Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones

The partnership between Monster and Beats that began with the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre is no longer, and now both brands make their own exclusive headphone models. The most recent from Monster is the DNA On-Ear headphones ($229.95 direct), with a highly stylized look that can be customized with various skins. The sound signature would still fit well in the Beats lineup, with boosted bass and highs that make pop music sound exciting, but will likely turn off audiophiles seeking flat response. The fact that the DNA distorts on tracks with deep bass at maximum volume is not as much of an issue as the price. Recently, we've seen a few better-sounding options at lower prices.

Design
The DNA has a futuristic look, with rounded, triangular earpieces and circular, supra-aural (on-ear) earpads. Available in a variety of color combinations, our review model was white, glossy plastic, with gray padding and gray, rubberized material on the underside of the headband. This material is soft, but doesn't exactly feel like an overstuffed pillow floating on your head. The earpads can also feel a bit uncomfortable over time. The fit is secure, but the slight discomfort is one of the first things I noticed after a few minutes of testing.

Monster includes two cables, one with inline controls and a microphone for mobile phone calls. That the cables are removable and replaceable adds significant value to the DNA's price?since cables are often the culprit when headphones malfunction, you can simply replace the cable rather than look into repairs or replacing the whole thing.

Other than the two cables, the only other accessory is a black felt drawstring bag that has internal pockets and a carabiner attached. As mentioned earlier, the DNA is designed to be customized by the user?the skins cost an extra $29.95 each, and come in flashy varieties such as leopard print, peacock feathers, and a carbon fiber look. With or without the skins, the color schemes for the headphones are the aforementioned white/gray, black/chrome, blue/gray, blue/chrome, and white/teal.

Performance
On songs that feature deep bass, the DNA often distorts at high volume levels. A song like The Knife's "Silent Shout" starts to get fuzzy when you approach maximum volume. Granted, this is a volume you shouldn't be listening at, but at this price, distortion shouldn't enter the equation. At moderate-to-high volumes, before distortion kicks in, the bass response is powerful?even palpable, as the headphone frame vibrates noticeably with the beat. This gets less intense at even more moderate volumes, where the deep bass and highly sculpted high frequency response?two typical Monster traits?work far better together to create an exciting mix.

On classical tracks, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," the boosted bass response lends some heft to the lower register percussion and strings. It's not what most audiophiles are looking for, as the bass and highs are quite exaggerated, but it does add some crispness and resonance to the mix without going overboard.

Generally, however, the DNA is best suited for modern mixes in popular music. At moderate volumes, the kick drum loop in Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild" has a crisp attack backed up by an impressive thump, while the deep bass synth hits pack plenty of low-end resonance without distortion coming into the equation. The vocals are never obscured by the low-end intensity.

On Radiohead's "Staircase," the bouncing, doubled guitar-and-bass line carries a nice low-frequency presence, never booming, but definitely the star of the mix?except for Thom Yorke's vocals, which are crisp and sit above everything else, thanks to the DNA's mid-to-high boost.

If you're a fan of deep bass, the DNA is not a bad choice?you just have to accept the distortion at high volumes. A better-sounding example of what Monster can do with boosted low-end is the more expensive, bulkier, and sturdier Monster Inspiration . It's not perfect, but it performs with more power than the DNA, and without distortion.

If you're seeking something a little closer to audiophile standards, the excellent Sennheiser HD 558 recently won an Editors' Choice award, and it costs less than the DNA, while the $200 Harmon Kardon CL also delivers quality audio at a slightly lower price. Also, the Bowers & Wilkins P3 ($200) is a lightweight on-ear pair with a refined bass response and design to match. The DNA doesn't quite stack up to the aforementioned models, and since it's more expensive than most of them, it feels overpriced.

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