There I was, about to step into a biker bar. Surrounded by a sea of motorcycles—the ultimate symbols of rugged masculinity—gleaming Arai helmets, heavy motorcycle jackets, and boots thicker than my CTC, all in the oppressive Goan humidity. And in my hand? A pair of Kim K headphones. Not just any headphones. The Beats Studio Pro x Kim Special Edition in Moon. Not exactly what you take to a motorcycle festival.
I hesitated. My biker friends were already gathered a few feet away, debating the finer points of fuel injection versus carburettors (I assumed), sipping beer out of mugs. Could I walk into this testosterone-soaked scene wearing something that practically screamed rosé all day?
I did it. Not out of boldness, but because deadlines and unemployment have a knack for overriding dignity. As I slipped them over my ears, the world around me faded—not literally, but close enough. The noise cancellation was so good, it could almost silence an unmuffled Enfield. Kendrick Lamar’s latest track from his GNX album kicked in, rapping smoothly into my ears. And there I stood, amidst a festival of manly men, as another man, rocking bright-coloured headphones designed by Kim Kardashian, with a different manly man rapping in my head.
But let’s circle back to what makes them fun. For the better part of three years, I’ve rotated between my Sony WH-1000XM4 and AirPods Pro (Gen 1), both of which have served me well. But therein lay the problem. The Sonys, while excellent, are a bit too heavy for all-day wear. The AirPods, though incredibly convenient, don’t quite deliver the noise cancellation or audio quality needed to drown out the wailing babies on long-haul flights. Enter the Kim Special Beats Studio Pro, which strikes a near-perfect balance—almost.
They come packaged in an eye-catching, mesh travel-friendly bag. The “colour-matched Beats x Kim carrying case and custom woven cables” are as sleek as they are functional. The rectangular minimal packaging fits easily into travel bags and takes up far less space than my bulkier Sonys. Inside the soft case, you’ll find a USB-C to USB-C cable and a colour-matched, gold-plated 3.5mm analogue cable. The headphones themselves are well designed—sleek, neat, and polished, from the cuffs to the bridge.
What really makes these brightly coloured headphones a confidence booster among a sea of leather-clad bikers is the impressively balanced transparency mode. It lets just enough ambient noise filter through to keep you aware of your surroundings—like a gate change announcement at the airport. That said, the transparency isn’t too sharp; you won’t accidentally start eavesdropping on your neighbouring seat’s awkward overshare while Kendrick Lamar belts Mustard into your ears at full throttle.
Tap the power button twice and you enter active noise-cancelling. It is highly effective—on par with the best I’ve tried—easily blocking out distractions like children and annoying children, without giving you that sense of “ear fullness” noise-cancelling headphones tend to give. It is far more effective than my AirPods but less than my Sony. However, it is also the most comfortable and convenient of the three, a perfect balance, as I said.
The over-ear cushions are made of what Apple calls “seamlessly engineered leather”. In all fairness, it is soft, snug, and an absolute treat for your ears. Weighing just 260g, these headphones are so light you’ll barely notice them perched on your head. They’re also ridiculously easy to set up: a single press of the ‘on’ button, and within seconds, my iPhone had them connected via a pop-up. No tutorials, no headaches.
Most importantly, the sound quality is excellent. Now, let me clarify—I’m no audiophile, and these headphones aren’t exactly made for them either. But the sound is immersive, clean, and crisp. The bass? While not as polished or cavernous as my Sonys, it’s punchy enough to get you in the mood for whatever bass-heavy playlist your day demands. And the best part? They last. Apple promises 40 hours of battery life without noise cancelling. While I didn’t bother testing this claim to the minute, I managed a solid 24 to 30 hours of sporadic listening, switching between transparency and ANC modes. And when they needed a recharge, a quick 20-minute top-up had them good to go.
In all honesty, I think I’ve found my new favourite headphones. They’re sleek, stylish, lightweight, and built to last. The Skims-inspired design has officially grown on me now. So much so that if a biker friend dares to mock them, I won’t take them off—I’ll just noise-cancel him out.
Price: ₹37,900
