Beats by Dr. Dre Solo White On-Ear Headphones with ControlTalk (Old Version)

Got these a month ago and last week was putting on my head and heard a snap. It broke right before the screws and from other reviews I've read I'm not the only one. For a $200 pair these are plastic made and the ban that goes on your head are not durable. I'm going through the process right now with Monster. If you are going to get these make sure you get an insurance for them. Best Buy has a good warranty and will exchange them but if you don't you have to go through this long process that I'm going through. Like I said on the header, "Good Sound but Bad Quality."

Product Description

Hear All The Music: In Comfort and Style Headphones that could reproduce the true dynamics of today's music were a rarity until the legendary Beats Studio hit the scene. Now, a new headphone in the Beats tradition, Beats Solo. brings you amazing sound in a smaller, lighter on-ear design. With Beats Solo, you'll hear every sonic detail the musicians and recording engineers laid down in the studio. Deep bass. Hard hitting drums. Bold midrange. And clean, undistorted highs. All in a comfortable fit you can wear for hours. Perfect While on the Move Solos are compact and incredibly lightweight and ready for your active lifestyle, gym work out, or frequent travel. The tri-fold design allows Solos to fit into the included compact carrying case. With Beats Solos getting a great music experience has never been easier. ControlTalk: The Ultimate in iPod Control and Hands-Free Calling. With the built-in ControlTalk remote on the Beats Solo headphone cable, you get on-cable control of your music, as well as easy, high quality hands-free calling. You'll enjoy quick-access music playback control, like volume, play/pause and tracking, without having to dig for your iPod. Plus, the high-grade mic and high-resolution, sound-isolating headphones all combine to let you hear and be heard much more clearly and conveniently than you ever could with the phone to your ear. A Natural Fit With Solos, you feel the music, not the headphones. Plush, on-ear cushions comfort your ears and form an acoustic seal that keeps the sound in and noise out. Remote and mic supported by iPod Nano (4th gen), Classic (120GB), Touch (2nd gen), iPhone 3GS and newer, but not all Blackberry. Remote supported by iPod Shuffle (3rd gen). Requires software v. 1.0.3 for iPod Nano (4th gen), 2.0.1 for Classic (120GB), and 2.2 or later for Touch (2nd gen). Support for Blackberry varies by model. Subject to change.

Features

• High performance on-ear headphones
• Over-ear design keeps the music in and the surrounding noise out
• Featuring Control Talk (on-cable control of music and high quality hands-free calling)
• Wired with tangle free Monster Cable
• Folding design; includes touring case, cleaning cloth

Monster® Inspiration Active Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones -Titanium

As a frequent flyer, I have tried just about every noise canceling headphone on the market. From the Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones to the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B Active Noise-Cancelling Closed-Back Headphones to lesser known sub-$100 models like Creative HN-900 Noise Cancelling Headphones. Monster is new to the noise canceling headphone market, but by pricing themselves at the $300 level, they are staking claim to the market position held so long by Bose. While my reviews generally don't include price, the price is an important piece of the positioning and must be considered in totality with the package.

I hope you find this review helpful even if it is not entirely positive on the headphones. Many personal choices go into such a big purchase, and my hope is to provide some additional data points to help you make your decision. You can jump to the bottom to see my conclusion, or review each category I evaluated. Since most measurements are subjective to comparison, I used the Audio Technica and Bose QC-15 for most comparisons.

Look:

These are certainly the most fashionable and aggressive looking noise canceling headphones I have seen. Both the Bose and Audio-Technica look like nerdy pieces of technology with gray plastic housing and black bands. The Monster Inspiration look downright cool. The rectangular earcups are a glossy black, and they are bracketed by shiny brushed stainless steel with the word "Monster" etched on them. The headband is interchangeable. It literally feels like a leather belt with magnets inside of it that hold it to the top. There is a second headband included, a shiny black leather alligator print band. You can order more styles from Monster's website. Hands-down, no noise-canceling headphone can match the cool factor. These will get noticed by your friends and seat-mates on the airplane.

The headbands are as varied as music lovers themselves. There is the flat black matte that comes with the headphones for the business traveler, a silver-spiked one for more of a "punk" look, different flags for every nationality, and some really cool ones like a pewter with mixed crystals. This is Monster's attempt to take a single design and market it to different listeners. It's a great concept and seems to work quite well.

Comfort:

These are the least comfortable noise-canceling headphones I think I have ever tried. The first problem is the weight. My Creative weigh 6.2 ounces. Better models like the Bose weigh 7.36oz and my favorite Audio-Technica are 7.7oz. Monster weighs in at a whopping 11.5oz, and trust me, on a long flight that weight starts to be felt. Whereas almost the entire noise-cancelling world uses a single AAA battery for power, Monster requires two AAA batteries. What can't Bose do with 1.5V that Monster can do with 3V? I have no idea why they need two batteries.

The ear cups are plush leather and are designed to be "over-the-ear", but I found that the passive noise cancellation from the cups was a major disappointment. In fact, the cushioning actually allowed the hard plastic of the speaker to rest on the outside of my ear and it hurt after while. Your mileage may vary based on head and ear shape, but I could not get these to be comfortable whereas normally I am fine with both on-the-ear and over-the-ear headphones.

Noise Cancellation:

Perhaps the most important metric is ability to cancel noise and I was not impressed at all. In fact, I had to check twice to make sure they were really turned on because the effect seemed minimal if there at all. To be sure, I handed the headphones along with the Audio-Technica to both my wife and my 8 year old daughter. Neither is really into this like me so they had no biases and didn't know what I was showing them. Both agreed the Audio-Technica made everything far quieter.

Also, the Monster seemed to have a dull low-frequency oscillation that bounces back and forth between the ears. It doesn't go away and gets rather annoying after awhile. Older listeners may not hear it, but my ears definitely picked it up.

Sound:

One of my complaints about the Bose is that they are too bass-heavy. I love the balanced sound of the Audio-Technica, and I recently evaluated a wonderful pair of Monster Diamond Edge that had a great balanced feel as well. The Monster Inspiration is really bass heavy and on some songs was just uncomfortable. The sound is good, and certainly better than my sub-$100 headphones, but not as good as my Audio-Technica or as the Bose. The bass and treble tend to pop with the middle sounding a bit muddy and distant. Classical instrumental didn't sound very good, nor did most pop-songs. The bass really thumped for hard rock, but was a bit high for my own tastes. This is subjective based on the listener, but it was too bass heavy for me.

Utility:

There are 3 cords included. One is a full ControlTalk cord with 3 buttons (up, down, center) for use with devices that support it. You can use it to control your phone, switch between music and a phone call, adjust the volume, etc. As is to be expected, you can take a call using the ControlTalk as a microphone. Another is a simpler cord with just 1 button for phones that don't support the full ControlTalk. The third cord is a normal phono cord that does not have a microphone on it. There are complete printed instructions as to how to use ControlTalk with the headphones.

Notably absent from the package is a 1/4" adapter (present on most other high-end headphones), or a dual-mono to stereo adapter, still present on some older airplanes.

Case:

The headphones fold inwards and fit into a case that is shipped like a half-moon with a zipper along the curved edge that closes it. There is a pocket inside to hold the cords. The case has a handle on the flat side and a small aluminum carabiner. Personally, I prefer the way the Bose and Audio-Technica headphones pivot to fold flat - it's a lot easier to put in a briefcase or carry on. The Monster Inspiration case is not as wide but is thicker due to the way the headphones fold. It is 3" thick compared to the Audio-Technica which are 1.75" thick. There's also no space for anything else like an iPod in the case. It offers minimal protection.

Packaging:

As is to be expected, the packaging is well executed. The cardboard box closes with magnets, and folds out to reveal the headphones inside with the instructions in a special cardboard slot in the case.

Conclusion:

I honestly cannot recommend these headphones if noise isolation or comfort are your top concerns (or if you don't like bass heavy headphones). I rate them 3 stars because they are aesthetically pleasing and feel far more solidly built than the Bose (which to me feel surprisingly cheap for $300). However, the Monster Inspiration weighs more than any other headphone I have evaluated, is less comfortable on my head, doesn't cancel noise as well as competitors, doesn't have a balanced sound, and costs as much as the Bose.

Aesthetically they look great, and for some fashion conscious buyers, they may be worth the money for the look. The interchangeable headband concept is well executed and will likely be very popular. If the look is important for you, you will likely be able to live with the limitations above or they may not bother you at all. The truth is that if I had never tried another noise cancelling headphone, I would be impressed with both the noise cancellation and the sound quality. I am spoiled by the existing market players, however, and know that Monster has not reached the level of what is available today from Audio-Technica and Bose. Hence, I rate the headphones 3 stars because while they are not for me, the sharp look and quality feel will make some buyers very happy.

