Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Tour review

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. The cord, which terminates in a gold-plated straight plug, is like few we've seen; flat and thick, it appears to be more durable than most earbud cables--definitely a plus. Monster also includes a hard-sided zippered case for storing and protecting your investment when it's not in use.

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-size 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. However, we were generally impressed with the clear and balanced audio response during testing, though a few songs could sound harsh. Hip hop, electronic, and pop are genres that shine, and even classical sounds good. If you can get a good fit and want the most stylish earbuds you can get your hands on, the Tour In-Ear Headphones are a worthwhile option.