Manage updates with the Download AppBeats by Dr. Dre Studio (White)
Manufacturer: Monster Part number: 129438
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The unique and stylish Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer solid audio, useful accessories, and a look that's anything but copycat. For fashion-forward folks with cash to spare, they're a great option.
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CNET editors' review
Beats by Dr. Dre Studio (White) price range: $198.00 - $299.95
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 08/28/2008
The good: The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer a stylish and comfortable design as well as exceptionally crisp audio response. Sound quality is mostly balanced, with warm mids and thumping bass. Included are a nice carrying case and a music-phone-compatible cable.
The bad: The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones cannot be used without batteries. Glossy black design is very smudge-prone, and a few songs sound harsh. Right earcup rattles while you walk.
The bottom line: The unique and stylish Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer solid audio, useful accessories, and a look that's anything but copycat. For fashion-forward folks with cash to spare, they're a great option.
User reviews
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Outstanding Headphones!!!
by Dennis7-11 on March 31, 2011
Pros: + Good Bass and overall good sound quality
+ Comfort is outstanding
+ Has a mute button on the right ear cup
+ Amplifies sound for portable mp3 players/iPod
+ It does a really good job of canceling out background noiseCons: - Have to have AAA batteries for them to work. But that isn't a big deal
- Glossy finish is a magnet for fingerprints
- Too expensiveSummary: There are going to be a lot of reviews about these headphones that use audiophilesque (I know, not a word, but bear with me) terms like "warmth" and "muddiness". Terms ...
Summary: There are going to be a lot of reviews about these headphones that use audiophilesque (I know, not a word, but bear with me) terms like "warmth" and "muddiness". Terms that generally speak to the clarity and integrity of the original recordings as heard over a specific piece of equipment, or combination of electronics. In this case, when someone talks about the headphones being "muddy," what they're pointing out is that, to their ear, music played through these phones ends up somewhat distorted due to an excessive base response with the 'finer' notes of music running together sloppily as a result. There will be, absolutely, and with good reason, a lot of people asking whether or not such a high price tag is worth a set of headphones, no matter how good they may sound.
Edit Link
I open, addressing other reviews, because these are all sound and valid, but very subjective and personal points. The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are "warm", or "boomy", or even "muddy" -- but that's by design. Make no mistake, these headphones have been designed with an urban purpose in mind. Where the outstanding noise cancellation technology contained within will drown out the harsh sounds of city life as one takes the subway to work, walks down a street filled with cars and construction, or in Lebron's case, walks into a hostile arena with friendly and non-friendly fans screaming for his attention. Where the person whose head and ears are so comfortably ensconced can trade the chaotic din of life, for the rich and even immersive experience Beats offers. These phones have been designed with hip hop in mind, which is to say that this "muddy" quality in a range that serves to actually enhance, not detract, from beat-heavy music, and no apologies are made about that given the name, and the endorser behind them who played such a direct and critical role in their development.
Are these phones for those who only listen to music with strong backing beats, like hip hop, and certain 'areas' of rock and industrial music? Absolutely not, they simply excel within. Beats perform brilliantly no matter the fare, it's just a matter of understanding purpose and intention.
Which is why I recommend hearing a pair before buying. If you're looking for a set of noise-canceling phones through which you can quietly relax to Mozart, I still think you're going to be very impressed, but maybe you'll find them too "warm" for your taste and the cost. That's a big maybe, and why a review like this is so difficult. We each hear a little differently, we each value experience and sensation differently, so as much as I can (and would) rant and rave about these headphones, and swear that they're worth every penny of their suggested retail price, the truth is that your mileage may vary.
As for the reality of my own experience and perspective; these are now the best headphones I've ever owned, and I listen to a very wide spectrum of music genres. The audio quality (discussed in better detail above) is worthy of any superlatives thrown at it. The comfort is outstanding. The build quality is top notch. The battery powered noise cancellation technology is wonderful. Little touches like being able to temporarily mute audio by pressing a discrete button on the side of one phone (the stylized 'b' logo) is brilliant. The extra cable to turn Beats into a completely functional and very high quality two-way headset for the iphone was a masterful touch. Even the packaging all of it comes in was masterfully designed, with great emphasis placed on both form and function -- an area of product design often overlooked, but greatly appreciated (even if just unconsciously) when done well.
These are, without question, absolute top-of-the-line headphones, and while they may have been engineered to bring out the best in beats, they provide an outstanding experience all-around, making them (in the eyes and ears of this reviewer) worth every penny to those who value music.