Product Description

Music, meet Fashion.Inspiration by Monster - Noise-canceling headphones with interchangeable headbands.Personalize your look through interchangeable headbands Active noise cancelling so you hear only the music Super-comfortable ear cushions for long trips Includes a ControlTalk cable for controlling music and phone calls from iPad , iPhone and iPod Includes bonus matching color Raptor headbandExpress the Way You Feel with Interchangeable HeadbandsCasual. Dressy. Stylish. Retro. All of these looks and more are available to personalize your Inspiration headphones. Easily switch out your headband to create a whole new look. Whatever your mood, Inspiration is there with a look to match. From patent leather to denim blue, you''ll never run short of Inspiration. (Designer headbands sold separately)Impressive Sound with Astonishing Noise CancelingThe latest in Monster technology brings you a headphone with exceptional noise-cancelling performance. Create your own perfect environment and enjoy your music anytime, anywhere. Just listen.Enhance Your Style with a Sleek, Modern, Over-Ear DesignFeaturing a brushed titanium finish with super-comfortable earcups to give you a look and feel that you can wear all day.ControlTalk Universal with Built-In MicNo need to go hunting for your phone. Track play/pause or take and make calls all from convenient in-line controls. Fully compatible with SkypeTM. "Made for iPod", "Made for iPhone" and "Made for iPad" mean that an electronic accessor

Features

• Exceptional music reproduction
• Personalize your look through interchangeable headbands
• Noise cancelling so you hear only the music
• Super-comfortable ear cushions for long trips
• ControlTalk with mic for calls through your headphones

Features

SOUL by Ludacris SL300GG High Definition Noise Canceling Headphones (Gold)

It is rather ironic that I am able to review the SOUL High Definition Noise Canceling Headphones by Ludacris at this time. The reason being is that I recently purchased another very high quality noise canceling headset, the Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones NEWEST MODEL a couple of weeks ago and have been using that every day. As a result, I've now had a chance to compare two different headphones, side-by-side. Overall, I have found the Ludacris to be well made and it looks rather cool, it's larger than the Bose but it's also very comfortable to wear. The ear cups fit comfortably over my ears and feel good.

As expected, it's necessary to first install two AAA batteries prior to use. The battery compartment is located in the right ear cup (the left and right sides are clearly marked on the inside of the headset). In order to install the batteries, I had to read the instructions; otherwise, it would difficult to determine where they go as well as how to open the well-hidden compartment. Even then, it took a little bit of effort to get the compartment open. After installing the batteries, it's important to also set a switch inside the compartment to adjust for the sound levels of your output device. The default is set to "hi" and the manufacturer suggests that if you use very high output devices, you should set it to "lo" in order to "lower the overall output of [the] headphones". As I never play anything with very high output, I left it at the default setting. Replace the battery cover when finished and the SOUL is ready to go.

In order to operate, there's a switch located on the left ear cup that needs to be turned on - it doesn't slide as easily as one might expect and this is disappointing. Once the headphones are turned on, a blue LED indicates it's ready for use. There is also a second button located on the inside of the headphone - the instructions indicated that this is the "headphone badge light button" - at first, I couldn't figure out what it does but after taking the headphones into a darker location, I noticed that the Soul Logo on each side of each of the ear cups lights up. I'm sure that the only reason for this is to make the headphones "look cool" during use. There is no indication as to how much this may tax battery life so I really don't use this "feature".

While the headphones can be used alone for noise cancelling without listening to music, two "flat tangle free cables" are provided, along with a couple of adapters that may be used to connect to different devices, including use on an airplane. As a stand-alone noise cancelling headphone, the SOUL does a fairly good job. I can still hear a slight sound - similar to the "ocean" sound one might hear when placing a placing an ear to a seashell or the sound of air moving through the trees in a forest. Although it's very quiet, when compared to my Bose, it's certainly evident.

I generally listen to music on my iPod so that's what I'll use to discuss my experience. Let me state upfront that I'm a classically trained musician so I usually listen to classical music. As these are new headphones, I tried to listen to really high quality recordings to write this review. One of those is a recording of the Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3; Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter" played by Itzhak Perlman. I'm afraid I was disappointed - the recording sounds rather muffled through the SOUL, it's almost as if the headphones are cutting out a lot of the higher overtones which takes away the brilliance in the music. Just to compare, I listened to exactly the same pieces with my Bose and the difference is very significant- the Bose simply sounds much better. I also tried different EQ settings on my iPod (just to make sure) and every time the Bose sounds better. Listening to different music also produces the same results.

Overall, this is a good headphone but as it is the same price as the Bose, I would consider that first. Had I not been able to compare the two side-by-side, my response might not have been as critical but there really is a significant difference between the two.

Update: After I wrote this review, I had a couple of interesting questions and I wanted to respond to them in the review itself. The first question concerned whether or not these headphones were "properly burned-in". "Burning-in" is a process that appears to be nothing more than an urban myth and there is no research, none at all, on whether or not it makes a difference. It includes playing music or many other sounds (white noise, pink noise, "frequency sweeps", etc.) for an extended period of time in order to "break-in" the headphone by "loosening the diaphragm of a newly crafted headphone". Again, this is an urban myth and there has been no research to substantiate its effectiveness. Just the same, to appease those who suggest that this is important, I have "burned-in" the Soul headphones by playing many types of sounds (especially those that are freely available on the Internet that have been created specifically for this purpose) for many days. As I noted that the sound quality of my new Bose headphones are superior to the Soul (and I've only had those for a few weeks), I did not "burn-in" those - just to see if the Soul could "catch up" in sound quality. Considering this information, the Bose remains superior, in fact vastly superior, to the sound quality of the Soul. I've spent a considerable amount of time going back and forth between the two headsets and, in my opinion, the Bose is far better. Specifically, the Soul lacks clarity and is "muddy" when compared to the Bose. I've listened to many pieces of music - again, I'm a classically trained musician and have played professionally for many years. The Bose allows each nuance to be heard while the Soul covers up many of the subtleties in the music. I'm not saying that because I have any reason to like one over the other - in fact, I wished that the Soul was better as I received a review set and I paid full price for the Bose. If the Soul was better, I wouldn't think twice about returning the Bose. Unfortunately, I can't do that because the Bose is superior - and I'm now convinced of that.

Another question concerned how the Soul compares to the Bose when noise canceling is shut off. Shutting off the Soul decreases the volume and the overall sound quality is less. The Bose must be used with noise canceling on - it's not possible to listen to music if it's not. This brings up another issue - batteries. The Soul requires two and the Bose only needs one. I've really grown to dislike the battery compartment on the Soul as it is frustratingly difficult to get off - I think this is a significant design flaw - especially for a $300 headphone. It is much easier to replace the single battery in the Bose.

Overall, the Soul remains a good, comfortable headphone but when compared side-by-side with the Bose QuietComfort, the Bose is superior. I wish that weren't true as I could have saved $300.

Product Description

Prepare for a high definition, fully isolated listening experience any time, any place with the SL300. These powered performance headphones are engineered to deliver such a high quality of pristine, balanced sound that they are appropriate for use by music professionals and they're also a stylish option for the tasteful traveler looking for superior noise cancelling technology. Whether you're a producer, a DJ or a music aficionado, the SOUL by Ludacris experience delivers sound that moves your soul.

Features

• Advanced Driver and Circuitry Design for Superb Bass, Clear Mids and Highs, Creates High-Precision Audio Balance
• iPhone Ready: Compatible with iPhone 4G and 3GS, iPad and iPod
• World Class Active Noise Cancelling Technology, eliminates unwanted sounds and noises
• Superior, Over-ear Design with Full Ear Cup Articulation Ensures the Best and Most Comfortable Fit Every Time
• Protective Road Case for Convenience and Storage

SYNC by 50 Cent Wireless Over-Ear Headphones - Black by SMS Audio

There is a lot to love about the SMS Audio SMS SYNC by 50 Wireless Headphones. You can see a few of the features in the video portion of the review, but here is the executive summary to the review. Please note - that I tried and owned dozens of headphones and earbuds - including the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre (which I returned). So hopefully I can bring some perspective to the comparison.

Sound Quality - Very impressive sound certainly comparable to the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre. - They may not have quite the booming bass as the Beats Studio, but they have smoother response across the entire audible range. I noticed a difference classical music they had a very nice response and were not overly bright. I am not disappointed.

Noise Isolation - These headphones do not offer noise canceling technology, but they do offer very effective noise isolation. Even when the music is comfortable levels you will struggle to hear the people around talking. I was very impressed by the amount of ambient sound that I couldn't hear.

Comfort - Easily the most comfortable headphone or earbuds that I have ever used. The cuffs fit the ears snuggly but feel like giant puffs of cotton strapped to your ears. The band does not pinch your head - no points to poke your head or hard plastic to rub against your head. In terms of comfort these are the top-of-the-line.

Durability and Fit- Very solid construction no sign of flimsiness (If that is a word). In my opinion the feel much more solid that the Beats Studio - I am very impressed.

Wireless Functionality - Probably the main reason why you will spend the extra case to buy the SMS Sync by 50. The wireless functionality works well, but I was not able to get 50 feet - probably closer to 30 feet before I started getting some drops in the music. At first I thought it had something to do with my house, but then I went outside and found similar results. While 30 feet will work great on an airplane or in an office - it may limit you if you are working outside or wandering between rooms.

My main beef with the wireless functionality is that the tack forward and reverse does not work wirelessly. I understand why, since the wireless dongle plugs into the headphone jack so it can not control the ipod/ipad/iphone/device that it is connected to. This is a clear difference between using the Kleer technology and Bluetooth.

Other Points of Interest -

- One thing to recognize is that these headphones are enormous - they do not fold (which probably adds to their comfort)

- There is a blue light on the sides that blink. While it is kinda cool - your fellow passengers on an airplane may become annoyed. Fortunately, you can disable the blue light.

- Up to 4 headphones can be connected to a single Dongle. This is a bit cooler than it sounds. This is great for gaming, movies, or other group listening activities.

- Comes with a headphone wire that allows you to run them without the need of a charge on the battery. The headphone jack also has an integrated microphone and volume control.

- Battery life is 17 hours which is crazy long.... this means that your battery life will last long enough for both ends of a trans-Atlantic flight.

Final verdict - If the price was 50 percent less these would be an easy 5 star recommendation, but at the current price point it is hard to look past the flaws with the wireless connection.

