Short answer: the KZ AS24. It ranks #448 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $138; the Beats Studio Buds ranks #521, rated 3.9/5, and costs $138.86, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the KZ AS24: The median of 6 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 73 with a 2.15 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.3 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Sub-bass is 4.2 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
What the Beats Studio Buds does well: In oratory1990’s measurement the upper mids sit within 1 dB of target and the response holds a 2.2 dB standard deviation, so voices come through clean and forward. The tradeoff: The 60 to 200 Hz bass range sits about 4 dB below target, so bass guitar and male vocals sound leaner than the rumble down low would suggest.
Buy the KZ AS24. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Beats Studio Buds and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
The median of 6 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 73 with a 2.15 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.3 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $138.00 eBay
In oratory1990’s measurement the upper mids sit within 1 dB of target and the response holds a 2.2 dB standard deviation, so voices come through clean and forward.
Amazon $138.86 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KZ AS24 | Beats Studio Buds | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $138.00 | $138.86 |
| Ranked | #448 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #521 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 72 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.13 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | True wireless |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 12 x balanced armature | 1 x 8.2mm dynamic |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (5 g) per earbud |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 8 hours (24 with case, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | IPX4 |
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