Monster unusually chose Labor Day to add two sets of earphones to its mix, including its first not primarily backed by Dr. Dre. The Heartbeats were co-designed by Lady Gaga and are meant to produce audio quality much like the Beats Tour in-ears but with the pop star's visual input, such as a jewel-like cap on the earpiece and a metal body. They still have Monster's unique ribbon-like cables that cut down on tangling and should also reduce the likelihood of a cable break.
They also get an in-line mic and remote that provide full control of Apple's iPhones and iPods up to and including the iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod shuffle. Newer BlackBerries also support the input.
A second introduction brings a more modest version of the original Beats. Known as the Beats Solo, they represent a smaller, lighter and cheaper counterpart to the flagship set but are still reportedly tuned to Dr. Dre's specs. They get the same in-line mic/remote combination as the Lady Gaga set.
The Heartbeats will come in multiple colors and should ship in October for prices between $100 and $150 depending on the feature set and color scheme. The Beats Solo will have just two colors and one hardware design, but its price should vary between the $220 suggested price and a more likely $180 street price. It ships in November.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monster outs Beats Solo, Heartbeats earphones
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