4 Stars

Product Description

Bring your music anywhere, but ditch the wires with SYNC by 50 Over-Ear Wireless Headphones. Integrated Kleer technology provides 16-bit lossless digital sound and up to a 50' range. SYNC by 50 wireless headphones also provide a unique feature of providing the ability to sync up to 4 headphones to a single audio source. The lithium ion battery provides up to 15 hours of listening time on a full charge and at average volume. Additional features include: professionally tuned digital EQ, full on-board controls with bass boost, volume control, and mute, custom 40mm driver, soft memory foam ear cushions, and passive noise cancellation. SYNC by 50 is currently available in 2 colors: shadow black and ghost white. Each SYNC by 50 includes: wired mic cable (provides the ability to turn the wireless product into a wired product), 3.5mm wireless transmitter, hard-shell carry case, Micro USB charging cable, USB/AC adapter, Airline plug adapter, soft touch cleaning cloth, owners manual, and product brochure. SMS Audio was developed by international recording artist, actor, and philanthropist Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as the next step in the evolution of personal audio technology. More than simply headphones, SMS Audio allows you to experience the power of music on your own terms. Smart, stylish and comfortable, these devices provide you with an escape into the lush world of professionally-tuned, acoustically perfect music...anywhere, anytime, and any way you want to hear it. Beware of counterfeits, only purchase SMS Audio products from Authorized Resellers. Only quality products from Authorized SMS Audio Retailers carry the full SMS Audio warranty.

Features

• Wireless
• Professionally tuned Digital EQ
• 16-bit lossless Digital Sound
• 50' Range
• Sync up to 4 users from one music source

Kicker iK501 Digital Stereo System for iPhone and iPod (Black)

A friend of mine bought one of the high dollar BOSE iPod systems which I found very impressive, and which my wife became enamored with. I, however, was not inclined to spend $500+ on a boombox, refined or not.

The Kicker iK501 is actually a bit bigger than the BOSE, and sounds quite good. On the down side, it doesn't sound quite as refined as the BOSE, and if you want to use it outside, you don't have the rechargeable battery thing that the BOSE includes. The iKicker only works plugged in to the wall using its' "brick" in-line power supply. You don't get battery operation - or battery woes - with the iKicker. Both Bose and the Kicker sound very clear and have the "good-car-stereo-sound-in-a-box" thing down pat.

The iKicker has deeper and louder bass than the Bose. I haven't measured it, but my ear is pretty good from listening to high end stereos over the years, and I suspect that the Bose system is probably better EQed for smooth, flat frequency response and there is clearly some level dependent EQ going on that I suspect is tweaked to match the human ear at various volume levels. After all, that's how Bose made their bread-and-butter with the 901s 40 years ago: Dr. Bose's little speakers sounded fantastic with the equalizer before the power amp in the circuit turned on, and lame as all get out without the electronic equalization.

The Bose has no tone controls at all: the iKicker has Treble and Bass that you can adjust to taste and volume level to get a ***VERY*** good sound, which is fairly comparable to the Bose. Listening to acoustic music through either system is great. The iKicker sounds clear and not overly colored by the speakers, although I do think the Bose is a tad more "neutral" sounding, which may or may not be good depending on your taste. For Rock and Roll, I think the sound of the iKicker is actually a bit better than the Bose, and although I'm not into it, I'm sure the hip-hop crowd would think the Bose is lame by comparison for that genre. The iKicker has a passive radiator on the back driven by the woofers to augment the bass, and you can hear and feel it working. The midrange is clear and well-defined. Crisp highs make the high hat sound like it's in the room. And did I mention the iKicker can get LOUDER than the Bose? It can probably keep up with most house party crowds; I doubt the Bose could cut it.

I use a 4th generation iPod Nano with it, and the remote control works the Nano as best I can tell, although I haven't really spent the time to figure out the iPod OS in great detail. But it does all the basics if you are too lazy to get up off the couch. It has a blue display to help you make adjustments to volume, tone, balance... the usual suspects.

But the *really* big plus over the Bose is the PRICE, WAY less than half of the cheaper Bose, and less than a third of the good one. I think I got it for around $165, IIRC, which I thought was within reason for a **very** nice boombox that can keep up with the "big stereo" in most of my friends' living rooms. Of course you have to add the cost of the iPod to that, but you end up with a great-sounding jukebox you can move around without much hassle that will play *all* your music without the hassle of changing CDs, and with NO fragile, dangley cord attachments. The only dangley part of the iKicker is the power supply brick, which is pretty substantial and looks sturdy. No puny connectors or chords. The iPod plugs right in in the front just like the Bose system. Construction looks solid.

I don't think anyone could be all that unhappy with either system. But for my money - and I LIKE good sound systems - the iKicker makes more sense.

Product Description

This isn t a docking station, it s a rocking station KICKER has brought the bass to your ride for more than 30 years, and now it flows inside to the dorm or the den. KICKER s newest 2-way system leaves the road behind ad provides that acclaimed car stereo sound in any portable setting of choice.

Features

• Supports most iPhone and iPod models with Universal Dock Connector
• Six-inch square reflex subwoofer, 5-inch woofers, and 3/4-inch tweeters for full-range sound with dynamic bass response
• Auxiliary input for external devices; RCA audio and composite video outputs for connecting to stereos/TVs/etc.
• Credit-card size remote allows easy control of the system and complete navigation through your iPod's menu
• Convenient carry handle maximizes portability

Features

Beats Studio Over-Ear Headphone (Red)

I'll start out by saying I collect mid-priced headphones(between $50 - $300). It may be an odd hobby, but it gives me a certain perspective that others may not have. I'm also an engineering major, and I found the general lack of objective, in-depth headphone reviews on Amazon to be disconcerting. So, here I am, taking a shot at reviewing some of the headphones I either own or have spent a lot of time listening to.

I've devised a simple six-song test and rating system, where 0 - 2 is abysmal, 2.1 - 4 is poor, 4.1 - 6 is mediocre, 6.1 - 8 is above average, and 8.1 - 10 is excellent.

The songs are very diverse; I was trying to represent a wide range of genres. They are "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac(encoded in 256 kbps Ogg Vorbis), "Every Planet We've Reached is Dead" by Gorillaz(256 kbps .ogg), "Concerto Grosso #26 in D major" by Handel(256 kbps .ogg), "I Know You Are, But What Am I?" by Mogwai(500 kbps .ogg), "Afro Blue" by Triplexity(192 kbps .ogg), and "The Patient" by Tool(500 kbps .ogg).

I listened to everything on an iAudio 7 with the equalizer set to flat and all the sound effects turned off.

Sound Quality(6.8/10)

The Chain(6/10) - bass is nice and deep, slightly exaggerated, but still pleasant to listen to. Distortion is present, but very minimal. Mid tones and highs are somewhat underrepresented and bland, but otherwise sound decent. Instrument separation is a bit muddy. The main negative here is the sound stage, which is tiny.

Every Planet(8/10) - lows and highs both sound very smooth and rich in this song. Mid tones, as before, are underrepresented and bland. Instrument separation is good, but the sound stage is very underwhelming.

Concerto(6/10) - the bass in this song is deep and vibrant. Lows are nicely responsive. Mids and highs don't have quite the balanced presence they should have. Instrument separation is fairly muddy. Once again, the sound stage is lacking.

I Know You Are(7/10) - bass, as expected, is nice and vivid. Distortion was too high near the beginning of the song, but gradually leveled off. Highs were nice and crisp, but mid tones were lacking. Instrument separation, as was the case with most other songs, is a bit muddy, and the sound stage, while not as bad in this song, is still mediocre.

Afro Blue(8/10) - the lows in this song were pleasantly punchy, and the highs were fairly crisp and smooth. Mid tones were muddy, however, as was the overall instrument separation(no surprises here). The sound stage is similar to what it was in "I Know You Are, But What Am I?"; it is more present than in most songs, but doesn't have the fullness I would expect of circumaural headphones at this price.

The Patient(6/10) - right off the bat, the bass guitar in this song sounds great. Treble is decent, but underrepresented, as are the mid tones. The primary complaint I had in this song was actually not the sound stage(which isn't emphasized anyway), but the instrument separation, which I felt was greatly lacking in precision.

Overall Sound(6.8/10) - the bass from these cans is overall clean and pleasant. Somewhat exaggerated, but not greatly so. Distortion, while present at times, is also in small amounts. These aren't the subs-attached-to-your-head that some might expect before having listened to them. Treble sounds above average, but slightly underrepresented. The mid tones even more so - to the extent that they come across as bland. Instrument separation is also a bit muddy(although not too terrible). Another reviewer commented that these headphones were designed to sound slightly muddy, but I find this hard to believe, since the advertisement on Amazon claims "precise audio clarity". But as I've mentioned time and again, the biggest drawback to these cans is the sound stage, which just wasn't there. Overall, though, I would give these headphones an above average score in terms of sound quality.

Design(9/10)
These are a closed-air, cirumaural design, and a very attractive one at that. I like the styling very much. Lines on these phones are aggressive, but clean and elegant at the same time. They are also very comfortable. They're lightweight and have plenty of padding. My only complaint here is the headband, which I felt was too rigid, and didn't conform to my head as much as I'd have liked. I also like how mobile these are - they fold up, and come with a nice case to carry them around in. Great for traveling.

They are also built pretty well. I would rather see more aluminum at this price, but the plastic they're composed of is nice and solid. They seem durable, and I doubt they would fall apart anytime soon.

Noise Isolation(7/10)
Noise isolation in these Monsters is accomplished via the closed circumaural design, which features plenty of thick padding, and active destruction of outside sound waves entering the headphone. I am a fan of the former; the latter, not so much. In my experience, active noise cancellation interferes with sound quality, not only because of the waves that must be emitted to interfere with incoming ambient noise, but also because an external headphone amplifier can't really be used with noise-canceling headphones due to their built-in amplifier, which is typically not of premium quality. It's difficult to judge on a case-by-case basis, because the built-in amp can't be removed, but going by the sound produced by the Monster Beats, I don't think they're an exception to this rule.

