Monster Inspiration Pro Reviews

The collision of fashion and headphones has left shoppers not only with far more options from atypical names, but with some more difficult choices to make. Whereas headphones might once have focused on providing as transparent sound as possible, attempting to pass on as much of the core audio as possible, now individual brands have their own “house style” of tuning. Monster’s Inspiration headphones don’t fall far from what we’ve seen the company produce before, albeit with different branding. An emphasis on bass and aggressive treble suits the target audience, though it’s not at home with jazz, classical, or more sedate vocal tracks. The styling doesn’t scream in the same way Beats does, though there’s plenty of room for outlandish dressing-up with the interchangeable strap inserts. Whether they’re worth $299.99, however, is questionable. Viewed solely as a way to enjoy music, the Monster Inspiration headphones can be fussy about their fit (though are comfortable when you have it right) and are certainly tuned to a particular genre of music. You need to factor in the fashion element – and a few bundled goodies – to decide whether what your ears are wearing is as important as how they affect what you’re listening to. They’re a solid pair of headphones, but you pay extra for the Monster cachet.

There are a lot of strong headphone models in the $200 to $300 range, and you can argue over the degree to which they are overpriced. The list price on this passive model is $299.95, but its street price at the time of this review is $249.95, while the active model streets for $299.95. I can't tell you that's a bargain and I think the Audio-Technica ATH-M50s deliver sound that's a bit better, for $160. But that model is less suited to on-the-go use. I also like the Harman Kardon Classic (also known as the CL) headphones, which retail for $199.99. The CL is a somewhat lighter, on-ear model that's got a distinct look and can be used at home and on the go. The Bowers & Wilkins P3 ($199) and P5 ($299) headphones are also in this price range. They both have really nice designs and offer very good performance, though their sound tends to be a little creamier and lush than the models I've mentioned here. Of course, everybody has slightly different sound tastes, and whether you like one model over another is usually a matter of taste. What I can say is that overall the Monster Inspiration is an impressive pair of headphones. They're comfortable, seem well-built, and offer rich, detailed sound and bass that while not superdeep is tight and punchy. I can't call this model the ultimate $250 headphone, but I do think a lot of people who are looking for full-size headphones will like it, especially those who are trying to avoid headphones with overpowering bass.