dr. dre

No one can deny that the original Beats by Dr. Dre was a revolutionary headphone design. It brought style and pizazz to the headphone market, and turned on a new generation of music lovers to the joys of great sound. The Beats Studio ($350) is still selling like gangbusters, but the Beats line has expanded to include something better, the Beats Pro ($450).

The Studio Beats have a lot of bass, but the Pros have more and distinctly tighter, more visceral bass. The two headphones sound very different; the Pros have a brighter, more forward balance, and the Studio Beats … Read more

The Monster Beatbox has a simple mission that goes something like this: deliver big sound from a small box. We'd call it monster sound, but the Beatbox doesn't quite go that far. But it certainly is compact and it certainly plays loud, filling even a fairly big room with sound.

That in itself is an impressive feat, and the $400 Beatbox may just be the loudest-playing iPod dock for its size. The first thing you'll notice about it when you pick it up--yes, there's a convenient carrying handle at the top--is that it's heavy, weighing … Read more

It might be said that the best people to create audio products such as headphones are musicians. That was certainly Monster's feeling when the cable company teamed up with Dr. Dre to create a line of headphones vetted by the hip hop legend. The Beats line encompasses everything from full-size studio cans to a pair of glittery 'buds from Lady Gaga.

Now, Monster and Dr. Dre have brought Sean "Diddy" Combs into the fold, and he has introduced yet another model to the line, the Diddybeats High Performance In-Ear Headphones. The $150 earphones certainly reflect the rapper'… Read more

Bose has built quite the reputation for its entire audio line, so it's no surprise that the company's portable headphones, the On-Ear, have a tidy little following. These cushy, earpad-style cans distinguish themselves from their brethren by removing Bose's signature noise-canceling functionality in favor of offering a slightly deflated price tag. But don't fret: the On-Ear headphones still present a sleek design that's understated and compact without feeling flimsy. It's no wonder the Bose name springs easily to the lips whenever headphones are mentioned, and why plenty of competitors want a piece of that … Read more

Wilson is supposedly out sick this morning and can't be on the show, but it's obvious to Jeff and me that he wanted a head start on Wednesday's Apple Event. Either way, we're happy to have CNET's Smartphone Senior Editor Bonnie Cha here to replace him. We casually discuss our weekends in the first half of the show, which include some serious headphone shopping and a viewing of the documentary "Anvil." Bonnie also tells us about her weekend run-in with the new cast members of MTV's Jersey Shore.

With the January 27 Apple Event just around the corner, speculation about the Apple tablet is reaching critical mass, but an interesting Call From the Public raises new questions about the possibility of an Apple gaming console.

Judging from the amount of gaming press in attendance, there's a solid chance that the hardware will be gaming-friendly, but the chance of Apple unveiling a gaming-only console is slim. If anything, we're predicting a strong push toward gaming development on the new platform.

Thanks to everyone who sent in photos of their strategically placed 404 stickers and tattoos! Keep them coming, or be sure to listen to the promo in the break for how you can get your own merch.

While the majority of Monster's announcements this year focused on portable headphones, the company didn't want aspiring and professional DJs to be left out in the cold. Enter the Beats by Dr. Dre Spin headphones, a cushy full-size set with all the style we've come to expect from the product line and a few unique twists.

For those who aren't familiar with DJing (or spinning, in case you're wondering where the naming came from), one important detail to know is that a DJ needs to hear both what is coming through the headphones and what … Read more

Sean "Diddy" Combs may be a bit over-the-top, but I have to give credit where credit is due: the cat's got style. And that's definitely part of the draw with the new earbuds he's putting out with Monster and Dr. Dre, the Diddy Beats.

These in-ear 'phones are clearly designed by a fashionable eye, from the tapered, conical earpieces to the chrome accents and lowercase "db" initials stamped on the outer edge. Add to that Monster's signature flat ribbon cable, and you have a head-turning style that's sure to attract listeners … Read more

Never accuse headphone and cable manufacturer Monster of being subtle, because you'd be proven wrong in a hasty fashion. True to form, the company trotted out both Lady Gaga and Dr. Dre on the show floor at CES this year. The shock popper and rap mogul were there to introduce the latest addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre line, a special edition pair of the Beats Solo HD.

Monster and the musicians have teamed up with RED, a business model designed to help the Global Fund, which is best known for its efforts to fight AIDS in Africa. … Read more

Lady Gaga, the singing sensation and heir to Madonna's club-queen throne, is proving to be quite the technology fan.

Beats by Dr. Dre--the brand of headphones and electronic gear from rapper Dr. Dre--along with Monster and Universal Music Group producer Jimmy Iovine announced Tuesday that Lady Gaga would appear at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Thursday.

This follows the Lady's appearance at last month's launch party in New York for music-video start-up Vevo and a performance last year at DLD Starnight, a gathering of European techies. In addition, Gaga also has her own headphone … Read more