All of that aside, the Monsters were definitely designed to be noise-canceling, so I won't dock points for that. What I will take off points for is relative effectiveness, which I didn't feel was where it should be, all things considered. They do block quite a lot of noise, but plenty of noise still bleeds through. I've heard noise-canceling headphones that are considerably more effective. Then again, I've also heard much worse, and these, in my opinion, are above average.

Bottom Line(6/10)
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre are a good, above-average sounding and noise-isolating pair of headphones that feature a comfortable, highly stylish, and mobile design. This doesn't come close to justifying their high price, however. Sound quality should be significantly higher in this price range. But as always, different people perceive sound quality in different ways, and I highly encourage you to listen for yourself to a wide range of headphones before spending money. Those interested in good, deep bass at or under the price of the Monsters should also listen to various Beyerdynamic headphones, and the ATH-D40fs model by Audio Technica.

Product Description

Beats Studio headphones deliver professional-grade sound for professionals and audiophiles alike. They re tuned for all genres of music and made for relentless, heavy-duty use. The Beats Studio headphone is the iconic flagship product for Beats by Dr. Dre. The active noise cancellation feature gives Studio headphones a unique level of power and performance. Now available in eight colorways.

Features

• Original Beats Studio, battery-powered over-ear headphones developed by Dr. Dre
• Headphones amplify music while blocking out noise
• Plush and breathable ear cups keep you cool and comfortable
• Flawless, iconic fit with a convenient foldable design
• Remote control operation from the cord; mute button on ear cups

Beats Studio Over-Ear Headphone (White)

I'll start out by saying I collect mid-priced headphones(between $50 - $300). It may be an odd hobby, but it gives me a certain perspective that others may not have. I'm also an engineering major, and I found the general lack of objective, in-depth headphone reviews on Amazon to be disconcerting. So, here I am, taking a shot at reviewing some of the headphones I either own or have spent a lot of time listening to.

I've devised a simple six-song test and rating system, where 0 - 2 is abysmal, 2.1 - 4 is poor, 4.1 - 6 is mediocre, 6.1 - 8 is above average, and 8.1 - 10 is excellent.

The songs are very diverse; I was trying to represent a wide range of genres. They are "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac(encoded in 256 kbps Ogg Vorbis), "Every Planet We've Reached is Dead" by Gorillaz(256 kbps .ogg), "Concerto Grosso #26 in D major" by Handel(256 kbps .ogg), "I Know You Are, But What Am I?" by Mogwai(500 kbps .ogg), "Afro Blue" by Triplexity(192 kbps .ogg), and "The Patient" by Tool(500 kbps .ogg).

I listened to everything on an iAudio 7 with the equalizer set to flat and all the sound effects turned off.

Sound Quality(6.8/10)

The Chain(6/10) - bass is nice and deep, slightly exaggerated, but still pleasant to listen to. Distortion is present, but very minimal. Mid tones and highs are somewhat underrepresented and bland, but otherwise sound decent. Instrument separation is a bit muddy. The main negative here is the sound stage, which is tiny.

Every Planet(8/10) - lows and highs both sound very smooth and rich in this song. Mid tones, as before, are underrepresented and bland. Instrument separation is good, but the sound stage is very underwhelming.

Concerto(6/10) - the bass in this song is deep and vibrant. Lows are nicely responsive. Mids and highs don't have quite the balanced presence they should have. Instrument separation is fairly muddy. Once again, the sound stage is lacking.

I Know You Are(7/10) - bass, as expected, is nice and vivid. Distortion was too high near the beginning of the song, but gradually leveled off. Highs were nice and crisp, but mid tones were lacking. Instrument separation, as was the case with most other songs, is a bit muddy, and the sound stage, while not as bad in this song, is still mediocre.

Afro Blue(8/10) - the lows in this song were pleasantly punchy, and the highs were fairly crisp and smooth. Mid tones were muddy, however, as was the overall instrument separation(no surprises here). The sound stage is similar to what it was in "I Know You Are, But What Am I?"; it is more present than in most songs, but doesn't have the fullness I would expect of circumaural headphones at this price.

The Patient(6/10) - right off the bat, the bass guitar in this song sounds great. Treble is decent, but underrepresented, as are the mid tones. The primary complaint I had in this song was actually not the sound stage(which isn't emphasized anyway), but the instrument separation, which I felt was greatly lacking in precision.

Overall Sound(6.8/10) - the bass from these cans is overall clean and pleasant. Somewhat exaggerated, but not greatly so. Distortion, while present at times, is also in small amounts. These aren't the subs-attached-to-your-head that some might expect before having listened to them. Treble sounds above average, but slightly underrepresented. The mid tones even more so - to the extent that they come across as bland. Instrument separation is also a bit muddy(although not too terrible). Another reviewer commented that these headphones were designed to sound slightly muddy, but I find this hard to believe, since the advertisement on Amazon claims "precise audio clarity". But as I've mentioned time and again, the biggest drawback to these cans is the sound stage, which just wasn't there. Overall, though, I would give these headphones an above average score in terms of sound quality.

Design(9/10)
These are a closed-air, cirumaural design, and a very attractive one at that. I like the styling very much. Lines on these phones are aggressive, but clean and elegant at the same time. They are also very comfortable. They're lightweight and have plenty of padding. My only complaint here is the headband, which I felt was too rigid, and didn't conform to my head as much as I'd have liked. I also like how mobile these are - they fold up, and come with a nice case to carry them around in. Great for traveling.

They are also built pretty well. I would rather see more aluminum at this price, but the plastic they're composed of is nice and solid. They seem durable, and I doubt they would fall apart anytime soon.

Noise Isolation(7/10)
Noise isolation in these Monsters is accomplished via the closed circumaural design, which features plenty of thick padding, and active destruction of outside sound waves entering the headphone. I am a fan of the former; the latter, not so much. In my experience, active noise cancellation interferes with sound quality, not only because of the waves that must be emitted to interfere with incoming ambient noise, but also because an external headphone amplifier can't really be used with noise-canceling headphones due to their built-in amplifier, which is typically not of premium quality. It's difficult to judge on a case-by-case basis, because the built-in amp can't be removed, but going by the sound produced by the Monster Beats, I don't think they're an exception to this rule.

All of that aside, the Monsters were definitely designed to be noise-canceling, so I won't dock points for that. What I will take off points for is relative effectiveness, which I didn't feel was where it should be, all things considered. They do block quite a lot of noise, but plenty of noise still bleeds through. I've heard noise-canceling headphones that are considerably more effective. Then again, I've also heard much worse, and these, in my opinion, are above average.

Bottom Line(6/10)
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre are a good, above-average sounding and noise-isolating pair of headphones that feature a comfortable, highly stylish, and mobile design. This doesn't come close to justifying their high price, however. Sound quality should be significantly higher in this price range. But as always, different people perceive sound quality in different ways, and I highly encourage you to listen for yourself to a wide range of headphones before spending money. Those interested in good, deep bass at or under the price of the Monsters should also listen to various Beyerdynamic headphones, and the ATH-D40fs model by Audio Technica.

Product Description

Beats Studio headphones deliver professional-grade sound for professionals and audiophiles alike. They re tuned for all genres of music and made for relentless, heavy-duty use. The Beats Studio headphone is the iconic flagship product for Beats by Dr. Dre. The active noise cancellation feature gives Studio headphones a unique level of power and performance. Now available in eight colorways.

Features

• Original Beats Studio, battery-powered over-ear headphones developed by Dr. Dre
• Headphones amplify music while blocking out noise
• Plush and breathable ear cups keep you cool and comfortable
• Flawless, iconic fit with a convenient foldable design
• Remote control operation from the cord; mute button on ear cups

Bluedio Model R - BE FLY REVOLUTION Wireless & Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones (White)

I've been going through bluetooth headphones trying to find that "right" pair for me. I started with the Kinovo behind the ears, OUCH!! Waaaaay too small for my head. Then the HDE SX-907's, that were decent for $25, but still didn't fit over my ears, didn't have any top padding, and were just OK for the sound (they're still my backups now). After that, was time to try to upgrade a bit, and bought the Miikey Rythmm's. These are a very good set of headphones, but once again, just not a pair meant for my larger head. Sold those to my 18 yr old son (yeah, gave him a discount to take them off my hands, lol, but it gave me a little to put back into another pair). Research, research, research...then ran across these. Unfortunately, these were not added till AFTER my initial purchases or I might have considered them earlier. I'm NOT an audiophile, but going through this process, HAS helped me appreciated the better sounding headphones, as I've checked several out at the local electronics stores, plus the several pairs I've been through. I wanted Bluetooth only, as this is to help me watch tv late at night, or movies on my laptop or television. On to the review itself:

Pros:

1. Foldable- this is something I've actually come to look for in a pair, as I will be carrying them with me on business trips in my laptop backpack. And even though it doesn't discuss it in the description, there IS a carrying bag that comes with the headphones, which is a plus.
2. Comfort- these actually FIT my big head. Would still work well for people with a smaller head, but it's NICE to have something very comfortable on my head for a change, not pinning my ears to my glasses. They fit OVER my ears, are large enough for my head, and have very comfortable ear cushions and padding inside the top of the set. The cups actually do pivot some, allowing for comfortable movement, also.
3. Sound- now I revert back to the fact that I'm NOT an audiophile, in fact I am a little bit hard of hearing. These sound GREAT to me. I'm actually hearing sounds I didn't hear in ANY of the other units, plus some very deep base when appropriate. Watched Avengers with them on, and Step Up, to see the difference in the sounds.
4. Connecting- connected to my laptop and cell phone just fine, w/o any problems (no manual, but just held the center button down till it started blinking and connected).
5. Quality construction- these seem to be very sturdy and made with some quality materials. I've had several that were very cheap and cheaply made (HDE SX-907's), so I can tell the difference, but these were very well done. They are not small by any means.
6. Micro-SD card slot- I haven't used this yet, so I won't speak to the positives, but it never hurts to have another way to use your headphones. I work in the service industry, around a lot of equipment, and will begin to use these in the field when I go back to work next week, and will probably use that then. I don't have an mp-3 player that is bluetooth, other than my phone, so this will be a great feature to have. I use my phone for work, and don't want to fill it up with useless apps or a lot of music, when I can save the space for those things that I truly need on there.
7. Micro usb charging- this speaks for itself if you've been looking at several of these units, and many charge on 1.5mm or 2.5mm usb cables. This will make it easy, if I'm out in the field to use my phone charger to charge these back up.
8. Holds a charge- These will hold a charge for quite awhile. I've been using them most of the day (they came with a charge already on them), and I've been using them for over 5 or 6 hours already w/o any problems.
9. 3.5mm cable- Does have a 3.5 mm cable so that you can connect to your non-bluetooth devices. This won't affect me very much, except for maybe family roadtrips and such (letting my daughter use the with her Kindle would be a prime example).

