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Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones

Manufacturer: Monster Cable Part number: 127801

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$349.00 - $349.99 at 6 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

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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*Total price for the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones

price range: $349.00 - $349.99

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.

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Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones

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.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 6 out of 6

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9 stars

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 ...

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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.

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 stars

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.

1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

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 ...

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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.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Greatest purchase ever!

by draco2k3 on December 30, 2008

Pros: great acoustics, great looks, awesome bass, made for hip hop

Cons: fingerprint magnet

Summary: i sat for 3 hours straight listening to music and once again being able to enjoy it!!!

Summary: i sat for 3 hours straight listening to music and once again being able to enjoy it!!!
10 stars

Amazing sound...best I've ever heard, wow

by mackenziec on November 25, 2008

Pros: Very light weight, stylish look
amazing sound quality
great sound cancellation... when playing, absolutely no outside noise, I can't even hear myself talk except feel the vibrations in my throat
wouldn't want to be without them!!!

Cons: mandatory battery usage is a bit unnecessary, but not too bad
Distracting !!! (if doing work I find myself too much enjoying how great it sounds !)

Summary: Utterly fantastic... if you want to pay the amount for it

Summary: Utterly fantastic... if you want to pay the amount for it
3 stars

Not My Style

by bob.mcclenahan on August 29, 2008

Pros: Made by Dr. Dre and Monster

Cons: They don't need the money

Summary: I braved the ear fungus of other Best Buyers and tried these cans. The display had three choices of music, but I only sampled the rock track. Harsh sound. I ...

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Summary: I braved the ear fungus of other Best Buyers and tried these cans. The display had three choices of music, but I only sampled the rock track. Harsh sound. I couldn't keep them on my ears for more than a few seconds. I guess I like a warmer sound. Not for me.

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0 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.

Showing opinion 1 to 6 out of 6

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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 keeps out ambient sounds on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport.
Product Type Headphones
Weight 9.2 oz
Compatible Mobile Devices Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone
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 Audio adapter - External, 1 x Headphones cable - 4.3 ft, 1 x Headphones cable - External
Included Accessories Storage case, Cleaning cloth
iPod Compatibility IPod (4G), IPod mini, IPod touch, IPod nano (aluminum) (3G), IPod classic, IPod with video (5G)
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

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