*** P.S. If you will buy this headphone I suggest you have compare price before you decide at: www.amazon.com/gp/*************?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%****%2Foffer-listing%2FB001DD55OE%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Ddp_olp_new_map%26condition%3Dnew&tag=***************&********=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957
Updated on Oct 27, 2011
if you will buy these headphones I suggest for best deal at: www.amazon.com/exec/******/****/B001DD55OE/cnet-offer-20
Good Luck!
Updated on Oct 27, 2011www.amazon .com/exec/******/****/B001DD55OE/cnet-offer-2022 out of 25 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Form & Function Outstanding, Exciting Sound Sleek Looks
by antonirex on September 28, 2008
Pros: Not only do they look great but they sound even better. I enjoyed the Excellent noise canceling which in turn functions as some sort of amplifier that boosts volume to insane levels with out distortion. Best for beats but does fantastic on classical.
Cons: You'll fall prey to Jealous looks on the A train, not inconspicuous at all. Loving use will require lots of AAA's, only one pair included. Airport Homeland Security Guards will get nervous, red wires, black glossy casing, and a big red B. for bomb?
Summary: Wondering if the price pertained only to name recognition being that Monster and Dr. Dre need to make a profit, I wondered if the sound quality would at all match ...
Summary: Wondering if the price pertained only to name recognition being that Monster and Dr. Dre need to make a profit, I wondered if the sound quality would at all match the detailed thought that went into design. I tried these headphones at Best Buy but the volume was so ridiculously high that I was not able to appreciate sound quality. I was also interested in finding out if any other type of music other than R&B, hip-hop or rap would sound good. So I bought them. I took them out of the very expensive packaging which by the way does not have any technical specifications. I examined all the accessories and I can say that anything Monster puts its name to has a very high quality feel. The hard carrying case is very nice but also very big, I think that mostly this carrying case is to store them at home, although it has a hinge as if you were going to attach it to your backpack or baggy jeans. It has two cables the red one which is a regular cable that you will use to plug it into your stereo and the black one which can plug into your iPhone because it has a microphone. Then it comes with a couple of adapters, a silky cleaning cloth that claims to be antibacterial I guess in case you are asked by some stranger in the subway to try them out. And the ridiculous little quick start guide that tells you how to install the batteries turn it on and use the mute button located on the right ear cup, again no specifications. And it also tells you to visit beatsbydre.com for a full manual. so once you have everything plugged in and batteries installed you turn them on and start listening to music in a very different way. These are powered headphones that not only isolate the music to cut out the noise but definitely gives your player a lot more volume. The sound quality is excellent at low volumes and really pumping at higher volumes. You will enjoy any kind of music with these headphones. I was listening to classical music and was very impressed. I compared these to another set of professional headphones that were not powered. The beats headphones are much better for iPods, iPhones, portable audio players. They deliver the full sound that you are supposed to be hearing. They're also very comfortable and light, they look durable and the design can't be beat. One thing I experienced was that I don't think they're meant to be slept on, while resting my head on the pillow with the left cup towards the pillow I started hearing a loud beep like the sound some microphones make When you move them around. Overall these are very fun to have, I think I will be keeping them. P.S. I'm very picky about sound.
7 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not for everyone, but oh-my-goodness are they good.
by kosterhout on November 17, 2009
Pros: -Sound separation
-Deep, enveloping bass
-Clear, resonating highs
-Balanced mid-range
-They look as cool as Dr. Dre himself
-Extremely comfortable.Cons: -Pricey (but you get what you pay for)
-Build quality could be better
-Noise cancellation is a bit of a gimmick.Summary: Okay. First, I want to clear up ANY misconceptions that some people have been throwing around (and, without a doubt, haven't tried this product).
First, these headphones are absolutely, ...Summary: Okay. First, I want to clear up ANY misconceptions that some people have been throwing around (and, without a doubt, haven't tried this product).
First, these headphones are absolutely, 100% phenomenal in most aspects. Most noticeably, their sound separation is next to nothing I've ever heard. When they say you'll hear things you've never heard before, they aren't kidding. The separation allows you to hear nuances that aren't heard through conventional means. You hear every note, every instrument, and every voice as if they are singing to you on stage.
