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.
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
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