X

Photos: Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones

The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones offer much in the way of style and sound, but the extra-long earpieces my cause comfort and fit issues for some users.

CNET Reviews staff
1 of 7
The $150 Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones once again prove that hip hop-branded headphones won't necessarily offer an overwhelming low-end response, and also lead us to believe Dr. Dre may have the deepest ear canals known to man.
33438710-2-440-PALM.jpg
2 of 7
The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones have perhaps the longest earpieces we've ever seen. The 'buds measure a full inch from end to end, and half of that length is made up of the arms that hold the eartips. Half an inch isn't that long for most gadgets, but the scale is considerably altered when you have to stick the gadget into your ear. As a result, fit can be an issue.
33438710-2-440-DT1.jpg
3 of 7
Although Monster includes five sets of silicone eartips (three sizes of standard and two sizes of triple flange), we found the Tour earphones to be fairly uncomfortable and could never really get a secure fit. There's also a hard-sided zippered case for storing and protecting your investment when it's not in use.
33438710-2-440-BT.jpg
4 of 7
Of course, fit is highly personal. One could make that argument for style, too, but there's no denying that the Tour earphones will add quite a bit of flair to your listening setup. The entire design is unique, from the flattened, disc-shaped earbuds--decked out in the signature lowercase "b" logo--to the red ribbon of a cable and gold-plated straight plug housing.
33438710-2-440-MID.jpg
5 of 7
The cord is like few we've seen; flat and thick, it appears to be more durable than most earbud cables--definitely a plus.
33438710-2-440-EAR.jpg
6 of 7
The Beats by Dr. Dre Tour In-Ear Headphones may not present an overwhelming low-end, but bass is not lacking and it's nice and tight. As with their full-sized siblings, these 'phones offer an impressively crisp high end with good detail. If anything, music tends to sound a bit cold for our liking, with the 'phones slightly lacking in the rich and buttery mids that add the desired warmth.
33438710-2-440-DT2.jpg
7 of 7
As per usual, Dr. Dre put a considerable amount of effort into the packaging, which is a high-quality red box with the words "Sound Matters" stamped on the inside. From the audio quality of these 'phones, it's clear that it does.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos