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Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio High-Definition Headphones | 
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| Brand: Monster
Category: CE
List Price: $349.95
Buy New: $320.00
You Save: $29.95 (9%)
New (6) Used (3) from $299.97
Rating:  14 reviews
Media: Electronics
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6
Dimensions (in): 10 x 8.6 x 5.2
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: 127801-00
Model: MHBEATSPIOE
UPC: 050644450334
EAN: 0050644450334
ASIN: B001DD55OE
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand New - in stock with Thanksgiving Special Price
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| Features:
| • | Advanced driver design for precise audio clarity; extra large speaker drivers for super deep bass | | • | Monster headphone cable with Quadripole twisted pair construction for balanced sound and clarity | | • | Powered isolation technology actively cuts external noise | | • | Spacious earcups with plush, breathable cushions for ultimate listening comfort | | • | Included iSonitalk cable with answer button and mic lets you take calls with iPhone or other music phones |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
You seek comfortable headphones with great sound over a wide dynamic range. So did Dr. Dre. From his demanding quest for excellence and Monster Cable's audio engineering comes a new headphone - Beats.
In addition to being a multiple Grammy award winning producer, Dr. Dre is an artist who helped create groundbreaking records with the group N.W.A. and landmark multi-platinum solo albums The Chronic and Dr. Dre 2001. In collaboration with Monster Cable, Dr. Dre sought a new form of headphone. Most headphones can't handle the bass, the detail, and the dynamics. Monster's Beats By Dre delivers clear vocals, detailed highs, and super low, deep bass. In order to capture the quietness of an isolated recording studio listening experience, Beats headphones have powered ambient noise-isolation, so you can hear all the details and nuances of your favorite music.
Beats by Dr. Dre are designed to provide maximum performance when used with all of today's portable music devices - and they're ready for use with the new Apple iPhone 3G. In fact, for consumers who have an iPhone, Blackberry, and other music-enabled phones, Beats By Dr. Dre comes with additional Monster iSoniTalk headphone cable with integrated high-grade microphone and answer button.
It's sonic perfection by demand and high-grade engineering. It's what your ears and mind have hungered for. The Beats are here and waiting for you to appreciate them. Includes Monster iSoniTalk headphone cable with integrated microphone and answer button for use with iPhone, Blackberry and other music-enabled cell phones Push to Listen mute button lets you talk on your cell phone without removing the headphones Folding design for go-anywhere portability Includes 2 AAA batteries, antimicrobial cleaning cloth, iSoniTalk cell phone cable, 1/8-to-1/4 headphone adapter and protective case
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Ok, I'm impressed... November 28, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've owned quite a few sets of headphones over the past twenty years, ranging from some Sony MDR-V6's, through various mid-range Sennheiser models, down to a month-old pair of audio-technica QuietPoints. All are solid headphones, but not exactly audiophile quality. These are different. The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre blow the others right out of the water.
As I'm sitting here writing this review, I'm listening to Beethoven's C minor string quartet (op. 18 No. 4), preformed by the Amadeus Quartet. There are subtleties in the performance that previously weren't audible. The instruments have a presence that simply wasn't there with lesser units. Earlier in the day, I was listening to a more eclectic mix to run a more rigorously test - Jazz, some stuff from the 60's and 70's (anybody remember Blind Faith?) and a couple of female vocalists. I was even going to listen to some Elvis, but came to my senses first...even in the name of science, I just couldn't stoop that low. My overall impression? Monster Beats are awesome. In the next couple of days, I'm going to hook up my old preamp and record player and see how some vinyl sounds...mp3s are convenient, but just not the same as a pure analog signal.
One potential issue: these headphones are so good that they'll expose any imperfection in your sound system. Encoding imperfections in your mp3 collection will become instantly audible. Any other distortion, clipping, background hiss, or noise will be reproduced faithfully and with utmost accuracy...If you're not careful, buying these will cascade into a wholesale replacement of all your other equipment! Not that that junk in your music wasn't there before, you'll just hear it now...
