Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones
Manufacturer: Monster Cable Part number: 127801
- 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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Where to buy
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| SoundEarphones.com | | In stock | as of 11/16/2009 | |
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CNET editors' review
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones price range: $299.95 - $299.99
- 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.
It's not always easy to get excited about a pair of headphones on first glance. Generally, the listening experience, which is gathered only after putting a set on and sitting down with some favorite music, is what draws people in. Not so with the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, a sweet-looking set that will relieve you of $350. While their sound quality is nothing to scoff at, their appeal as eye-candy is undeniable. For audio enthusiasts who are tired of the same old look, the Beats are a must.
The Monster Beats may not be all about style, but you wouldn't know that just by looking at them. If you wear these headphones in public, you will turn heads. The thick and padded glossy black headband descends seemingly seamlessly into the circles that hold each earcup, which are oblong and padded in a cushy leatherette material. (They also swivel slightly in their supports in order to provide a comfortable fit.) Closer inspection of the headband discloses a seam on each side where it expands, revealing the metal support band within. This same metal accents the inside of the headband and rings thinly around each earpiece, which also features rings of deep red accenting. The outside of the earcups also feature a metallic disc containing a red "b" (the one on the right will mute your music when pressed). The overall effect is a sleek and stylish design that is not ostentatious.
In addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, Monster includes a variety of accessories in the slick, red packaging. There are two, thick 3.5mm audio cables--one red for standard MP3 players and one black with a built-in mic for music phones--each measuring 4 feet long. You also get a dual-pronged airplane adapter and a quarter-inch adapter for use with your home audio system, as well as a hardshell carrying case with a carabiner attached. In addition, the Beats come with a cleaning cloth, and you'll need it--these headphones are highly smudge-prone. Also necessary are the included AAA batteries; the headphones are noise-canceling (activated via a switch on the right earcup) and need power to work.
Of course, a pair of headphones may be the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen, but if they don't hold water when it comes to audio quality, the shine is quickly diminished. Luckily, this is not an issue with the Monster Beats, which offered an exceptionally--one might say shockingly--crisp response. Maybe we're pigeonholing here, but we expected Dr. Dre's headphones to be excessively heavy on the low-end. That's not to say there's no bass--it does thump--but these 'phones are nicely warm and balanced in the mids and truly impressive in their delivery of high-end detail. At no point did we suffer through the muddiness that can ail bass-heavy headphones.
If anything, some songs were a bit bright for our tastes and a few (but very few) tracks sounded harsh. More irritating is that the right earcup tends to rattle while you walk, so the Beats are probably best for stationary use. The genres that really shine are electronic, hard rock, and midtempo hip-hop, although other genres are also very good for the most part. No matter what the music, be forewarned that these headphones have a fair amount of sound leakage, so you're listening experience won't be entirely private.
User reviews
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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.
6 out of 6 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 THEM4 out of 5 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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Great Sound. Excellent
by softrecon on September 19, 2008
Pros: Headphone is nicely built. The sound is excellent and you can use it for so many hours without feeling any fatigue. The result of meticulous research and new technology. One of the best.
Cons: Opening and replacing battery is cumbersome.
Summary: I owned Grado high end headphones three times as expensive as this Beats headphone and with all honesty, this headphone is better. The sound is just sweet and warm. The ...
Summary: I owned Grado high end headphones three times as expensive as this Beats headphone and with all honesty, this headphone is better. The sound is just sweet and warm. The mids is really amazing. They really did their homework.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Consumers Win in the Noise Cancelling Wars...
by johncreasy on June 3, 2009
Pros: Wonderful sound and suprisingly good high end performance. Great looking headphones with audio performance to match. I am still impressed after 8 months.
Cons: Bleeding sound from my headphones may be an issue for those not enjoying my music or movies. I question if they are really closed over ear headphones because they bleed like nobodys business.
Summary: These are great headphones and are well worth your time if you are looking at over ear cans. In ear performers can be narrowed down to Shure 530s pretty quickly ...
Summary: These are great headphones and are well worth your time if you are looking at over ear cans. In ear performers can be narrowed down to Shure 530s pretty quickly but all over ear cans with noise cancellation seem to be operating in hotly contested territory. Currently and in the past I have owned PC 250s, QC3s, Grado SR60s, Ultrasone 650s and some other not so noteworthy cans. Beats are definitely not perfect but they are well worth the performance you would expect from portable headphones with noise cancelling. The BoseQC3 are also good for travellers but I am much happier with the Beats as I do not use my headphones for noise cancelling exclusively, and I appreciate music and audio performance from my headphones as well. If you just want walk-around noise cancellation I would strongly recommend the Bose, but once fidelity is added to the mix the Beats are definitely the better choice.
