Monster Beats By Dre Solo HD Headphone Review

Review: Monster's Beats Solo HD Keeps the Music Pumpin'

by Heather Dale 5/24/10 15 Reactions 14 Shares Print

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Monster Beats by Dre headphones back in 2008 and was excited when Monster recently sent me a pair of Beats Solo HD ($230) over-ear headphones to check out. Truth be told, I'm already a Monster fan (with a pair of Heartbeats still taking top billing on my wish list), and it only took a few listens to convince me that these ultra-portable cans were superior to all the other headphones I've owned.

What makes these headphones so fab? Well, if the celeb musician endorsements don't do it for you — Will.i.Am and Katie Holmes are fans — then feeling like you're in a sound studio will. The over-ear cushions keep outside noises out so all you hear is the bumping bass and clear highs of your favorite tunes . . . just like they were designed to be heard.

Find out why else I'd throw down my cold, hard cash for a pair of Solo HDs (and one reason I wouldn't) when you read more

Unlike other headphones, extreme high and low notes don't get distorted when you listen with the Solo HD. Plus, if you're always on the go, these babies will be your BFF — they fold up into a small, compact package that you can take with you anywhere, and even come with a chic neoprene carrying case and cleaning cloth. Not to mention the fact that you can adjust volume, playback, and talk hands-free with the high-definition microphone on the Solo's ControlTalk controller that lives right on the cord.

What don't I love? As with most over-ear headphones, I get some discomfort while wearing my glasses, and can't go long without needing to take a break from enjoying my tunes at work. The Solo HDs are no exception. I found that the Solos fit really well over my ears when — ahem — worn solo, thanks to their padded ear cushions (and even offer a wide range of adjustments for head sizes), but I got some serious pressure on my ears after just 15 minutes of wear when sporting my glasses. This could be a concern and should be taken into consideration for glasses-wearing music geeks.

Overall, the Beats Solo HD headphones are a cut above the rest. Combine the sound quality, style (they come in white or black), and portability, and you have a solid pair of professional-quality cans that allow you to really, truly enjoy your music.

Read More Beats Solo HD Beats By Dr Dre Beats Headphones Shopping Reviews

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sh3rzi11a 2 years

how do i get monster to send me a pair of beats by dre headphones?

mschneiderg 2 years

I wouldn't completely rubbish this review. When it comes to comfort, style and portability, I'd say these are unmatched. While they have decent noise isolation, unfortunately they do not reach the same heights of sound quality of similarly priced items. The bass is powerful but it lacks definition and isn't very punchy, giving the music a muddy quality and washing out much of the mid range. Obviously they are far superior to standard in ear headphones, but being in the price range that it's in, I expected more. I own a pair of similarly priced Sennheiser HD 25s which clamp more on my head, do not sit as comfortably on my ears and (in my personal opinion) don't look nearly as good as these cans, but they blow the Solo HD out of the water in sound quality, which ultimately for me is the most important consideration.

3 years

To believe that these Beats are truly superior is plain ignorance. Though I cannot doubt the superiority of these phones' design and ergonomics, what I can absolutely be sure of is how their sound quality is inferior to many other headphones. Take the Shure SRH840, Sennheiser 595 or Audio Technica M50 for example, all of which excels beyond what the Beats can achieve, especially in the midrange, and yet a hell lot cheaper. These Beats are highly overrated and overpriced, disguised through celebrity endorsements.

3 years

The first few lines of your paragraph are enough for me to know that your review is not credible. I do not expect you to give us a good review judging by the tone of appreciation for Monster for sending you out those headphones despite your questionable credentials as an expert reviewer. Clearly, you are overwhelmed by that fact alone and can not do an honest review.

3 years

how did you get monster to send you a pair of them?