A couple of minor nit-picks: There are two cords supplied. Both are way too short. Unless you really like sitting close to your equipment, you'll need an extension. Monster really should have made the cord longer...after all these are a $350 pair of headphones. I strongly suggest that you get a high quality extension. (My Radio Shack special drastically reduced the quality of the sound. Dollars to doughnuts, though, Monster makes a good one...) Second, these phones are gorgeous, but the shiny black plastic picks up fingerprints like crazy. The included polishing cloth cleans them up nicely, but that's obviously why it's there.
My conclusion...$350 seems like a lot of money to spend on headphones, but if you really want to hear your music, these will definitely do the job. At this price, you should shop around and listen to a few different units, but definitely keep these on the top of your short list.
Great for Hip Hop & Techno! Monster Impressive, but Monster Pricey! November 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Before trying these headphones, I was skeptical that anyone would need such an expensive set. After giving them a run, however, I have to say that I finally get it! Monster Beats let you rediscover the impact, nuance and fun tucked away in your music! That privilage comes with a heavy monetary price, however.
The first thing that strikes you about these cans is the quality of materials and thoughtfulness of the design. The headphones mix several metalic components where they are needed to bolster the sturdiness and style of these headphones.
Furthermore, the design includes such thoughtful features as the ability to fold into themselves and fit neatly into an included carrying case, which sports an already-included caribiner. Nice!
As far as the audio performance, Beats impresses from the get go. Slipping the headphones on, you instantly recognize how well they reduce the volume of your surrounding noise. You even get the sensation that you're speaking with your ears severely plugged up when you're talking!
The sound quality is fantastic, also. Music is crisp, clean, the bass hits hard and there's no distortion even at very high volume. It may sound corny, but these headphones were enough to bring an involuntary smile to my face listening to some old favorites that sounded new again as the hideen subtlety and thump came out in full splendor.
I will disagree with some other reviewers, however, and say that you get maximum enjoyment from these headphones with music from particular genres, namely anything that has a strong beat like hip hop or techno.
Mind you, it's not that music of all genres isn't improved with Beats, it's just that you don't really get knocked on your butt by each and every song you listen to, and if you're going to invest $350-400 on headphones, you want to be REALLY impresed. Monster Beats' bassy strengths don't tend to come out, for example, when listening to songs consisting primarily of acoustic guitar riffs.
Therefore, my recommendation, for what it's worth, would be to consider what kind of music you listen to before purchasing Beats.
I also wish that these headphones featured automatic shutoff and rechargeable batteries with a charger, but those features are a forgivable omission considering how Beats overwhelms in other areas.
Otherwise, the only signifigant drawback to Beats is the price! Certainly you get the quality and the style, but you also get the endorsement fees and the sort of markup that only a company making $100 HDMI cables can provide.
That said, if you're looking for an amazing set of headphones and you have several hundred dollars burning a hole in your pockets, I'd recommend these in an instant. You won't be disappointed!
Excellent bass. Stylish. Great for travel. Surround sound/depth could be better. November 27, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3OTGQCWSLUD0C I have been really satisfied (and still using) with the Sennheiser HD-595 Premier Headphone (which cost about $300 at the time; the most expensive headphone I've ever spent). Sennheiser is known for making leading professional headphones/microphones/etc.
...And then there's MONSTER.
As far as I'm aware, I've only known MONSTER for selling really really expensive overpriced cables for TV/home theater/audio input components. Well, Monster has teamed up with hip hip artist/actor/record producer, Dr. Dre (made Eminem famous) and created this "High-Definition" headphones, which they call BEATS.
I'll be comparing the Monster Beats headphone with the Sennheiser HD-595, since it's the most expensive headset that I own (till this one), and I'd be shocked to find something that sounds better than the HD-595 (that's around the same price range or less).
I think it's obvious most people will expect the bass to be the #1 priority with this headphone, considering it's by MONSTER + Dr. Dre and called Beats. Well, it definitely doesn't disappoint there. The Monster Beats definitely wins in terms of bass. (Of course, Dr. Dre's genre relies heavily on it). If you listen to lots of rock/rap then you'll love the bass on these. If you get headaches with bass or you just can't stand it, then obviously, these aren't really for you.