Separation: 9/10
As far as the sound quality, it all depends. If you listen to high-quality, "lossless" (or close to) tracks, then they will sound out-of-this-world good. I will say that there is a slight amount of muddiness if you have the volume up and the song is very bass heavy, but this is rare and usually only happens on lower quality tracks. Second, you need to listen to it on something with a good sound processor. Your iPod will sound good, but if you put it on a sound card known for good sound (SoundBlaster X-Fi, for example), it will let the Beats shine for everything they are. The only design flaw in the sound quality category is the balance of sound from left to right. In the upper mid-range area, the right driver is louder than the left. This has been seen on numerous pairs, but you'll only notice it if you look for it. Treble is clear, bass is deep and oh-so-satisfying, and mid-range is good. I will say that the noise cancellation is a bit of a gimmick compared to the new QC 15's from Bose. However, the Bose headphones are not nearly as good in the sound quality area. If you turn the music up, though, you won't hear anything. With the music off, the sound canceling does very little other than drown out low-tone sounds, such as air conditioners and such. Overall, extremely well balanced headphones with exceptional clarity.
Sound Quality: 9/10
Comfort is great. I've worn these things for hours with no fatigue. The ear cup lining is comfortable and soft. They aren't heavy on your head. There is very little pressure. They'd be great for traveling if they didn't have such HORRIBLE sound leakage. I'm sorry, but there is NO way to keep these things from leaking sound other than listening to your music at the lowest volumes. I've had people come out of a back room of my house and say "I love this song!". Yikes. Most definitely not library cans.
Comfort: 10/10
Build quality is the only deficiency these 'phones have. The plastic seems very weak. I could see accidentally sitting on these and snapping them in half. The headband and ear cup fabrics are comfortable, though. It's just the plastic. It seems very flimsy. I'm very, very careful with them and I've not seen any problems yet, but I'm paranoid that they may break. Thank goodness for the three year guarantee, but I couldn't imagine a month without my Beats...
Build Quality: 6/10
The value is a debatable point. Yes, they're $300. Yes, that is a lot of money. However, you get what you pay for. I understand that people claim that there are 'phones out there for much less that provide a similar experience. I've heard most of the ones they claim, and they definitely don't provide a similar experience. Yes, they're good, but they don't have the same separation and most certainly not the same power and bass response. For "audiophiles" (read: snobs), these cans aren't for you. They aren't flat. They do emphasize the lower end of the sound spectrum. So go play with your Sennheisers and leave us "low-brow" kids to our Beats.
Value: 8/10
Overall, these 'phones are phenomenal. I sell high quality audio for a living. I don't consider myself an audiophile, but I know great audio, and oh do these cans deliver. If you love music, you'll love the Beats. Yes, they're pricey, but you get what you pay for. Anyone saying the Skull Candy Hesh headphones are of equal quality needs to go have a hearing examination, because you would most certainly need hearing aids if you think those horrible, muddy, unbelievably unbalanced headphones hold even a match to these.
Overall: 9/10 "Outstanding"8 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE MUSIC LOVER'S SOUL
by blazin asian on January 24, 2009
Pros: Incredible balanced sound, noise cancelling, sleek design, comfortable ear cups, sturdy cords for studio, iPhone, DJ
Cons: After listening to these, I will have problem listening to anything else
Summary: Ok.. I'm a professional deejay and have had enough experience with headphones. Had 3 pairs of Sonys which sounded crisp (all broke), 2 pairs of Technics which sounded warmer (...
Summary: Ok.. I'm a professional deejay and have had enough experience with headphones. Had 3 pairs of Sonys which sounded crisp (all broke), 2 pairs of Technics which sounded warmer (broke too), Shure SE530 in-ears (loved but lost ON an airplane!), V-Modas (hated) etc.
I am not one to write reviews, but I just got these in the mail & can say that I am truly blown away. I ran a comparison test to my current Allen & Heath XONEs, and the beats destroyed them.
In my line of work, I play everything from Hip Hop to Rock to Fela, and listening to all these different genres on these headphones, I haven't been disappointed. I even tried them with the Nutcracker Pas De Deux and heard the arm movements of the violinists plucking, and the conductor taking a breath in! I could even tell what side of the room each instrument was.
I haven't taken these off my head yet. I'm hearing elements I didn't hear before and it's opened me up to more creative possibilities. Plus I love the fact that they come with an iPhone mic cord so I can rock these in the street. But I have to agree with someone who said they might hate you on the A train! =)
GET THEM, GET THEM, GET THEM7 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Can't take the heat
by lovemysteez on January 9, 2010
Pros: They sound good, they have noise reduction, they look really cool vs. an set of studio monitors.
Cons: Ok the price point sucks on these, you are paying for the name on the side and not for the quality. They feel cheep and easy to ruin, they will not withstand the abuse I put headphones through, they use two AA batteries unstead of recharging
Summary: The headphone sounds good but not worth 300. I know you get noise canceling, but really the only time I ever feel like I need it is on a flight. ...
