Beats Pro by Dr. Dre
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5 (excellent)
The good: Quality construction; dual input/output audio ports for communal listening; thumping bass; ear cushions can be removed and replaced.
The bad: May not be comfortable for everyone; weight is a little on the heavy side; some songs can sound harsh; travel case doesn’t match the professional packaging of its predecessors.
The cost: $326 to $400
The bottom line: The Beats Pro by Dr. Dre from Monster Headphones deliver a sturdy design and top-notch sound quality for those who enjoy skull-shattering bass. If you’re a casual listener and can afford them, they’re a worthy investment, but if you’re an audio purist then you may want to comparison shop.
Ultrasone HFI-680
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (very good)
The good: Nicely built, full-size, closed-back headphones hush outside noise; includes 10-foot-long cable, soft carry bag; sounds swell on iPod.
The bad: Overly bassy sound.
The cost: $135 to $219
The bottom line: The Ultrasone HFI-680′s abundant bass power, forgiving treble, and isolation from external noise should make these an attractive choice for some buyers.
Phiaton MS 400 Moderna Series
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (very good)
The good: Solid sound quality and an eye-catching design that’s also comfortable.
The bad: Y-cable is not conducive to at-home listening; ear cups tend to overheat the ears.
The cost: $200
The bottom line: The Phiaton MS 400 are cool to look at and comfy to wear; the balanced audio quality makes them a good choice for listeners with a diverse taste in music.
Sony MDR-V700DJ
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (very good)
The good: Superior sound quality and sonic range; folding design; coiled 10-foot cord; 1/4-inch adapter.
The bad: Relatively pricey; geared mainly toward hip-hop, rock and techno.
The cost: $87 to $129
The bottom line: These full-size ear cup headphones deliver excellent reproduction of today’s popular music.
This article appeared on page D – 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle
