Monster Beats iBeats

 | Dynamic Driver |

? The Monster Beats iBeats have been reviewed by our team. Once again you might think that this model was reviewed by our team already but as we explained in the review of the Monster Beats urBeats, this is a totally different model.

During our Monster Beats urBeats review we gave you a quick historical introduction about both brands partnership and later rupture. Through out this 2-brand historical collaboration and 1 year before they split (2012), in 2011, HTC acquired the Beats brand creating the iBeats line and giving life to the Monster Beats iBeats model that we are reviewing now.
As a quick cheat-sheet, remember, there are 3 very different models with very similar names: Monster Beats iBeats, Monster Beats urBeats and Beats urBeats. We have reviewed already the Monster Beats urBeats and the Beats urBeats, now we are reviewing the Monster Beats iBeats – take a deep breath and do not get confused with the names.

The naming similitude of all these 3 models is fraudulently used by some people that sell the older models as if it were the newer Beats urBeats, so beware.

The Monster Beats iBeats share a high resemblance in design with the Monster Beats urBeats, even the robust metal and weighty construction that we liked from them can be felt on the Monster Beats iBeats; another design similarity is the branding placement, Beats logo on the back, iBeats on the top and Monster on the bottom.

The Monster Beats iBeats features metal housings and rubberized round cables, the cable bifurcation has the Monster logo on one side and flipping it you will find the ibeats name. Inline there is a mic/remote that is originally designed with a futuristic shape and a has a 3-button layout.

You can buy the Monster Beats iBeats in:

• Monster Beats iBeats black
• Monster Beats iBeats silver/white

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Monster Beats iBeats - Review

Tests & Scores

Weight

Monster Beats iBeats weight in Ounces and Monster Beats iBeats weight in grams.

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Accessories & Packaging

The Monster Beats iBeats unboxing results in 7 total pair of eartips (2 double flange and 5 single flange), a cable clip and a branded soft rubberized carrying pouch. Much like the Monster Beats urBeats, this model nowadays is mostly sold without the retail packaging and in the case of the Monster Beats iBeats less accessories are typically shipped (this will depend on each seller). If you find a seller that ships the full packaging you will get a nice, large and well-built box.

^10_/10

Bass & Sub Bass

The Monster Beats iBeats bass have an insanely deep sub-bass and punchy mid-bass. Their bass is extremely powerful and will provide as much bass as wanted by anybody, even by bassheads.

Just take into consideration that this insane bass was achieved by sacrificing some points: the bass will be boomy and will take ownership of the whole sound signature.

With an EQ, their mid-bass gains noticeable punch and their sub-bass becomes fearlessly deep.

They are scoring a 9.25/10 here not for bass quality or “pureness” but for their mighty strong bass response.

During our extreme bass tests the Monster Beats iBeats took 48% of the max power coming from a Fiio E12 Mont Blanc amplifier (high gain mode, bass boost turned on, custom basshead EQ used). The results of the tests were a thunderous mid-bass punch and sub-bass depth providing a terrific basshead impact and rumble that blew up half of the Top ranked in our Best Basshead Earphones Chart. Expect a crazy basshead impact way above the KZ ATE and still noticeably stronger than the Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro, SONY MDR-EX650, KZ ZST, KZ ZSR, Senfer 4in1, Plextone X50M, BlitzWolf BW-ES1, Aukey EP-C3 but yet below the Pioneer SE-CX8, Pioneer SE-CX9 and the Sony MDR-EX800st.

^_9.25/10

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Mids & Vocals

The Monster Beats iBeats are heavily warm and have a crazy powerful mid-bass bleed that steps over mids way too much, strangely their vocals find a way to sound present enough and not distant but consider that the super strong mid-bass bleed will make mids very congested. Higher mids are able to sound crisp and never harsh at all, nonetheless.

If a highly drastic EQ is applied, aiming to intensely reduce lower frequencies dB and bump up mids, their overall mids will improve a lot with clearer vocals and substantially less mid-bass bleed but it will be almost impossible to achieve normal sounding mids.

^_5/10

Highs & Treble

The Monster Beats iBeats highs resolve some detail and show some brightness but their out-of-control bass makes them seem darker than they actually are. Piercing highs are not a typical problem of this earphone but some sibilance is present.

An EQ adds a highly perceivable amount of detail and substantial brightness helping their highs to fight back the uncontrolled bass. Piercing and sibilant highs, unfortunately, will also get enhanced and stronger.

^5.5_/10

Sound Leak

The Monster Beats iBeats leak as much sound as most average earphones, this means that their sound will be hearable by nearby people if you use a moderate-high volume and, in particular, if you are at less noisy situations. During normally noisy city situations the leaking levels will blend in.

^7_/10

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Sound Isolation

The Monster Beats iBeats offer a stronger isolation than many average earphones. Noises will be noticeably less perceivable no matter how low your volume is set.

^7.5_/10

Comfort

The highly similar housings of the Monster Beats iBeats with the Monster Beats urBeats (remember, the Monster Beats urBeats and the Beats urBeats are NOT the same earphone) give them the same well designed comfort and fit. You can listen to music as long as you desire without fearing of any discomfort or pain.

^_8/10

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Response to Equalization

The Monster Beats iBeats responded greatly to equalization, with very clear improvement on each frequency range where the EQ was applied. Bass became insanely deep and strongly punchy; mids were able to highly reduce their savage mid-bass bleed and get much clearer vocals; highs got substantially brighter and detailed.

^8_/10

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Scores

• Accessories - 10/10
  10/10
• Design - 9/10
  9/10
• Bass - 9.25/10
  9.3/10
• Mids - 5/10
  5/10
• Highs - 5.5/10
  5.5/10
• Sound Leak - 7/10
  7/10
• Sound Isolation - 7.5/10
  7.5/10
• Comfort - 8/10
  8/10
• Response to EQ - 8/10
  8/10
• Value for Money - 7/10
  7/10

Summary

AWARDS

Pros

✅ Insanely deep sub-bass

✅ High volume output

✅ 3-button remote with volume control

✅ Comfortable and secure fit

✅ Robust metal housings

✅ Good packaging and very accessorized

✅ Highly responsive to EQ

✅ Nice design

Cons

❌ Highly strong mid-bass bleed

❌ Overall audio frequencies get overpowered by bass

❌ Some sibilance

❌ Congested vocals due to mid-bass bleed

Conclusion

The Monster Beats iBeats have some clear issues in the mids and highs caused by their huge mid-bass bleed but at the same time offer a one-of-a-kind sub-bass depth. They are rated as "Good" because of their issues with mids and highs but they would rate "Excellent" if they were to be recommended to basshead listeners. For their crazy strong bass they are part of the Best Fun Sounding Earphones Chart and their top basshead rumble and impact sets them as a ranked at the Best Basshead Earphones Chart.
The Monster Beats iBeats, therefore, can be highly recommended to hardcore bassheads. For the rest, if you can live with their less performing mids and highs you will be getting a roaring basshead-styled bass out of them.
NOTE: We mentioned it a million times already but, remember that the Monster Beats iBeats, the Monster Beats urBeats and the Beats urBeats are 3 totally different models with very different sound.

7.6/10

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Monster Beats iBeats Frequency Response

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Monster Beats iBeats

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Photos

Monster Beats iBeats

7.6

SCORE

7.6/10