Beats 360 Review
The Beats 360 are one of those products that have genuinely impressed me the more I've used them. They look great, they're incredibly comfortable, the sound quality is good, and the active noise cancellation is among the best I've experienced. In my opinion, the ANC is a genuine rival to the best in the market, and it's the main reason I keep reaching for these headphones, even when I've got more expensive alternatives sitting nearby.
I own a pair of Bowers & Wilkins PX8 headphones, which I absolutely love, and they're still my preference when it comes to pure sound quality. The Beats 360 don't quite match them in that department, but they make up for it with noise cancellation that I find even better, while offering comfort that's right on par. That combination makes the Beats 360 a fantastic all-rounder, particularly for travelling.
But the feature that really sets them apart is the interchangeable ear cups and headband cushions. It's a genuinely clever idea that lets you customise the look and feel of your headphones depending on your mood, what you're doing or where you're going. I liked the idea enough that I now own four different pairs of cushions, and I regularly swap between them.
A fantastic design that looks the part
Beats has always understood the importance of design, and the Beats 360 are no exception. These are great-looking headphones that feel stylish without being overly flashy. They're the sort of headphones I'd happily wear on a flight, while walking around town or just sitting at my desk listening to music.
The interchangeable cushions take that design philosophy a step further. Rather than being stuck with the colour and material you originally bought, you can change both the ear cushions and the headband to suit your preferences. It's a simple concept, but one that makes a surprising difference to how personal the headphones feel.
I now have four different sets, and I swap them around regularly. Sometimes it's simply about changing the colour because I feel like something different. Other times, it's about choosing a particular look for an activity or occasion. Being able to change the appearance of the entire headset without buying a completely new pair is brilliant.
I also think there's a practical benefit here beyond aesthetics. Replaceable cushions give you the option of refreshing parts that naturally experience wear over time, rather than having the condition of the padding dictate when you need to replace the headphones themselves. It's a clever way to make a premium product feel more personal and potentially extend its useful life.
Honestly, I wish more headphone manufacturers would adopt this approach. It's one of those ideas that seems so obvious once you've used it that you wonder why interchangeable headband and ear cup cushions aren't more common.
Comfort is absolutely excellent
Comfort is another area where the Beats 360 really shine. I find them perfectly comfortable, even when wearing them for extended periods, and they're right up there with my Bowers & Wilkins PX8 in this regard.
The fit feels well balanced, the ear cushions are soft, and the headband doesn't become an annoyance during longer listening sessions. That's particularly important for me when travelling, because headphones that feel comfortable for 20 minutes aren't necessarily going to feel comfortable after several hours on a plane.
The ability to customise the cushions is another advantage. Different materials can offer a different feel, so having options means you can experiment with what works best for you. The supplied Performance Knit cushions are designed to feel breathable and soft, while other available cushion kits give you more ways to personalise the experience.
Comfort can be a very personal thing, of course, and everyone's head and ears are different. But for me, the Beats 360 get it right. I can put them on and simply enjoy whatever I'm listening to without constantly thinking about how they feel.
Noise cancellation that rivals the best
This is probably my favourite thing about the Beats 360. The active noise cancellation is outstanding, and in my opinion, it genuinely competes with the best headphones available today.
On my recent flight to Melbourne, I chose to wear the Beats 360 instead of my Bowers & Wilkins PX8. That might sound like a surprising decision when the PX8 are my preference for sound quality, but the difference in noise cancellation made the choice easy.
The Beats 360 did an incredible job of blocking out the noise of the plane. With them on, the constant background rumble was reduced to the point where it felt like almost 100% of that noise had disappeared. It allowed me to properly immerse myself in the movies and games I was playing without the aircraft constantly intruding on the experience.
Obviously, no noise-cancelling headphones can eliminate every sound in every situation, and the result will depend on the fit and the environment. But the performance I experienced on that flight was seriously impressive.
This is where I think the Beats 360 really earn their place alongside more expensive alternatives. You can have headphones with exceptional audio quality, but when you're travelling, sometimes the ability to shut out the world is just as important. For flights, commuting and other noisy environments, the Beats 360 are fantastic.
