Monster Turbine

Alongside its 'Beats by Dr Dre' collection, Monster has its own range of more traditional in-ear headphones, including these Tubrines, which boast an innovative metallic design.

Handling: is that from a model kit?

That was the first thing that came to mind when we unpacked these in-ear headphones.  With a tubular body made up of a single, sleek piece of metal, we were left wondering if we hand't accidentally received the fuselage of a model aeroplane instead of some headphones.  All of that metal can be off-putting at first, especially when you feel the weight of the headphones in your hands.  You soon forget about that once they're in your ears, though, as the cables are very light by comparison.

The cables, which have a duraflex coating, are said to be able to resist being being tangled or twisted, and our best efforts didn't seem to do them any damage.

To ensure you get a comfortable fit, several pairs of ear tips are provided, including some with a triple flange (see inset).  The latter might not be to everybody's taste, but they do produce excellent isolation.  Be careful not to shove the spare tips into the carry case though, as they easily fall out.

Audio Quality: a whole new world

Although that title might sound strange, it's actually testament to the nice surprise the Turbines had in store for us.  Unlike the Heartbeats or Tour models in the Beats by Dr Dre collection, they don't bury you in a ton of bass.  The bass is still there, of course, and goes very low.  The sound is very warm, and reminds us of some German manufacturers.  Here though, the low end of the spectrum is used sparingly, and you can hear the difference.

Be careful though, as the Turbines won't suit you if you demand the most neutral sound available.  One things that might put you off is the treble, which is very shiny--perhaps a little too much so--even if it isn't at all aggressive.  With a wide dynamic range and a very playful sound, there's no doubt that listening to the Tubrines is fun.

With the Turbines, Monster has proved that while it can produce hip-hop-led products, it's also capable of making more traditional in-ear headphones.  Although they're not very transparent, the Turbines produce an excellent quality sound that's great to listen to.