The Monster Beats headphones require two AAA batteries to listen. You cannot use the headphones if no batteries are inserted, or if you don't have the switch to ON (located on the right side of the headphone). The batteries go inside the left compartment of the headphone. I've been listening with this headphone for the past two days and the batteries are still going. I'll have to use it longer to fully test the battery life, but hopefully it'll last several months because that would be really annoying if I have to keep replacing batteries. Since the headphone is powered by the battery, the sound is obviously amplified more, as well as the bass, than regular headphones. Whether you're using this on your computer, portable device or iPod, you can have the volume at a low setting and it'll still sound a lot louder than if you were to use a different headset at that volume setting.
For taking the headphones on-the-go and for traveling, the Monster Beats win again in terms of portability. The Monster Beats can be collapsed nicely and comes with a nice protective case to store it in; so you won't be damaging that nice shiny glossy sleek look of the headphone. The Beats definitely has a more youthful look and the shiny piano black finish will definitely catch more attention; however, personally, I think the Sennheiser HD-595 has more of a professional look. The Sennheisher HD-595 has more of a soft earmuffs cushion and the cups are larger, whereas the Beats are leather and smaller. The headphone cable for the Beats is also shorter, so the length is suitable for portable devices; whereas the HD-595, the cord is insanely long and not really made for walking around with it (but you can always replace the cord).
Without taking off your Beats headphone, you can press and hold the center button (The beat logo) on the right side of the headphone and it'll mute the sound until you release it again; this is convenient when someone needs to tell you something for a brief moment or you want to hear what's going outside for just awhile. The Beats headphone are closed headphones, so just by putting the headphone, you'll notice outside noise being reduced.
The vocals treble seem to be slightly higher than normal, but then again, it is also counter-balanced because again, the bass is stronger than what most headphones produce. The Monster Beats is great for hip hop/rap/rock music that use bass, of course, but what about others?
For overall music, despite the impressive bass on the Beats, I am still way more impressed with the sound of the HD-595. Compared to the HD-595, I feel the Beats lack more depth in surround sound. Granted, the Beats headphone are closed headphones, whereas the HD-595 are open for a more natural sound than some confined studio recording feel. When I'm listening to the same music with the HD-595, I feel like I'm actually there listening to a concert/theater and can really hear the separation of instruments/vocals/sound effects/etc.; it really feels like true surround sound. On the other hand, the Beats doesn't quite have that feel. With the Beats, despite some surround sound, I still know I'm listening with headphones. Don't get me wrong, the Beats doesn't have poor surround sound, but once you experience other high-end headphones, you will notice the difference in depth/separate channels.
Pros:
+ Impressive Bass. Best for bass lovers.
+ Amplifies sound for portable mp3 players/iPod
+ Noise cancellation
+ Stylish/glossy finish design (great packaging/presentation)
+ Leather cushion/material feels high quality/comfortable
+ Headphones can collapse when you put it away
+ Nice solid case for storing the headphones
+ Quick mute button on the right side of the headphone (the Beat logo) by holding it.
+ Headphone cord only on the left side. (Also comes with iPhone, Blackberry, etc speaker black cord)
Cons:
- Could use more depth in surround sound. (compared to Sennheiser, there's more surround sound with the HD-595, as you'll be able to distinguish different instruments/beats as separate channels/different directions)
- Requires two AAA and you must turn on the headphone switch ON. Forgetting to turn the switch off can waste the battery. Headphones will NOT run without batteries.
- Too expensive. (like any other Monster Products)
Overall, if you absolutely love bass and listen to mostly hip-hop/rap/rock; noise-canceling; made for traveling; then these headphones are for you. However, if you want overall balanced sound, greater depth/surround sound concert/theater feel, then I highly recommend the Sennheiser HD-595 (not to mention, it's about half the price cheaper now than what I paid for it).
Excellent Product. Not sure it's worth the price. November 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
These headphones sound great and come in an impressive package. They are easily the best sounding headphones I have ever had the opportunity to use.