The headphones also offer Transparency mode, which lets you hear more of your surroundings when you need to interact with people or remain aware of what's happening around you. Switching between blocking out the world and letting it back in is useful, and it makes these headphones more versatile for everyday use.
Sound quality is good, even if it isn't quite PX8 level
The sound quality is good, and I have no major complaints about the Beats 360 in this area. They deliver an enjoyable listening experience, with powerful bass and plenty of detail to make music, movies and games sound engaging.
However, having spent time with my Bowers & Wilkins PX8, I do think the Beats 360 fall a little short when it comes to pure audio quality. The PX8 remain my preference when I want to sit down and really appreciate the sound. There's a richness and refinement to the listening experience that I prefer.
That's not to say the Beats 360 sound bad. Far from it. I think they sound very good, and for everyday listening, watching movies or gaming while travelling, they're more than capable. It's just that when comparing them directly with a premium pair like the PX8, I can hear why I'd still choose the Bowers & Wilkins if sound quality were my only consideration.
The difference is that sound quality isn't the only consideration. The Beats 360 offer better noise cancellation in my experience, comparable comfort and that excellent interchangeable cushion system. When I take all of those factors into account, I find myself reaching for the Beats 360 more often than I might have expected.
They also support Adaptive EQ, which adjusts the sound based on the fit and seal, as well as Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking on supported devices. These features add flexibility to the listening experience, particularly when watching compatible content.
Plenty of useful features beyond the basics
The Beats 360 aren't just about looking good and blocking out background noise. They're designed to be used across a range of everyday situations, and there are a few extra features that help make them more versatile.
One of the most useful additions is their IPX4 sweat and water resistance. This gives them some protection against sweat and splashes, making them more suitable for workouts and active use than many traditional premium over-ear headphones. I'd still treat them with reasonable care, but it's nice knowing they're designed to handle a little more than simply sitting on a desk or being worn on a flight.
Battery life is rated at up to 32 hours, including with ANC enabled, and the Fast Fuel feature can provide around an hour of playback from a quick five-minute charge. That's handy when you're about to head out and realise your headphones need a top-up.
Call quality is another consideration, and the Beats 360 use multiple microphones and voice-processing technology to help reduce background noise during calls. They're also compatible with Apple and Android devices, so you aren't locked into a single mobile ecosystem to use them.
The physical controls are straightforward, with dedicated controls for volume, playback, power and listening modes. I appreciate having controls on the headphones themselves rather than needing to pull out my phone every time I want to adjust something.
None of these features alone would be enough to make the Beats 360 stand out, but together they create a well-rounded package. They feel designed for real-world use, whether that's travelling, working, exercising or simply listening to music at home.
Are the Beats 360 worth buying?
For me, the Beats 360 are an easy recommendation. They're stylish, extremely comfortable and sound good, but their standout feature is the active noise cancellation. Based on my own experience, it's among the best I've used, and my recent flight to Melbourne really demonstrated how effective it can be.
They're not quite on the same level as my Bowers & Wilkins PX8 when it comes to pure sound quality, but they compete well in other areas and offer better noise cancellation in my experience. The comfort is also comparable, which makes them a great alternative for long listening sessions and travel.
Then there's the interchangeable cushion system, which I absolutely love. Owning four different sets and regularly swapping them around might sound excessive, but it shows just how well this idea works. I can change the look of my headphones depending on how I'm feeling, what I'm doing or where I'm going, and I think that's genuinely brilliant.
There's always room for improvement, and the sound quality could be better if you're comparing them with the very best audiophile-focused headphones. But as an all-round pair of premium headphones, the Beats 360 get an awful lot right.
The Beats 360 are a fantastic pair of headphones that combine excellent comfort, great styling, good sound quality and noise cancellation that can rival the best in the market. The interchangeable ear cups and headband are a genius idea that makes them feel genuinely customisable, and I've enjoyed the system enough to buy four different sets. They're not my first choice for pure sound quality over the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, but for travelling and shutting out the world, they're now one of my favourite options.
