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Powerbeats by Dr. Dre Sport Headphones review

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CNET Editors' Rating

3.0 stars Good
Review Date:

Average User Rating

2.5 stars 9 user reviews

The good: The Powerbeats by Dr. Dre Sports Headphones will offer a secure fit for the average user, and the design lends itself well to jogging and other outdoor activities. The set includes some useful extras such as a hard-sided case and a remote and mic module for use with iOS devices. Audio is clear, and the look is stylish.

The bad: Although the Powerbeats are capable of producing bass, the fit and design don't allow the user to fully enjoy it. They are expensive for fitness earphones, and they don't seem particularly durable or sweat-resistant.

The bottom line: The Powerbeats by Dr. Dre Sports Headphones are a reasonable option for style-conscious runners with money to burn, but most fitness-minded listeners would be better served by other options on the market.

Headphones aimed at the fashionable consumer are not in short supply these days, but one would think that the last place people are concerned about gadget style would be the gym. However, plenty of manufacturers are banking on the belief that you want good-looking tech no matter how sweaty you are, hence the Powerbeats by Dr. Dre Sport Headphones from Monster. These $150 earphones offer a secure fit, integrated iPhone controls, and a sleek look--but they're also pricey for workout headphones, and they don't seem particularly durable or sweat-resistant.

Still, Monster has the style down with the Powerbeats. Anyone who likes the look of the overall Beats by Dr. Dre line will certainly be drawn to these athletic earbuds. Eye-catching chrome earpieces are attached to a sleek black arm adorned with the signature lowercase "b" logo. Rubber hooks are attached to each 'bud, keeping them firmly in place during jogs and aerobics. Monster includes three sizes of silicone tips to help with the comfort and fit of the in-ear portion of the earphones.

That said, the Powerbeats may not be comfortable for all wearers, as they tended to cause this tester pain after resting in the ear for about 45 minutes. Also, there is only one set of ear loops, not removable, which could cause fit problems for some. Finally, we question the durability of the headphones, since the red cable is quite thin and the earpieces don't seem sweat-resistant (nor is that feature mentioned anywhere on the product packaging or site).

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Quick Specifications

  • Release date12/16/10
  • Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
  • Product type Headset
  • Design In-ear ear-bud (with over-the-ear mount)
  • Color Black
  • Sound output mode [Sep 14, 2011 from CDS: Audio Output] Stereo
  • Connector type Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
  • Additional features ControlTalk Remote control Sweat resistant

Since 2003, Jasmine France has worked at CNET covering everything from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices to MP3 players. She currently cohosts the Crave podcast and spends the majority of her time testing headphones, music software, and mobile apps. Full Bio

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