Cons (not many that I see so far)-

1. Charger- does NOT come with one, but does come with a micro-usb to usb cable. So it can be used w/ existing chargers that have a usb connection, or to the laptop directly (which I've done and hooked up to make sure it was charging).
2. No user/ instruction manual- Not thrilled about this, but I will make do, as I've done before in purchasing stuff w/o one. Functions of the buttons seem fairly straight forward and easy to decipher, but would still be nice to have one. I'll contact Bludio next week and attempt to @ least have one emailed to me, if I can't find one over the internet.

Now, I've had these for a day, and absolutely love them, but will use them for several weeks and update on my findings, whether they be good or bad. I purchased these through Prime @ a $109.95 price tag, and I definitely feel it was worth the price, after all of the other units I've gone through. I was nervous purchasing these w/o ANY reviews up, so I wanted to make sure to put this up on day one, just in case someone was having the same doubts I was. What made my mind up was the fact that it was prime (meaning it was being fulfilled by Amazon which would have made a return process easier), and I saw a couple of reviews on youtube that were VERY positive). I personally would put these up there over Beats and a few others, as I wasn't going to pay $200 to $400 for a pair of headphones. I purchased them @ 9pm at night on Tuesday night, and Liberty had them out of their warehouse by 10am on Wednesday, and arrived on time today.

I've included everything I could think of in this review, so that you could see the trials I've gone through trying to find just that right pair of headphones for me. I apologize if it was long winded, but I just wanted to convey how thoroughly thrilled I was with the set and why. The only reasons for 4 stars instead of 5, are the cons above, and I haven't actually been through the ringer with it yet. It may get upgraded, but doubtful, since those 2 things would be the improvements that I would recommend to the manufacturer at this point.

Edit 1/30/13:
First off, I found the instructions (not much, but they were there). They had fallen out when I opened up the box. The charger is just fine. It works with the usb chargers I have for the phone, @ the house and in the car. Plus will charge from the laptop, so no issues. Upped this to 5 stars. After using it for a week or so now, I REALLY like this set of headphones. Having them over the ear has been so much more comfortable, AND drowns out alot of outside noise. It can get very loud in my work, and these are wonderful to drown out all of that background noise. I can leave my cell phone across the room and on the charger while I have these on up on a ladder. It's also helped me from missing any calls now. Since I'm self employed, every one of those calls can make a difference. I see the price has gone up another $20, but knowing what I do about this set, I'd still say it was worth it. If you can find them cheaper elsewhere, and from a trusted source, I would say to snatch them up.

Edit 2/15/13:
The bluetooth issue with my TV has been fixed, and now my headphones work just fine with my Vizio M3D550SR. Was nice to watch a 3D movie after the wife had gone to bed, with GREAT sound, and not worry about waking anyone up. Still think these headphones rock!!

Product Description

POWERFUL SOUND AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE!!Supports Line-In: 3.5mm jack included, just plug in 3.5mm audio cable, can be connect with mobile or computer, listening to music.Extremely Portable Flexible Headband: With a foldable headband, you can fold it into a smaller size, more convenient for carrying.Ultra-Strong: Up to 20 hours talk time and up to 325 hours ultra long strong standby time.After a simple pairing, use the Bluedio R Wireless Bluetooth Headphones to:Listen to your favorite music COMPLETELY WIRELESS!Answer your Cell Phone through the wireless headphones!Drown out loud and annoying background noises with its reliable noise-cancelling technology!Transfer movies, music data or other files USB Files with the built-in Micro SD Card Slot!Operating Distance | 30-65 feetSensitivity | 110dBFrequency Range | 15-22 kHzFrequency Response | 20-22 kHz Music Play Time | Up to 20 hoursCharging Time | 3-4.5 hoursWeight | 10 ozWarranty | 1 year limited manufacturer warranty

Features

• Bluetooth Technology with Easy Paring (no pin code needed) | Supports MP3 Players & USB File Transfers | Noise Cancelling Technology
• Charged by Micro-USB | Bluetooth Frequency: 2.402-2.48GHz | Sensitivity: 120dB
• Supports Micro-SD Card Music Playing: You can play music of MP3 and WMA format through Micro-SD card (up to 64GB)
• Trendy & Elegant Design: Elegant piano coating and mirror design over Bluedio R headset, leading headset design of 2013
• 1 year limited manufacturer warranty

Klipsch Mode M40 Mode Headphones - Copper/Black

This is my first "real" headphones review, so please try to bear with me. All updates made are located at the bottom, so if all you care about in this review is how it will perform in X amount of months, please scroll to the bottom, as updates are all situated at the bottom of this review.

DESIGN

These headphones are gorgeous! When I opened them for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised with how they looked. They are of a coppery color with a slight red hue. They look astounding! They are very Sturdy, and could probably withstand some damage before breaking, though I wouldn't dare think of risking it with these headphones.
These headphones also have the ability to fold up. Which makes them a lot more portable than many other full sized headphones.

My rating
5/5 Style (They are classy, not eye popping)
5/5 Strength (While I haven't dropped these yet, I'm not too worried about doing so.)
5/5 Foldability (While these can't fit into your pocket, the ability to reduce their size can be very handy.)

COMFORT

One of the things I noticed with these headphones when I opened them were, "Wow, these are kind of heavy!" Yes, you will most likely notice this as well, because they are heavier than most would think if this is one's first "nice" headset.
When you put it on, you will also notice how wonderful the ear pads (Which are memory foam) are. They fit nicely over the ear, and produce a nice passive noise canceling from the sound outside. These headphones do this without performing a death grip on the head, but bear in mind that the headphones that do this, tend to have a stronger passive noise canceling. Also, prolonged listening will cause one's ears to become warm, which also may deter some. Also, after allowing a few friends to borrow this for a few hours on long car trips to places, I've heard a fair share of complaints, mostly due to ear fatigue (pain to the wearers ears, not by sound, but headphone shape over prolonged time). I've heard a good share of this from other reviews as well. These are headphones I'd strongly recommend trying before buying, and bear in mind how long you will be wearing these headphones at a time.

Weight 3/5 (These are quite heavy, and may turn off some.)
Passive Noise Cancelling 4/5 (I like it, but I feel it could be better.)
Ear Pads 4/5 (These are the comfiest headphones I have ever worn, but they do heat up after a good amount of listening, approximately 3+ hours) *Ear fatigue varies between people. It is comfy for me, but it might not for you. You should try it if you can. Check a local Brookstone perhaps. That's where I tried mine first.*

SOUND

The most important part of a headphone. These headphones do sound on the weaker side when opening. Keep in mind thought that for optimal sound quality, a "break in" of a headphones require 40 hours of listening at 25% - 50% louder than normal. Burn in varies on every headset, and burn ins can take over 100 hours, and some even believe that a headphone is "burning in" for the whole use of the headphone (i.e. they never have a specific peak performance level)! I haven't had these for a particularly long time, but I have been breaking mine in, and they have been steadily improving sound. I can't wait till they reach their peak!
These headphones also come with a active noise cancelling system, that require a AAA battery. Active noise cancellation is a complicated process that would take another review to summarize. So in short, it will selectively block noise, particularly at lower frequencies. This explains why the bass seems louder when the active noise cancelling in on. This feature isn't only for those who wants more bass, but it also breathes new life into the headphones creating a more 3-D soundstage.

Sound Quality 4/5 (I have heard a pair broken in at a store, and they sound great!)
Active Noise Cancelling 5/5 (This feature is very handy, and one will be sad when their battery dies, and they have to listen to their music without this feature)

OPTIMAL MUSIC TYPE FOR THESE HEADPHONES
These headphones edge a tad bit more on the "warm" side, having best sound reproduction in the midrange to midbass range. This makes, in my opinion, the optimal music for these headphones to be Rock, Alternative Rock, Jazz, Classical Music, and other related genres. However, the best way to figure this out yourself to try them out yourself if you can at all.

THE EXTRAS

These headphones also come with some bells and whistles. They come with a 2 Cases, a mesh case (klipsch logo all over), and a leather case. The leather case is wonderfully beautiful and the mesh case is Average. It comes with a two types of connecting cords (to your music player) that are 3.5 mm. One is a plain cord that is very sturdy, while the other had a 3 button control with a mic. The mic is very clear and won't disappoint. Also it comes with an airport adapter (which I haven't used) and a 3.5 mm to 1/4 in adapter (mostly used with receivers or amps). These are very handy, but I haven't been able to see a use for all of these on a daily basis.

Case (mesh) 4/5 (Average, but does the job)
Case (leather) 5/5 (beautiful, and very sturdy)
Wire (plain) 4/5 (Great and sturdy, but I can't find a reason to rate it 5/5)
Wire (with button control) 5/5 (Great, sturdy, handy, and clear (sound)! What more do you need?!)
3.5 mm to 1/4 in adapter 3/5 (Plain, but sturdy)
Airport adapter ?/5 (Haven't used it)

OVERALL

Design 5/5
This is a beautiful set of headphones, that the owner will fall in love with, without being, as I said, an "eye popper". Their compact nature also is a plus.

