Tag Archives: Beats by Dre

Dr. Dre & Monster collab to push out new lineup of Beats headphones

The Beats by Dr. Dre product line was co-founded by rapper/produced Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovin back in 2008 to “reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios.”  The brand has branched in two directions: headphones and HP laptops (Envy models).  The original crop of headphones included the over-the-ear Studio Beats ($349) and Solo Beats ($199) and the in-ear Tour Beats ($189).  In time two new versions of the Solo Beats hit the market–Solo HD ($229) and Solo HD Product RED special edition ($229).  Also, a new category called Artist Series Headphones introduced two new in-ear ‘phones–Heartbeats (Lady Gaga, $149) and Diddy Beats (Diddy, $179).

On Friday Dr. Dre & Monster unveiled five new Beats branded products, four headphones and a portable iPod dock.  The Beatbox ($399) is a digital sound system built to dock iPods and iPhones and features “proprietary dual 5.25-inch long throw bass drivers for superior bass reproduction and two optimized 2-inch concave high frequency drivers for precise soundstaging.”  Beats Pro ($449) relinquishes the Studio Beats as the top-of-the-line Beats headphones.  These over-the-ear cans feature an all-metal body construction and are “ideal for in-studio production and ultimate quality music listening.”  iBeats ($119) “feature a new sealed in-ear design that literally reduces external noise for a better music experience” and three custom-fit eartip sizes.  They are “ideal for exercising and active lifestyles.”  The latest edition to the Artist Series Headphones collection is the Power Beats (LeBron James, $179).  The new in-ear “performance sports headphone” features a new dual driver design with a built-in subwoofer and midrange tweeter, an adjustable/bendable ear hook with a flexible arm, and a non-noise occluding headphone eartip which allows external noise to be audible during music playback.  There are black, red, and white color options for these.  And finally there’s the JustBeats, Justin Bieber branded headphones.  They will come in two varients, over-the-ear ($199) and in-ear ($119).  They are “specifically aimed at “opening the ears” of young music listeners.”  The “eye-catching matte purple finish” happens to be Bieber’s favorite color, as you all should well know.

According to the press release, all the new Beats by Dre products (excluding the JustBeats) will be made available in the US, UK, France and Germany in the “coming weeks.”  The purple Bieber cans will sell exclusively at Best Buy this holiday season.  Look in the gallery below to see what they all look like.  Dre says, “What you’re seeing today is what me and Jimmy set out to do with Beats. It’s not just about headphones it’s about changing the whole game in terms of the listening experience. And it’s still just the beginning…”  The new ‘phones are simplistically elegant and I’m sure they produce sound nothing short of crystal-clear magnificence.  Here’s what I’m worried about, though.  Dre, you brand the Beats product line with the tag “people aren’t hearing all the music.”  You’re going to have a hard time selling your passion for pristine sound reproduction to all the people at these exuberant price points.

[Via Engadget; BeatsbyDre]

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Dr. Dre + HP = revamped “digital music ecosystem”

Computer-maker HP, musical genius Dr. Dre, and Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine have announced a joint collaboration to make audio sound better, from what you hear on your computer to the earbuds or headphones you use on the go.

Iovine to CNET News: “We have to fix the entire chain.  Our position is to go to all the sources and try to improve sound and educate people…We can’t put anything weak in the line. Whoever puts out things that sound bad shouldn’t be as cool as something that sounds great.”  Iovine added: “I just want our product to sound better.  The record business committed many, many mistakes in the last 10 years, and I’m right in there.  One of them was letting its product get degraded.  It’s one thing to let it get stolen, it’s another to allow it to be degraded because then you really don’t have a chance…video games and TV quality are getting better and the quality of our work is getting lower. If that happens, then music will become disposable. That’s something we can fix.”

This is very interesting news for the music industry.  In today’s digital age of the MP3 format, iPods, and computers, it is very important that the sound of music quality does not disintegrate.  The iPod earbuds that ship with every iPod, for example, do not produce good enough sound for the listener.  Also, many computers are not constructed with speakers than can boast the proper bass and sound required for MP3s to be played at their potential.  In the end, it is all about music being played the way they were meant to be heard and I believe that this alliance between HP, Dre, and Interscope will lead the way in incorporating premium sound capability in all mediums from MP3 players to PC laptops.  Sources spilled to CNET News that “HP will release premium-priced laptops, headsets, and software featuring the “Beats by Dr. Dre” brand sometime this fall.”

[Via CNET]