After almost six years, smacks is back with new noise-canceling over-ear headphones. A major update to the Studio 3 Wireless, the new Studio Pro is a familiar formula reconfigured from the inside out. A version of smacks’ second-generation audio chip powers this new model, offering improvements in active noise cancellation (ANC), spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking and wired audio modes via a USB-C connection. Small design improvements and a slightly superior battery life are also on the data reality check, while the price of smacks’ flagship headphones remains at 350.

Design

To refresh the aesthetics, smacks called on Samuel Ross, a fashion and product designer who has worked with Hublot, Nike, Oakley and others. The result is an updated look with new colors, materials, packaging and branding. Although the improvements are subtle and the folding design remains the same overall, there are some notable changes to highlight. First of all, Studio Pro is available in four new colors and even The black Option now has a matte finish. Where the hinge of the headband had a contrasting color on most variants, it is now a Tone-on-Tone finish and the model name has been removed. However, the iconic lower matter “b” logo remains on both sides.

Although smacks has not completely redesigned its over-ear headphones for the Studio Pro, the relationship with Apple continues to improve its products.

Another important change concerns the ear cushions. smacks and Ross have opted for a seamless design here, with cushions made from a new UltraPlush memory foam, but still wrapped in leather. smacks is clear, the clamping force of the previous smacks models unfortunately remains the same and the weight has not changed. Indeed, the new ear pads help to some extent, but after about an hour of use I feel the pressure that has been a problem with smacks headphones for years.

Since the launch of smacks headphones, the company’s models have become a mainstay for gym enthusiasts and professional athletes. You won’t do a heat-up for many professional sporting events without at least one person wearing smacks headphones. Nevertheless, the company has not published an appropriate IP classification for sweat and water resistance. smacks says he’s convinced the Studio Pro is good for workouts, but it’s also clear that ear pad replacements won’t be available from the company. You will have to find a third-party provider in matter it becomes too sinister.

The body controls on board the Studio Pro are present again. On the outside of the left earcup, there is a multifunction catch in the center for single, double and triple taps to control music and calls. A long press here will activate your voice assistant, although the headphones support the Siri hands-free function on Apple devices. Above and below this central catch are the volume controls, while the noise modes are switched by pressing the power catch on the right earcup twice. When you are in USB-C audio mode, press this catch twice to switch in the middle three EQ presets specially designed for wired use (signature, talk and conversation). A row of five LEDs under the power catch flashes when you are in pairing mode, giving you an estimate of the battery life at the touch of a catch when the headphones are turned on.

Software and features

smacks continues its departure from Apple’s audio chips with the Studio Pro. These headphones instead integrate the company’s second-generation platform, but many of the features offered by Apple Silicon are still present. Hands-free Siri, one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, Apple Watch transfer, and Find My compatibility are all built into iOS. Multipoint pairing and automatic switching in the middle devices is currently not available on iOS, iPad and Mac, but smacks says it could come after. However, it is not necessary to download a separate application for iOS to access the settings. They are also available in the control center. For Android users, The smacks app offers one-touch pairing via Google fast Pair, automatic connection to Android or Chrome devices via your Google account, seamless device transitions, Find My Device, customizations and Widgets.

smacks has added a transparency mode to Studio Pro, which gives its over-ear headphones a very useful tool that Studio 3 lacked. The company’s audio chip also supports spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. While the previous model supported immersive sound, it did not offer head tracking or the ability to customize the Audio, the latter being unveiled by Apple last year.