Build and Comfort 4/5
They are comfortable, but the weight and tendency to "warm the ears" may deter some. The ear pads are very comfortable and will attract many, but ear fatigue will deter others.

Sound 4/5
Pleases the listener, but it won't cause someone to cry from the music's beauty. Give the headphones some time as well, they need to break in.

The Extras 5/5
May just be too much (which isn't bad). The extras are of high quality as well.

Overall 4.5/5
Great headphones, but little quirks may bother some. Certain people will mind, while others won't notice. It is all personal preference.

These headphones are great, but to enjoy headphones of this caliber, a portable amp such as FiiO E11 Portable Headphone Amplifier - E11 may be a good idea for on the go, due to the increased sound range and larger soundstage this will bring. This is up to personal preference though, and headphones sounds great by themselves as well.

In the end, this is a love headphone or "just another headphone". It is just up to personal preference.

***UPDATE 1/15/12***

I have been using these headphones for almost a month now, and boy has the audio quality improved! In fact, reflecting on what I had heard from the headphones when I first got them, I have to admit, I wasn't so impressed. Now, I have no buyers remorse (i.e. bought something, then after having it, wished they didn't get it). When you get the headphones, yes, they do sound very weak and restrained. This, according to what I've heard, is perfectly normal! So don't get rid of the headphones, the audio quality will dramatically improve!

MOVIES
I have recently tried using these babies on my computer and watched a movie. The movie was INCEPTION. If you are familiar with this movie, you know that there are a lot of video/ audio effects. Well after using these headphones, I couldn't believe what I was missing! In fact, during many scenes that involved explosions, with ANC (active noise canceling) I felt the headphones vibrate! It was like being in the theatre, minus the hundred people. In fact, I watched the movie in stereo surround sound, and was blown away, then I found out after the movie, that I didn't even use full surround sound! I can't wait to try that out!

In short, not only do these headphones shine in music quality, but in movie quality as well!

Movies 5/5

The Headphones
Though I love these headphones, after using these for a while (3+ Hours) , I really noticed that these will really heat up! Though I do have to admit that I hate taking these off for 10 minutes for them to cool off after 3 hours. This will definitely annoy people. Trying to look on the brighter side, since these headphones do heat up, they make for really good headphones to wear in cold weather, as they keep the ears comfortably warm while you listen to music (or maybe you want to use them just to use as earmuffs, I have done that as well and it does work!)

That being said, since there are pro's and con's to these headphones, I will leave my rating the same.

***Update (Again) 1/27/12***

Active Noise Canceling

Honestly, Everyone thinks that this feature does absolutely nothing. I stated that it does block out lower frequencies, but honestly, I have to admit, it awfully felt like a "volume booster" like everyone stated. Another thing that I have noticed is that the soundstage is larger, and people will point that out (the main improvement is a punchier bass. Finally, a few days ago, I was riding in a bus, and I was wearing these headphones. I got on the bus, put these headphones on, turned on the active noise canceling, then turned on the music. I paused, and promptly shut off the music, then the active canceling. I heard the muffled rumbling of the bus (passive noise canceling) and felt it (you know, before it gets going) with ANC (active noise canceling) off. Read more :

Product Description

From its sleek design to luxurious materials, the Klipsch Mode M40 headphones reinforce all that Klipsch stands for. As our first-ever active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphone model, this headphone presents 45 hours of noise-cancelling capability and remains a high-performance stereo headphone when without battery power. Materials similar to those used in high-end Italian sunglasses contribute to the Mode s fashion-forward essence while providing unmatched durability. The Klipsch Mode M40 headphone features an Apple-based mic and three-button remote system for taking calls and controlling music on iPods, iPhones or iPads.

Features

• 40mm woofer provides deep bass and dynamic midrange with active crossover
• 15mm tweeter brings crisp, clean highs
• 45 hours of noise-cancelling capability on a single battery
• 2 detachable, Hi-Fi inspired cables fit any device with a 3.5 mm headphone jack

Beats by Dr. Dre Pill Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (White)

The Beats Pill is a pretty awesome little speaker.

It has a lot of the same functions as other speakers in it's category (Jambox, Solemate, etc), but it has a number of things that set it apart from the others.

First is NFC - I you aren't familiar, NFC allows you to simply tap your phone on the speaker and it will automatically pair it via bluetooth. No messing with bluetooth menu settings... It's great! However, you need an NFC capable phone to make this happen. Most newer android phones have it, but if you're an iPhone user, this feature won't help you.

Pass-through Audio - This has both in AND OUT jacks. So, even if you don't pair via NFC/Bluetooth, you can still hook up your computer or other audio sources via cable. MOREOVER, you can use the audio out to make ANY device a bluetooth and/or NFC capable sound device. You could leave it plugged in to your home stereo system and stream music from your phone, if you wanted. HUGE feature (actually why I got this over others).

Speaker phone capability - Some competitors have this, some don't. But, what they all don't have is the easy functionality of the pill. If you're listening to music and get a call, it gives you the option to answer it with your pill. You just tap the 'b' button on the front the answer. If you get another call while already in a call, you can tap and hold to ignore, or tap quickly to switch to the new call. You can switch back and forth between the calls with another button tap, and you can hang up with a sustained press (versus a tap). If you want to switch back to your phone at any time, you just double tap the button. Everything is handled with the same button. It's super simple and feels very natural. The calls themselves are very clear, and I didn't have any trouble with audio on either end.

Style - If beats is known for anything, it's style. The pill, in comparison to its competition, is miles ahead. It fits comfortably in your hand, looks seamless, and feels very solid. There's nothing about this speaker that gives the feel of low quality.

Sound - This little sucker is actually pretty good! I honestly wasn't expecting much from it. A lot of other Bluetooth speakers are using passive radiators to help boost the range of the speakers, but this one isn't... but it still holds it's own! It provides more than enough volume to sit in a moderately busy area and fill it with sound.

Battery life - You can probably expect to see 5 or 6 hours out of it. Most tech blog reviews are saying 7... so I guess I play my music louder than most. Either way, this is a pretty decent time, considering how compact this speaker is. There are other speakers that have better battery life, but they are much larger.

Overall, this is a great little portable speaker. The size is awesome, the sound is good, and the style is classy. The only thing I feel like compares to it currently is the Nokia Play 360, which is much bigger/bulkier, and is still missing some feature that the Pill has.

If I had to complain about anything, it'd be that the sounds it makes when you turn it on and off a little obnoxious. That's it though.

At a $200+tax price tag (picked mine up at BestBuy), I think this is a good value, considering what you're getting. When it comes to bluetooth portable speakers, this one's a winner.

Product Description

Built not only to act as a powerful, compact speaker but also as a portable system that lets you take calls and listen to music with the freedom of wireless.

Features

• Tap-to-pair with NFC technology for easy and instant Bluetooth 2.1 audio and supports SBC, aptX, AAC Codecs for high quality streaming
• Provides clear, full-range sound delivered in a portable, lightweight package
• Internal microphone for Bluetooth call functionality
• Use the Aux input for other MP3 players, phones, PCs, or anything with an analog output for optimal sound from all devices
• Use the line out feature for easy connection to an external speaker system

Bluedio Model R - BE FLY REVOLUTION Wireless & Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones (Red)

I've been going through bluetooth headphones trying to find that "right" pair for me. I started with the Kinovo behind the ears, OUCH!! Waaaaay too small for my head. Then the HDE SX-907's, that were decent for $25, but still didn't fit over my ears, didn't have any top padding, and were just OK for the sound (they're still my backups now). After that, was time to try to upgrade a bit, and bought the Miikey Rythmm's. These are a very good set of headphones, but once again, just not a pair meant for my larger head. Sold those to my 18 yr old son (yeah, gave him a discount to take them off my hands, lol, but it gave me a little to put back into another pair). Research, research, research...then ran across these. Unfortunately, these were not added till AFTER my initial purchases or I might have considered them earlier. I'm NOT an audiophile, but going through this process, HAS helped me appreciated the better sounding headphones, as I've checked several out at the local electronics stores, plus the several pairs I've been through. I wanted Bluetooth only, as this is to help me watch tv late at night, or movies on my laptop or television. On to the review itself:

Pros:

1. Foldable- this is something I've actually come to look for in a pair, as I will be carrying them with me on business trips in my laptop backpack. And even though it doesn't discuss it in the description, there IS a carrying bag that comes with the headphones, which is a plus.
2. Comfort- these actually FIT my big head. Would still work well for people with a smaller head, but it's NICE to have something very comfortable on my head for a change, not pinning my ears to my glasses. They fit OVER my ears, are large enough for my head, and have very comfortable ear cushions and padding inside the top of the set. The cups actually do pivot some, allowing for comfortable movement, also.
3. Sound- now I revert back to the fact that I'm NOT an audiophile, in fact I am a little bit hard of hearing. These sound GREAT to me. I'm actually hearing sounds I didn't hear in ANY of the other units, plus some very deep base when appropriate. Watched Avengers with them on, and Step Up, to see the difference in the sounds.
4. Connecting- connected to my laptop and cell phone just fine, w/o any problems (no manual, but just held the center button down till it started blinking and connected).
5. Quality construction- these seem to be very sturdy and made with some quality materials. I've had several that were very cheap and cheaply made (HDE SX-907's), so I can tell the difference, but these were very well done. They are not small by any means.
6. Micro-SD card slot- I haven't used this yet, so I won't speak to the positives, but it never hurts to have another way to use your headphones. I work in the service industry, around a lot of equipment, and will begin to use these in the field when I go back to work next week, and will probably use that then. I don't have an mp-3 player that is bluetooth, other than my phone, so this will be a great feature to have. I use my phone for work, and don't want to fill it up with useless apps or a lot of music, when I can save the space for those things that I truly need on there.
7. Micro usb charging- this speaks for itself if you've been looking at several of these units, and many charge on 1.5mm or 2.5mm usb cables. This will make it easy, if I'm out in the field to use my phone charger to charge these back up.
8. Holds a charge- These will hold a charge for quite awhile. I've been using them most of the day (they came with a charge already on them), and I've been using them for over 5 or 6 hours already w/o any problems.
9. 3.5mm cable- Does have a 3.5 mm cable so that you can connect to your non-bluetooth devices. This won't affect me very much, except for maybe family roadtrips and such (letting my daughter use the with her Kindle would be a prime example).

