NEW AUDIO: MONSTER N-TUNE HEADPHONES REVIEW

MONSTER N-TUNE HEADPHONES

We're not ones to be disarmed by a pretty face. Bat your lashes all you want, headphone companies! Your sparkles won't save you in the cold, uncompromising audio lab. Too often I find impressive, glitzy exteriors, but when it comes to the guts, manufacturers often skimp on the good stuff.
Thus, when Monster Cable's N-Tune headphones arrived, I looked them over with squinty eyeballs and thought back to this year's CES: The marketing monsters never seemed to let the products do the talking for them—the company usually leaves that to its famous friends.

Yet the N-Tune surprised me. These headphones aren't timid when it comes to style, with glimmering bands and colorful offerings, but they don't neglect their primary function either: quality sound. The N-Tunes aren't a perfect 10, and the price is steeper than I prefer for a pair of on ears—$149.95—but they delivered above-average results, and big sales were easy to find online.

Audio Quality

Great looks to match great sound

On ears don't usually raise brows in the lab; but the N-Tunes did. The sound production on these headphones is just what most casual consumers want: big-time bass, but with mids and highs that can roll with the punches. A response like this won't satisfy studio requirements, but other buyers can enjoy booming bass notes accompanied by the texture that appropriately loud mid and high notes add—so even though bass is emphasized, vocals, guitars, violins, and the rest won't get lost in the mix. The blaring bass isn't for everyone, obviously—it was definitely too loud for my tastes, at times.

Even though bass is emphasized, the rest won't get lost in the mix.

The N-Tunes aren't without blemish, though. Listeners may notice that bass notes are louder in the right ear. This blip isn't a huge annoyance, however. Another issue is that the N-Tunes only do half the job when it comes to noise isolation. On ears often prevent a fair degree of mid range disturbances, but these headphones won't do much at all, so noises like low voices, rumbling engines, and the like will easily disturb you.
Happily, though, high voices and other upper range pests don't stand a chance—the N-Tunes easily block them out. From there, it's smooth sailing: no audible distortion pollutes the sound, and leakage is extremely minimal.

Design & Features

A pretty Monster

These Monsters come in multiple, sparkly varieties: grassy green, beaming blue, fiery orange—the list goes on. The glossy, glittering bands make for a fashion-forward feel, and gleaming silver details flash around the ear backs. I can't flatter the materials, though. The parts are predominantly plastic.

Users can't control volume with the remote—an annoying omission.

As far as practical design goes, there are some nice touches. The ~4.6-foot cord is detachable, for one thing. That way, if you crush your cord with your office chair, at least you aren't stuck replacing the entire unit. The cable also seems to resist tangles, just as the company claims. Users may plug the cable into either the left or right ear cup, as there are outlets on both. A remote and mic come in handy for taking calls and changing songs, but users can't control volume—an annoying omission.
Lastly, the band channels Gumby with its super-bendy abilities, twisting this way and that without damaging its form; but packing it up to-go isn't fun at all, since it doesn't collapse into a more compact shape.

In Use

Plight of the on ear

I was happy to find a good-looking, soft carry case when I unwrapped the Monster N-Tunes, but since there isn't a folding function of any kind, packing them up is annoying. Popping these into a small purse is out of the question.



As for the fit, there are many who just can't enjoy on ears because of the constant pressure that such designs apply to the outer ear, but at least the N-Tunes pivot for a more suitable fit. The cushy ear cups are moderately comfortable at first, but in my experience, extended use tends to cause aching.

 

One big perk? Leakage is so minimal that you can turn your tunes up, up, and away without fear of bothering neighbors. I should say it outright: Whatever your questionable musical habits are, no one will hear them.

The Long & the Short

On sale, these might just do the trick

Anyone on the hunt for a flat, studio response will need to keep on searching, but the Monster N-Tunes definitely serve up the big bass that so many buyers love—and mids and highs that keep up, too. Sometimes bass is louder in the right ear, but the error isn't very noticeable, and common problems like distortion and leakage aren't issues at all.

In a word, if comfort is everything to you, I recommend investing in a plush set of over ears instead; but if on ears don't bother you and you find these $149.95 N-Tunes on sale (like we did), you'll score big, balanced beats in a stylish package.