*If I could only own one set of headphones it would have to be the Beats because of their extended wear comfort and noise cancellation. I would be my Shure 530s but I do not like like Push to Hear cables/module and my ear canals get pretty raw after hours of extended wear. If I did not travel internationally this would not be an issue. If extended wear is not an issue for you you may want to try the Shure 530s.1 out of 1 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. -
own them their freaking awesome
by slimmfady on October 31, 2009
Pros: great bass true sound
Cons: one of the cups quirks when you move
Summary: suuuuuuuuper great
Summary: suuuuuuuuper great
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The best!!!! Get it!
by success99 on October 30, 2009
Pros: Get IT!!!!!!!
Cons: Get It!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: Get It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: Get It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The best sounding headphones I have ever owned, by far!
by lutador73 on October 28, 2009
Pros: The sound is truly amazing! These headphones have great range, they are comfortable, look great and come with all the accessories needed to make them usable in any situation. Even the box the headphones come in is extremely nice!
Cons: I work at an electronics store and the top plastic piece that reads "beats by dr. dre," seems to crack on one side or the other right above the metal piece that is on each side of the leather padding for the top your head. Under warranty, of course.
Summary: While nobody beats the sound quality, the top plastic piece that reads "beats by dr. dre," seems to crack on one side or the other right above the metal piece ...
Summary: While nobody beats the sound quality, the top plastic piece that reads "beats by dr. dre," seems to crack on one side or the other right above the metal piece that is on each side of the leather padding for the top of the listener's head. It has happened on every display pair we have had in the store and it happened to the first pair I owned after 6 months. I was still under warranty and Monster agreed to replace the piece (since it is removable on the Studio's by simply unscrewing four small allen bolts). However, some retailers are offering a 2 year replacement plan on headphones and I decided to use it instead, because if the product breaks within the first year you don't have to re-purchase the plan. The new line of Solo headphones has the same piece without the allen bolts and the Solo's piece seems to be a more flexible polymer piece than that of the Studio's. After talking to someone at customer assistance/warranty from Monster, it was suggested to me that if someone did experience a cracking problem on the top piece, it may be replaced with a new, more durable piece similar to the one they are using on the Solo product line. Regardless, I still believe the headphones are worth the money and are a great product. Monster makes quality products and stand behind them (i.e. if you have ever had to replace an HDMI cable, you understand--it's absolutely no hassle). Take good care of them and don't treat them like earbuds that you throw in your gym bag after running or working out and you'll enjoy these headphones for many years!
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nice product
by jaydeesea95 on October 8, 2009
Pros: nice design.
great sound
mute button
all the people that notice themCons: expensive
need batteries
bad noise cancelationSummary: this is a great pair of cans if you can fork over 300 bucks plus tax. They sound awesome, receive attention, and make you look like the sh*t. Had ...
Summary: this is a great pair of cans if you can fork over 300 bucks plus tax. They sound awesome, receive attention, and make you look like the sh*t. Had them for a week and a half, have not had to change the batteries yet. But i do have to clean then constantly to keep them smudge-free. anyway you probably read other reviews before this one. the headphones rock but make sure your rally into sound and you real;y, really want them before you purchase the beats.
sorry for the typo's forgot to prof read it .
Updated on Oct 8, 2009
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Monster Cable
- Part number: 127801
- Description: Experience music the way the artist wants you to. Beats high definition headphones are precision-engineered to reveal the full sound of today's digital music including the most sonically demanding rock, hip hop and R&B. with advanced speaker design, powered amplification, and active noise canceling, Beats delivers all the power, clarity, and deep bass today's top artists and producers want you to hear.
General
- Recommended Use The noise canceling feature blocks the din on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport.
- Product Type Headphones
- Weight 9.2 oz
- Color Black
- Additional Features Foldable
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Ear-cup
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Dynamic Range 115 dB
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Headphones cable - 4.3 ft, 1 x Headphones cable - External
- Included Accessories Storage case, Cleaning cloth, 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter
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
- Monster Cable
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Monster Cable products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.monstercable.com/
- Address:
455 Valley Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005 - Phone: 1-877-800-8989
