU.VN Chooses the Best Beats Alternatives
COMPARE.EDU.VN employs a thorough testing methodology to objectively assess each pair of headphones or earbuds. This involves internal testing to understand how each product operates. Then, we use the headphones in our daily routine, noting a product’s strengths and weaknesses. We respect that audio is subjective to a point and aim to provide objective performance data.
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The Nothing Ear (a) on our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test head.
9. Why You Should Trust COMPARE.EDU.VN
COMPARE.EDU.VN is dedicated to providing unbiased and comprehensive reviews of audio products. Our team has years of experience tracking the evolving audio industry, allowing us to quickly identify high-quality products. Our main goal is to ensure you enjoy your purchase, whether you’re looking for workout earbuds, soundbars, or noise-canceling headphones. None of our writers benefit from lauding one product over another.
We make sure to record objective measurements and our subjective experiences with each product.
10. Frequently Asked Questions About Best Alternatives to Beats
10.1 What are some good alternatives to Beats headphones?
The Sony WH-CH720N offers similar features and sound quality at a lower price point, while the Sony ULT WEAR is ideal for bass lovers. For workout enthusiasts, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 provides superior durability and features.
10.2 Which headphones sound most like Beats?
The Sony ULT WEAR most closely matches Beats’ signature bass-heavy sound, especially with its ULT bass boost feature. Sony’s headphones generally offer similar sound profiles with customizable EQ options to achieve Beats-like tuning.
10.3 Is JBL better than Beats?
Neither brand is definitively “better” – it depends on your needs. Beats typically offer better Apple ecosystem integration and sleek design, while JBL often provides better value with similar sound quality at lower price points.
Navigating the world of headphones can be overwhelming, but COMPARE.EDU.VN is here to simplify your choices. By providing detailed comparisons and objective reviews, we empower you to make informed decisions that align with your unique needs and preferences. Whether you prioritize sound quality, comfort, durability, or budget-friendliness, our comprehensive guides ensure you find the perfect audio companion.
Ready to discover your ideal headphones? Visit COMPARE.EDU.VN at 333 Comparison Plaza, Choice City, CA 90210, United States, or contact us via Whatsapp at +1 (626) 555-9090. Explore our comparisons and make a choice you’ll love. Don’t settle for less – find the best fit for your lifestyle with compare.edu.vn.