Summary: The headphone sounds good but not worth 300. I know you get noise canceling, but really the only time I ever feel like I need it is on a flight. They cant take a whole lot of abuse. Beyerdynamic DT-770 sound just as good if not better they are a quality studio monitor originally designed for drummers. DT-770's are full metal construction and they are good at noise isolation. The clarity of DT-770's is much more impressive then that of monsters headphone. So bottom line if you want an amazing headphone with great sound for a fair price do not buy these look into beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, AKG, or audio-technica. All four of those companies build a headphone that will last you, for noise just a set with closed construction. If you want to look cool infront of all of your friends that dont know headphones these are the way to go. I would drop the 200 on a set of DT-770's and spend the left over 100 on a lift ticket.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very good sound and looks
by StirUp12 on December 4, 2008
Pros: Nice headphones to show off. They have a great sound and the noise cancelling featre makes it even better.
Cons: The only con I have about this product is that When you are listening to a song, it is very easy for the people around you to also hear your music.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Simply a waste of money with $100 sound
by Jlevernier on October 7, 2011
Pros: Comfortable
comes with a lot of extrasCons: these are worth $150 bucks at the very most
Pitiful sound
WAY too much bass to be used with anything but rap
you look like a space cadet wearing them
the "sound cancelling" is a joke
sounds canned and very harsh
For some odd reason everybody buys these inSummary: I do not own these (thank God) but I have listened too these many times. They are simply cheap, plastic headphones with a logo on them. I would never pay ...
Summary: I do not own these (thank God) but I have listened too these many times. They are simply cheap, plastic headphones with a logo on them. I would never pay anything more than $150 for them. I bought Grado sr325is headphones and they honestly destroy the beats in EVERY way except comfort. But besides comfort the grados are hand made in the USA, use better materials, BETTER CABLE, look much better and professional, and sound 10 times better in every aspect. And the best part, they are five bucks cheaper. But Grados are untouchable in sound quality to begin with, so it is an unfair comparison. But the moral of the story is that much better phones are out there for the same or even less money. Do yourself a favor and do not consider any of Monster beats' headphones. You are paying for mediocre materials and sad sound quality. However, if you really need a review of them, here you go.
BUILD QUALITY:
These phones are mostly plastic but come with a case so you really don't need to worry about breaking them, unless they fall off your head or something like that. They are pretty light weight. The removable cable is a nice touch. Overall for $300 I am not at all impressed with their build, but I don't think they will break very easily.
FEATURES:
These phones are chock full of features. I will number them off:
1. removable cable
2. noise canceling: basically does not do anything, I would say it simply does not work. The closed
back and over ear fit does all of the sound isolation.
3. Folds up
4. comes with 2 cables
5. has a mute button to stop your music when someone is talking to you
6. Has a built in headphone amp to compensate for their ~200 ohm impedance. However, this might
hurt the sound if you plan to use your own amp.
COMFORT:
These are actually pretty comfy phones. Being as light as they are, I was able to leave them on for many hours. The sound, however, made me take them off after about 45 minutes.
SOUND:
Simply put, these are not even considered good sounding at all. In fact, The bass is not even that great. It isn't that crisp at all and muddies everything else. If you really need bass, use an equalizer with any other headphone, but do not buy a set of headphones just because of the bass. The mids and highs both seem to be in the background of the bass and are dulled significantly because of this. While I may seem biased and highly critical of every little detail, I find myself harshly criticizing their sound for two reasons:
1. They cost $300
2. Monster had the nerve to honestly say that quote "Artists and producers spend countless hours fine-tuning and mixing music to get it exactly how they want their fans to hear it. But the vast majority of headphones can't accurately reproduce the intricacies produced in the studio. Simply put,Studios can. With precision-engineered, advanced speaker design, powered amplification, and powered noise cancellation, you hear music the way today's top artists and producers want you to hear" unquote. (www.beatsbydre.com).
I will say that this is horribly untrue. I found my $80 Klipsch image s4 In ear headphones to be more clear while still having more bass. On www.headroom.com, they have comparable graphs of many different characteristics of sound. In terms of frequency response, the Beats start to steeply drop off at 40Hz, which is very bad for bass-emphasized headphones. The Klipsch's, however, stay strong all the way through the low end. So if you want really deep bass, go for the Klipsch's and save $220 bucks and still have more clarity throughout the spectrum. Time and time again I will say that the cost is double of what it should be. You will simply get low quality sound, nothing more. However, if you plan on buying these to show off to your friends and don't really care about every detail you'll be missing, these headphones fit the bill fine. Just don't expect audiophile sound, or even respectable sound.