Cons (not many that I see so far)-

1. Charger- does NOT come with one, but does come with a micro-usb to usb cable. So it can be used w/ existing chargers that have a usb connection, or to the laptop directly (which I've done and hooked up to make sure it was charging).
2. No user/ instruction manual- Not thrilled about this, but I will make do, as I've done before in purchasing stuff w/o one. Functions of the buttons seem fairly straight forward and easy to decipher, but would still be nice to have one. I'll contact Bludio next week and attempt to @ least have one emailed to me, if I can't find one over the internet.

Now, I've had these for a day, and absolutely love them, but will use them for several weeks and update on my findings, whether they be good or bad. I purchased these through Prime @ a $109.95 price tag, and I definitely feel it was worth the price, after all of the other units I've gone through. I was nervous purchasing these w/o ANY reviews up, so I wanted to make sure to put this up on day one, just in case someone was having the same doubts I was. What made my mind up was the fact that it was prime (meaning it was being fulfilled by Amazon which would have made a return process easier), and I saw a couple of reviews on youtube that were VERY positive). I personally would put these up there over Beats and a few others, as I wasn't going to pay $200 to $400 for a pair of headphones. I purchased them @ 9pm at night on Tuesday night, and Liberty had them out of their warehouse by 10am on Wednesday, and arrived on time today.

I've included everything I could think of in this review, so that you could see the trials I've gone through trying to find just that right pair of headphones for me. I apologize if it was long winded, but I just wanted to convey how thoroughly thrilled I was with the set and why. The only reasons for 4 stars instead of 5, are the cons above, and I haven't actually been through the ringer with it yet. It may get upgraded, but doubtful, since those 2 things would be the improvements that I would recommend to the manufacturer at this point.

Edit 1/30/13:
First off, I found the instructions (not much, but they were there). They had fallen out when I opened up the box. The charger is just fine. It works with the usb chargers I have for the phone, @ the house and in the car. Plus will charge from the laptop, so no issues. Upped this to 5 stars. After using it for a week or so now, I REALLY like this set of headphones. Having them over the ear has been so much more comfortable, AND drowns out alot of outside noise. It can get very loud in my work, and these are wonderful to drown out all of that background noise. I can leave my cell phone across the room and on the charger while I have these on up on a ladder. It's also helped me from missing any calls now. Since I'm self employed, every one of those calls can make a difference. I see the price has gone up another $20, but knowing what I do about this set, I'd still say it was worth it. If you can find them cheaper elsewhere, and from a trusted source, I would say to snatch them up.

Edit 2/15/13:
The bluetooth issue with my TV has been fixed, and now my headphones work just fine with my Vizio M3D550SR. Was nice to watch a 3D movie after the wife had gone to bed, with GREAT sound, and not worry about waking anyone up. Still think these headphones rock!!

Product Description

POWERFUL SOUND AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE!!Supports Line-In: 3.5mm jack included, just plug in 3.5mm audio cable, can be connect with mobile or computer, listening to music.Extremely Portable Flexible Headband: With a foldable headband, you can fold it into a smaller size, more convenient for carrying.Ultra-Strong: Up to 20 hours talk time and up to 325 hours ultra long strong standby time.After a simple pairing, use the Bluedio R Wireless Bluetooth Headphones to:Listen to your favorite music COMPLETELY WIRELESS!Answer your Cell Phone through the wireless headphones!Drown out loud and annoying background noises with its reliable noise-cancelling technology!Transfer movies, music data or other files USB Files with the built-in Micro SD Card Slot!Operating Distance | 30-65 feetSensitivity | 110dBFrequency Range | 15-22 kHzFrequency Response | 20-22 kHz Music Play Time | Up to 20 hoursCharging Time | 3-4.5 hoursWeight | 10 ozWarranty | 1 year limited manufacturer warranty

Features

• In Stock. Ships from USA. 1 year limited manufacturer warranty.
• Bluetooth Technology with Easy Paring (no pin code needed) | Supports MP3 Players & USB File Transfers | Noise Cancelling Technology
• Charged by Micro-USB | Bluetooth Frequency: 2.402-2.48GHz | Sensitivity: 120dB
• Supports Micro-SD Card Music Playing: You can play music of MP3 and WMA format through Micro-SD card (up to 64GB)

Beats Solo HD RED Edition On-Ear Headphones

Just for the record, I'm not your typical jaded 'beats hater', largely (well probably solely) because I didn't plunk down my own hard-earned cash on these expecting to be blown away. I simply had a bunch of Macy's store credit and gift cards with no better place to go than on some new cans. I figured they would be disappointing but passable and that's exactly what they are. Do they sound like junk? Not to me. I'm not an audiophiles, but I know sound reproduction, and to my ear, these sound like about your average $60 pair of lower-end Sonys or mid-level Skullcandys..not bad, but certainly not good either. The bass response is, sonically speaking, the best part of these phones. It's detailed and full without being overpowering, however it is a bit 'boomy' meaning you get the distorted pop on vocals beginning with the letters p and b, especially at higher volumes...and being that these puppies aren't very sensitive, you will find yourself listening to your music up pretty high. Aside from the bass, the rest of the sonic spectrum is very unspectacular on the Solos. I wouldn't exactly call it muddy, it's more just that the mids aren't detailed or crisp enough and there is not nearly enough musical separation.

Look, let's just call it what it is, the Beats Concept is not based on great sound, it's based on making a fashion statement. The packaging is slick, they look fantastic, and they let everyone know you have $200-$400 to throw down on a pair of headphones. Sound-wise, they simply sound nowhere remotely close to what you would and should expect from a $200 set of phones. To be fair, I would probably give them 3 stars were they not so comically overpriced, as the build quality seems acceptable, the bass response downright enjoyable, and to be frank-the look is just downright smokin'. However I have to knock off a star for the simple fact that you could buy TWO pairs of Grados or Sennheisers for the price of the Solos that sound far better and might even leave you with a couple bucks left over to buy yourself a Caramel Machiato or two at Starbucks.

Product Description

Beats Solo HD headphones are made for music lovers looking for high definition headphones that look as good as they sound. Beats Solo HD headphones combine advanced driver technology and premium design for headphones that deliver legendary Beats by Dr. Dre sound and are lightweight and durable.

Features

• Clearer sound. Deeper bass. Beats Solo HD headphones are the only Beats by Dr. Dre that come with not one, but two speakers inside each can. That means you get crystal clear highs and deep, rumbling lows in high definition.
• Every pair is now constructed of super-durable, flexible material, reinforced with a metal strip to make sure it never comes apart.
• Built-in mic for calls. Switch easily between songs and incoming calls. No need to take off your headphones or talk into the phone like a walkie-talkie.
• Remote control. Take calls, skip songs and adjust volume right from the cord of your Beats Solo HD headphones. No more searching for your phone or music player just to find the right song.

Beats Studio Over-Ear Headphone (Orange)

I'll start out by saying I collect mid-priced headphones(between $50 - $300). It may be an odd hobby, but it gives me a certain perspective that others may not have. I'm also an engineering major, and I found the general lack of objective, in-depth headphone reviews on Amazon to be disconcerting. So, here I am, taking a shot at reviewing some of the headphones I either own or have spent a lot of time listening to.

I've devised a simple six-song test and rating system, where 0 - 2 is abysmal, 2.1 - 4 is poor, 4.1 - 6 is mediocre, 6.1 - 8 is above average, and 8.1 - 10 is excellent.

The songs are very diverse; I was trying to represent a wide range of genres. They are "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac(encoded in 256 kbps Ogg Vorbis), "Every Planet We've Reached is Dead" by Gorillaz(256 kbps .ogg), "Concerto Grosso #26 in D major" by Handel(256 kbps .ogg), "I Know You Are, But What Am I?" by Mogwai(500 kbps .ogg), "Afro Blue" by Triplexity(192 kbps .ogg), and "The Patient" by Tool(500 kbps .ogg).

I listened to everything on an iAudio 7 with the equalizer set to flat and all the sound effects turned off.

Sound Quality(6.8/10)

The Chain(6/10) - bass is nice and deep, slightly exaggerated, but still pleasant to listen to. Distortion is present, but very minimal. Mid tones and highs are somewhat underrepresented and bland, but otherwise sound decent. Instrument separation is a bit muddy. The main negative here is the sound stage, which is tiny.

Every Planet(8/10) - lows and highs both sound very smooth and rich in this song. Mid tones, as before, are underrepresented and bland. Instrument separation is good, but the sound stage is very underwhelming.

Concerto(6/10) - the bass in this song is deep and vibrant. Lows are nicely responsive. Mids and highs don't have quite the balanced presence they should have. Instrument separation is fairly muddy. Once again, the sound stage is lacking.

I Know You Are(7/10) - bass, as expected, is nice and vivid. Distortion was too high near the beginning of the song, but gradually leveled off. Highs were nice and crisp, but mid tones were lacking. Instrument separation, as was the case with most other songs, is a bit muddy, and the sound stage, while not as bad in this song, is still mediocre.

