I can't be more straightforward: Monster is nothing less than a scam. It hooks on poor ignorant people that buy a TV by then convincing them that they need 100+$ cables and of course the 160$ special surge protector without which the TV will surely burn...
Seriously, a salesman told me that when I bought my TV.
While I won't comment on the value of anything produced by Monster Cable (seriously...) $300 headphones are not that uncommon.
Try the Sennheiser HD650 for $600, or the Grado GS 1000 for a flat $1,000. Mixed with a proper (and not necessarily expensive) amp, either of these will produce sound quality unlike anything you've heard from a set of headphones before. The real question, as always, is whether that increase in quality is worth the increase in price to YOU.
Or the Stax Omega II. Although you'll have to cross out 'not necessarily expensive amp' on that one ;)
Seriously though, most entry amps are more than what a non headphone enthusiast would pay for a headphone..
To be honest, I do think that you are long past bang for buck at that price range, and you sometime pay a high mark-up for something that is different, subjectively better or worst, rather than better or worst in absolute terms. Case to the point, I actually consider I consider the AKG K501 to be different, yet on par, to the Sennheiser HD650 (yet they are very different cost wise). Similarly, some prefer the HD600 to the HD650. Granted, the headphones I mentioned are all in the 3 digits wise, but I do reckon that you hit fairly significant diminishing returns even before you hit 3 digits.
I agree fully on the point of diminishing returns. Case in point: at the moment I use a pair of Grado SR-60s. But I'm a poor law student right now, and much more price conscious at the moment than I hope to be in the future.
Behold, the power of digital. My 6' $10 hdmi cable works fine. The only way I'd purchase a higher quality cable is if I had a REALLY long run that was permanently sealed in a wall. I can order 12 more online from Amazon (free shipping) if this one somehow fails.
i guess places like monoprice are getting at his bottom line - he need to create more propoganda....and kill the internet - too much information as to why people don't need my fancy boxed $6 cable that is marked $125.
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pzkfwg - Friday, January 18, 2008 - link
I can't be more straightforward: Monster is nothing less than a scam. It hooks on poor ignorant people that buy a TV by then convincing them that they need 100+$ cables and of course the 160$ special surge protector without which the TV will surely burn...Seriously, a salesman told me that when I bought my TV.
fic2 - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
Best description of Monster that I ever heard was "Better sound through marketing".Spacecomber - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
Good for a giggle, I guess.Randum - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
also is the monster founder a Midget! Thats awesome if he is+1 for monster!
SLEEPER5555 - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
No he is not a midget, he is just asain.Randum - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
yeah HDMI, sure, i think the 125 dollar ones will make my HD picture greater than the current picture i have with an $11 cable...wtf...headphones for over $300....does this include an MP3 player?
pleeze...whoever buys those are suckers..
themadmilkman - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
While I won't comment on the value of anything produced by Monster Cable (seriously...) $300 headphones are not that uncommon.Try the Sennheiser HD650 for $600, or the Grado GS 1000 for a flat $1,000. Mixed with a proper (and not necessarily expensive) amp, either of these will produce sound quality unlike anything you've heard from a set of headphones before. The real question, as always, is whether that increase in quality is worth the increase in price to YOU.
Axbattler - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
Or the Stax Omega II. Although you'll have to cross out 'not necessarily expensive amp' on that one ;)Seriously though, most entry amps are more than what a non headphone enthusiast would pay for a headphone..
To be honest, I do think that you are long past bang for buck at that price range, and you sometime pay a high mark-up for something that is different, subjectively better or worst, rather than better or worst in absolute terms. Case to the point, I actually consider I consider the AKG K501 to be different, yet on par, to the Sennheiser HD650 (yet they are very different cost wise). Similarly, some prefer the HD600 to the HD650. Granted, the headphones I mentioned are all in the 3 digits wise, but I do reckon that you hit fairly significant diminishing returns even before you hit 3 digits.
themadmilkman - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
I agree fully on the point of diminishing returns. Case in point: at the moment I use a pair of Grado SR-60s. But I'm a poor law student right now, and much more price conscious at the moment than I hope to be in the future.gevorg - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
Wireless headphones by Monster? Wow! Finally a Monster product without 24k gold titanium oxygen-free cables. This will be a tough choice between Bose.blwest - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Behold, the power of digital. My 6' $10 hdmi cable works fine. The only way I'd purchase a higher quality cable is if I had a REALLY long run that was permanently sealed in a wall. I can order 12 more online from Amazon (free shipping) if this one somehow fails.YSL - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Ping Back from http://www.blogsiswatching.com/2008/01/beats-by-dr...">http://www.blogsiswatching.com/2008/01/beats-by-dr...eye smite - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
I can't say anything but this is idiotic. If he doesn't realize by now that people have figured out he's full of tihs by now, he never will.bob4432 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
i guess places like monoprice are getting at his bottom line - he need to create more propoganda....and kill the internet - too much information as to why people don't need my fancy boxed $6 cable that is marked $125.dr dre looks real happy to be there....
HotdogIT - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Haha, yeah, Dre looks very, very... bored. Poor guy.j@cko - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
does this headphone make me rap as good as dre?bob4432 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
i am sure according to mr monster it would, hahaSamus - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
how do they overclock?Iketh - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
oh man where are the post ratings?? i laughed so hard...kristof007 - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
samus that is 6 star post. way to go!