Monster Turbine Pro earphones--photos

In recent years, Monster Cables started to expand its business to include a handful of headphones, the first models coming from a collaboration with hip-hop producer Dr. Dre. The company's offerings now comprise a couple of in-ear sets, including the top-of-the-line Turbine Pro In-Ear Speakers, a $299 number that features the same heavy-metal earpieces as found on the first Turbine earphones.

The Turbine Pro--and its lower-priced sibling, for that matter--are some of the nicest earphones we've come across in terms of style and design. The earpieces are constructed entirely of shiny metal, with indented outer edges and slanted notches that give them a distinct airplane engine look (in other words, they live up to the "turbine" label).

A possible downside is that this construction makes the 'buds pretty heavy, so they may have a tendency to slip out of some users' ears. However, we had no problems achieving a secure fit with the foam tips Monster includes in the package.

In addition, you get a variety of black silicone tips, some soft and some stiff.

There's also a soft-sided pouch and hard-sided carrying case.

Continuing down the cable from the earpieces, which are available in a choice of two colors (gold or copper), you'll come to a Y junction with a slider for preventing tangles and a metal accent of the same color as the 'buds.

The cord (44 inches long) terminates in a durable L-shaped plug, also accented in metal and finally plated in gold. As one would expect, the Turbine Pro earphones have a high-quality cable--this is Monster, after all--that is thick and very flexible, two key traits for durability.

Of course, the real test of any pair of earphones is sound quality, and in this area, the Turbine Pros passed with flying colors. Starting at the low-end, we can say with the utmost confidence that bass addicts could easily fall in love with these 'buds.