BOTTOM LINE:
As I approach 4000 characters I feel like I have given you enough to understand that these are not meant for anybody who is seriously looking for good headphones. They lack value for money in every way and are unsatisfying to listen to. If you see them for $100 used, they might be worth it. But $300 is a joke. Just look for different headphones, because I'd recommend basically anything over these.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Overpriced for the performance
by TigerWoodsIV on August 9, 2011
Pros: Truly none. Anyone who gave these 5 stars knows nothing about audio. They're not bad, but for $300 they are more than 3 times the price they should be.
Cons: Overpriced for the performance.
Summary: As with any company such as Monster, you're paying for a name. In this case both the Monster brand and the Dr. Dre name. They aren't horrible if ...
Summary: As with any company such as Monster, you're paying for a name. In this case both the Monster brand and the Dr. Dre name. They aren't horrible if you want a big low end and don't care about getting the most from other recordings. For recordings with little detail, such as hip hop where bass is the main objective, these aren't terrible. When I demoed these, I was in shock at the price. I paid $370 for the headphones I do have, but they are in an entirely different league (offer more bass that's clean and not bloated with great extension, more clarity, better mids, and better highs). Do some research before buying these. I didn't even find them particularly comfortable.
Bottom line: If you buy these, you didn't get the most out of your money unless the only thing you're going for is looks and to say you have them.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Severly Overpriced and Poorly Designed
by Jake511 on November 10, 2009
Pros: These do sound good, no question about it. Comfort is good.
Cons: Fell apart 25 minutes into a 6 hour flight. The shiny black plastic is held together with allen head screws which cracks the plastic. The right phone literally fell off my head. The battery lasted apprx 8 hours- the caribiner strap tore off quickly
Summary: For what they charge for their stuff, I expect better from Monster. This is completely unacceptable for $300 headphones. They should never break unless they are run over by a ...
Summary: For what they charge for their stuff, I expect better from Monster. This is completely unacceptable for $300 headphones. They should never break unless they are run over by a Mack truck. These do sound good and have much better depth than Bose, but the bad far outweighs the good.
The battery cover takes a severe case of luck to get open (they devour batteries by the way) and the nifty caribiner on the case, although great in utility, ripped off over the course of a very light duty weekend. Even if these design flaws were fixed, I don't see them being worth $300.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Dr. Dre was paid WAY too much to endorse these
by slowroaster on March 6, 2010
Pros: 1. Style - that's it unfortunately
Cons: 1. Price in relation to quality
2. Durability
3. Construction QualitySummary: I had the worst experience with the Dre Beats possible. I owned the pair for a maximum of 1 hour and had to immediately return. I had a set that ...
Summary: I had the worst experience with the Dre Beats possible. I owned the pair for a maximum of 1 hour and had to immediately return. I had a set that was a complete production failure. Here are the exact problems with the set I purchased:
1. When I opened the box, the left foam ear cup immediately fell off, and did not want to stay secure on the earpiece
2. The "Beats" logo on the left ear fell off, would have had to been glued on to stay - this was a superficial flaw
3. The battery cover on the one earpiece would not open. I had to use a butter knife to pry it open - potentially damaging the product
4. The battery holder did not have springs - meaning the bass boost and mute functions were no operational
5. There was NO mute button! It shows it right on the box! How does this get missed?
6. The sound quality is best described in this metaphor - Beats are a Hyundai Accent in a drag race vs. an Audi R8 - TERRIBLE!
7. This didn't happen to me, but after a few months use, the plastic is susceptible to breaking
I returned these for Bose QuietComfort 15's. They may not look as aesthetically pleasing as the Beats, but the sound quality and construction are tried and true.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Monster
- Part number: 129438
- Description: Artists and producers spend countless hours fine-tuning and mixing music to get it exactly how they want their fans to hear it. But the vast majority of headphones can't accurately reproduce the intricacies produced in the studio. With precision-engineered, advanced speaker design, powered amplification, and powered noise cancellation, you hear music the way today's top artists and producers want you to hear.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Recommended Use The noise canceling feature blocks the din on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport.
- Weight 9.2 oz
- Color White
- Recommended Use Portable audio system
- Additional Features Foldable
Headphones
- Headphones Type Binaural
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Frequency Response 20 - 20000 Hz
- Dynamic Range 115 dB
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Headphones cable - 4.3 ft,
Headphones cable - External - Included Accessories 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter,
Cleaning cloth,
Storage case Power
- Power Device None
- Battery 2 x Headset battery - AAA type
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Monster products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Monster
- Address:
455 Valley Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005 - Phone: 1-877-800-8989
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