Afro Blue(8/10) - the lows in this song were pleasantly punchy, and the highs were fairly crisp and smooth. Mid tones were muddy, however, as was the overall instrument separation(no surprises here). The sound stage is similar to what it was in "I Know You Are, But What Am I?"; it is more present than in most songs, but doesn't have the fullness I would expect of circumaural headphones at this price.

The Patient(6/10) - right off the bat, the bass guitar in this song sounds great. Treble is decent, but underrepresented, as are the mid tones. The primary complaint I had in this song was actually not the sound stage(which isn't emphasized anyway), but the instrument separation, which I felt was greatly lacking in precision.

Overall Sound(6.8/10) - the bass from these cans is overall clean and pleasant. Somewhat exaggerated, but not greatly so. Distortion, while present at times, is also in small amounts. These aren't the subs-attached-to-your-head that some might expect before having listened to them. Treble sounds above average, but slightly underrepresented. The mid tones even more so - to the extent that they come across as bland. Instrument separation is also a bit muddy(although not too terrible). Another reviewer commented that these headphones were designed to sound slightly muddy, but I find this hard to believe, since the advertisement on Amazon claims "precise audio clarity". But as I've mentioned time and again, the biggest drawback to these cans is the sound stage, which just wasn't there. Overall, though, I would give these headphones an above average score in terms of sound quality.

Design(9/10)
These are a closed-air, cirumaural design, and a very attractive one at that. I like the styling very much. Lines on these phones are aggressive, but clean and elegant at the same time. They are also very comfortable. They're lightweight and have plenty of padding. My only complaint here is the headband, which I felt was too rigid, and didn't conform to my head as much as I'd have liked. I also like how mobile these are - they fold up, and come with a nice case to carry them around in. Great for traveling.

They are also built pretty well. I would rather see more aluminum at this price, but the plastic they're composed of is nice and solid. They seem durable, and I doubt they would fall apart anytime soon.

Noise Isolation(7/10)
Noise isolation in these Monsters is accomplished via the closed circumaural design, which features plenty of thick padding, and active destruction of outside sound waves entering the headphone. I am a fan of the former; the latter, not so much. In my experience, active noise cancellation interferes with sound quality, not only because of the waves that must be emitted to interfere with incoming ambient noise, but also because an external headphone amplifier can't really be used with noise-canceling headphones due to their built-in amplifier, which is typically not of premium quality. It's difficult to judge on a case-by-case basis, because the built-in amp can't be removed, but going by the sound produced by the Monster Beats, I don't think they're an exception to this rule.

All of that aside, the Monsters were definitely designed to be noise-canceling, so I won't dock points for that. What I will take off points for is relative effectiveness, which I didn't feel was where it should be, all things considered. They do block quite a lot of noise, but plenty of noise still bleeds through. I've heard noise-canceling headphones that are considerably more effective. Then again, I've also heard much worse, and these, in my opinion, are above average.

Bottom Line(6/10)
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre are a good, above-average sounding and noise-isolating pair of headphones that feature a comfortable, highly stylish, and mobile design. This doesn't come close to justifying their high price, however. Sound quality should be significantly higher in this price range. But as always, different people perceive sound quality in different ways, and I highly encourage you to listen for yourself to a wide range of headphones before spending money. Those interested in good, deep bass at or under the price of the Monsters should also listen to various Beyerdynamic headphones, and the ATH-D40fs model by Audio Technica.

Product Description

M6 Sport earphone: Unique at this price point, the M6 is a winner in sound, comfort, and style. Over the ear sport fit with memory wire for a comfortable, locked in fit; Amazing bass with great detail and treble extension; Great for exercise/sports, sleeping, or wearing under a helmet; Frustration-free designer cable that has low microphonics and is tangle resistant; In-ear design provides passive noise cancellation; Includes 6 sets of ear tips and a zipper carrying case; Clear housing that gives a stage monitor look. After 25 Years, Dr. Dre was tired of spending months on a track only to have his fans hear it on weak, distorting ear buds. Two years and hundreds of prototypes later, Beats Studio headphones are the icons that bring you sound the way it was originally intended. Powerful soundNoise cancellationEar cups for sound isolation " audio adapter Beats Studio headphones deliver professional-grade sound for professionals and audiophiles alike. They're tuned for all genres of music and made for relentless, heavy-duty use. The Beats Studio headphone is the iconic flagship product for Beats by Dr. Dre. The active noise cancellation feature gives Studio headphones a unique level of power and performance. Now available in eight colorways. Keeps background noise way back.Powered by a pair of AAA batteries, the noise cancellation feature in a pair of Beats Studio headphones reduces distraction ambient sound, making sure nothing co

Features

• Powerful enough to block out a jet engine. Powered by a pair of AAA batteries, the noise cancellation feature in a pair of Beats Studio headphones amplifies the music as it blocks out noise, giving you consistently powerful and intense sound.
• The Beats by Dr. Dre logo on the side also acts as a mute button when you press it
• A flawless and iconic fit.

Features

STREET by 50 Cent Wired Over-Ear Headphones - Blue by SMS Audio

It's all but impossible, I think, not to draw direct comparisons to Beats Studio by Dr. Dre. The STREET by 50 both benefit and suffer as the result of such a comparison.

Audio Quality (Advantage STREET): Where STREET may lack some of the skull-shaking mid-bass as the Beats, many will see this as an ultimate positive insofar as the trade-off is better reproductive accuracy and clarity. While few will be left wanting in terms of bass, STREET certainly delivers on this front, it seems clear that SMS Audio and 50 were acutely aware of one of the biggest knocks on the 'granddaddy' of this music mogul-inspired/endorsed headphones arena, and sought to directly address it.

Noise Cancellation (Advantage Beats): STREET suffers here in contrast. Beats enjoy battery (AAA) driven active noise cancellation that is immediately apparent and very effective from the moment you turn it on. STREETs passive cancellation just don't hold a candle to it, and the end result is that you're a little less immersed when listening in an otherwise hostile (audio-wise) setting.

Build Quality/Comfort (Advantage Beats): I find this area to be a bit of a wash, though I'll give a slight edge to the Beats for two reasons. (1) The Beats have metal slides that result in much more smooth and precise movement as one opens and/or closes (expands and/or contracts) the size of the headset. (2) The Beats fold into a smaller profile for carrying or storage, STREET does not. They are both comfortable on the ear and around the head, both aesthetically pleasing in their own right.

Packaging/Extras (Advantage Beats): While this is the most minor of minor considerations, some engineer at Monster clearly put serious time and effort into making the packaging on the Beats both luxurious *and* functional in terms of ease of access and use. Everything fit together perfectly, opened easily, and the whole thing just smacked of quality. As my video might suggest (where I fast forward through wrestling the package open even after cutting through the taped points), that's just not the case with the STREET. While the core blue box itself is nice enough, there's just no real comparison. But then, we're talking about packaging that you're going to open and then probably discard, so there's that. There are two points here actually worth making though. The Beats come with a semi-rigid but still small-profile case -- one that serves to both protect and neatly store, and this is (I think) a superior option to the bag that comes with the STREET. Additionally, Beats come with two cables, one with a mic and one without -- STREET simply comes with the one (shown in the video) that has a mic. May not matter to some, may to others.

One might scan through all of this and come to the conclusion that I think the Beats are superior -- the truth is I just think they're different. Even as I give the advantage in more categories to the Beats, I indicated that STREET has the edge in audio quality even when the fare needs that extra mid-bass response because of the improved overall accuracy in audio reproduction. As audio quality is going to take center stage over the likes of packaging, and situationally over noise cancellation -- I really do see STREET coming out on top.

At the end of the day, these are (as the Beats are) a great set of headphones that are really going to impress those in the market for a set of urban-style, durable, high quality, dual-function (listen to music, send and receive calls) phones. True audiophiles need not apply, there are other options out there that will probably be a better fit your needs/bang for your buck (see: Sennheiser, Phiaton, Audio Technica, Grado, Shure, etc.) and so I'm not focusing this review on how they might respond to these (I'm guilty of being a bit of an audiophile myself, but I approach and value headphones like this on their niche (as I see it) purpose).

Great phones, only knocking a star off because the active noise cancellation of the Beats better fits my own preferences. Despite that, I find superior audio reproduction here so at home, these will likely be my go-to headphones. Would absolutely recommend these to others (with the limitations above), particularly those who wanted bass-focused dual-purpose phones but were put off by the 'muddiness' of the Beats.

Product Description

Take it to the street. Bring your music with you in luxurious style with STREET by 50 Over-Ear Headphones. Detachable mic cord for tangle free streetwear and transport, plus enhanced bass and ultra plush memory foam earpads ensure a comfortable ride no matter where your music takes you. The STREET by 50 wired headphones feature professionally tuned 40mm driver, professional studio quality sound, high-end styling, enhanced bass, soft memory foam cushions, and passive noise cancellation. The STREET by 50 headphones are currently available in 2 colors: shadow black and phantom blue. Each STREET by 50 over-ear headphone includes: removable cable with mic, carry case (soft), airplane plug adaptor, soft touch cleaning cloth, owners manual, and product brochure. SMS Audio was developed by international recording artist, actor, and philanthropist Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as the next step in the evolution of personal audio technology. More than simply headphones, SMS Audio allows you to experience the power of music on your own terms. Smart, stylish and comfortable, these devices provide you with an escape into the lush world of professionally-tuned, acoustically perfect music...anywhere, anytime, and any way you want to hear it. Beware of counterfeits, only purchase SMS Audio products from Authorized Resellers. Only quality products from Authorized SMS Audio Retailers carry the full SMS Audio warranty.

Features

• Professional Studio Sound
• Professionally tuned 40mm driver
• In-line Mic
• Enhanced bass
• Passive Noise Cancellation