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Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones Review - Value & Comparisons |
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Published on August 02, 2008 Comment on this |
 Value (2.50) Like all noise-cancelling headphones, the Beats are overpriced. Add to this the double branding of Monster and Dr. Dre, and you just knew the Beats would cost more than they probably should. In this case, you're paying for aesthetic appeal and a detailed sound. These aren't headphones for music purists, who don't want their headphones fooling around with the playback, but purists generally know they won't get the quality they want from noise-cancelling headphones. The Beats seem especially overpriced when you consider how poor their active cancellation actually is. This being said, they are priced around what other noise-cancelling headphones are priced at. We do think that the Bose Headphones give you more for the price of purchase than the Beats do, but they also don't look as cool. While we certainly wouldn't recommend the Beats to a budget buyer or audiophile, if you're a mainstream listener looking for something flashy within the $300-400 range, we'd recommend at least giving the Beats a listen, if only to give yourself a better idea of what to look for in terms of sound and comfort. Overall, however, if you're looking for portability, in-home use,isolation, or audio quality, there are better headphones available for cheaper.   Creative Aurvana X-Fi - The X-Fi headphones are far more versatile than the Beats. They come with an extension cord to facilitate both portability and in-home use, have better isolation, and can opt to play back music without noise cancellation or batteries. The X-Fis also have the distinct advantage of costing $50 less and offering fun audio filters as well. The Beats do look a lot cooler, however, and have a much more solid frequency response. We tend to think the X-Fis are a better deal.  Sony MDR-NC500D - This match-up is the closest one for the Beats. The NC300D headphones also have poor overall audio quality, although they isolate and prevent leakage better than the Beats. They are about as comfortable and have similar durability issues. Like the Beats, they're battery dependent. They also let users select their own noise-cancellation curve, although this is more of a novelty than added functionality. The Beats, on the other hand, look better and are cheaper overall. We tend to think the Beats are a better deal, because they provide about the same quality (but better looks) for less money. Score one for the West Coast.  Bose QuietComfort 3 - The Bose QuietComfort 3 bests the Beats in terms of audio quality, but not by much. They have a far worse frequency response, but far less distortion. They also isolate better and leak slightly less. Since the QC3s are also the same price as the Beats, this one is a toss-up. We'd highly recommend listening to both before making your choice; this one really comes down to personal preference.  Sennheiser HD 555 - In your home, the HD 555s beat the Beats hands down. They have a longer cord, far better audio quality, and cost a lot less. In terms of portability, the Beats have the upper hand. The lack of isolation and leakage mean the outside world will often drown out your music. Also, the cord is a lot to lug around in your pocket. The Beats also have the option of connecting to your home theater setup assuming you can provide a long enough cable. Depending on how you plan on using your headphones, either pair could win this match-up.  Etymotic Research 6isolator - The 6isolators trounce the Beats soundly in terms of audio quality, sound isolation, and portability. They're also a lot cheaper. Though the Beats do have their merits, the 6isolator really do everything the Beats can do, but better. The only thing the Beats can offer that the 6isolators can't is a more open-sounding soundstage and music playback without having to stick something in your ear. For commuters, airplane travelers, or anyone else looking for good quality and portability, the 6isolators are a better choice. |
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