Sound Quality -- These headphones are loud and have excellent fidelity. However, people around you can easily hear what you are listening too, so they are not particularly great when it comes to having good manners.
Noise Cancellation -- The noise cancellation features certainly work, but I don't know how well they compare to something like the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones. In my test, I used a shop vac. I turned the vacuum on while wearing the headphones while off. Then I flicked the switch to turn the headphones on, which enables the noise cancellation. I could still hear the vacuum, but the edge was taken off. I was satisfied with that level of noise cancellation. The vacuum is certainly louder than that which you would experience on a jet airplane.
Comfort -- the headphones have a comfortable around-the-ear fit and they are easily adjustable for even my large head. There is also a cushion on the top of the head-rest part so it's even comfortable for the top of my head. I could easily wear these headphones for hours and hours with no discomfort.
Features -- The package comes with a stereo cable to use with a music player or any stereo cable-accepting device, as well as a headset cable to use on your phone. On the headset cable is a microphone and a button that allows you to answer phone calls and control an mp3 player. It allows you to turn your headphones into a headset.
Accessories -- Along with the 2 stereo cables comes a zip-case for you to safely store your headphones in. There's also room enough to put the stereo cables into the case.
Power -- The headphones run on 2 AAA batteries, which power the drivers.
Construction -- While they certainly have nice presentation, these are definitely delicate headphones. If not treated right, I could absolutely see them breaking in a few places.
The headphones also come in nice packaging so that if you were presenting these to someone as a gift, they would be very impressed and get the feel that they are opening up a fine piece of technology.
Price -- These are very expensive headphones. But they do offer a unique style, impressive sound and noticeable noise-cancellation among other smaller features. They are priced comparatively to the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones, so it's really a question of which style do you prefer.
In the end, you are paying for a unique style. You can't deny that these are probably the best looking top-of-the-line noise cancellation headphones on the market. And you're going to pay a little bit more for that. But you most likely will be satisfied with the quality -- you'll just wish you paid $50 less.
Absolutely Amazing November 26, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
My husband is going to be writing the following review, as he is more of a music aficionado than I, so I felt he would do them more justice....
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Honestly, I was prepared to hate these headphones. I'm not into rap or R&B, which I thought these would be geared to sound the best with, based on the Dr. Dre origins.
Once I took them out of the box I was immediately struck with their stylish looks. When I turned them on and put them through their paces, I was amazed with the fact that they sounded brilliant right out of the box!
I have gone through many headphones over the years. Almost all of them needed to be burned in for a week or two to attain their full potential. Not these.
I listened to many different genres while putting them through their paces and found that they sounded equally as good no matter the artist. A list of some of the albums I listened to can be found at the end of this review.
They have a warm sound to them, but not overpowering... Soothing in way that makes you want to kick back, relax in your recliner near the fireplace and get lost in the music.
They did Clapton's guitar work on Pros and Cons justice. They delivered the subtleties in female vocals, had the bass when it was called for and nicely detailed highs. These are the first pair of headphones that I enjoyed listening to Thelonious Monk through. Normally I save him for listening through speakers.
These are the headphones that I would recommend to my friends that are not particularly "audio geeks", but rather just want to enjoy the music out of the box and not work at getting the right sound.
They are great for isolating you from hearing anything while you are listening to them, but they do not isolate everyone around you from hearing the sound that bleeds out. This is the only reason I am giving these headphones four stars instead of five.
The Beats are very comfy, I have been wearing them for about two hours now and as I write this review. They are not giving me the dreaded "hot ears" that cans usually give me, especially for an over the ear design.
All in all, I'm extremely impressed. If you are ready to drop $350 for a pair of headphones, these are the ones to buy.
Following are some of the albums I listened to while testing these headphones:
Floating into the Night
Before the Storm
The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking
Push the Heart
Breach
The Moon Seven Times
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Tearwave
Classical Mushroom
The Best of Thomas Dolby: Retrospectacle
Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase
Siddal - Pedestal
Halou - Wholeness & Separation
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Thelonious Monk - The Complete Blue Note Recordings
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