Five headphones better than Dre’s

Music stars, athletes and celebrities wouldn't be seen dead without their pair of Beats by Dr Dre, but are they more style over substance? We look at five alternative to the popular headphones. Source: AFP

DR Dre's Beats headphones are adored by celebrities and sport stars, but despite the hype when it comes to audio ability they're not A-list.

The savvy music producer saw a gap in the market to create a brand of headphones that were cool, stylish and had that premium feel. Essentially, he wanted to make the iPhone of headphones and when it comes to branding he has managed to do exactly that.

Without doubt, these are the coolest headphones on the market, which is why Apple is reportedly sniffing around a $3.2 billion buyout that could shake up the audio scene. But just because you've seen Wayne Rooney or the Kardashians walking around with a pair of these cans doesn't mean they're the best thing going.

When it comes to audio we're not star struck. This reviewer has been testing Beats for years and has always found them far too overblown. Clarity is sacrificed in favour of a heavy bass which results in the muffling of other instruments on your favourite tracks.

Sure, you get an impressive kick in the ear of bass but they simply don't do a wide spectrum of music genres justice when pushed at high volumes because they don't hold their composure.

For the hefty price tag this just isn't on. The over-ear range starts at $229 and climbs up to $500, and for the same price there are some stunning alternatives worth introducing to your ear drums.

Sennheiser Momentum

Like your music? Get a pair of these. Source: Supplied

The best headphones you can get at this price — bar none. The outstanding audio quality on show here will make you want to rediscover your entire music collection as its freakishly clear reproduction is like listening to your tracks live. They pack superb guttural basses but it's the top notes that stun. Stick on an track and you can literally hear the intake of a singer's breath or the vibrations of the strings on instruments. We love the retro styling too, carrying a more grown-up aura compared to Beats.

$400

www.sennheiser.com

Bose QuietComfort 15

Shhhh. The best way to shut up the outside world. Source: Supplied

One thing that can easily disrupt your musical enjoyment is other noise. But some headphones come with noise-cancelling technology and who better to do this than the very company that developed the concept? These babies listen to the racket going on outside your headphones and play at a frequency to counteract the outside clatter. While a pair of Beats Studios come with adaptive noise-cancelling this pair from Bose is the daddy of noise-cancelling having been developed specifically to battle the intolerable din we're subjected to during air travel.

$399

www.bose.com

B&W P3

Made for music fans and fashionistas. Source: Supplied

The wild public popularity of Beats saw new models launch including a more affordable, less bulky pair called Solo. But despite an eye-catching design they were criticised again for being underwhelming. Step in audio legends Bowers and Wilkins with their P3s packing crisp vocals and rich, deep and weighty sound. As far as styling goes, they also look the business with brushed aluminium and white or black colour options. The smartest looking pair here.

$280

www.apple.com

AKG K451

Great value. Source: Supplied

Here's a shining example of how you don't need to spend heaps of money for a decent audio experience. These value 'phones surprise with excellent, tight reproduction and plenty of thump from bass notes. Even at high volume they are impressive. They might not be as comfortable as Beats Solos but they go lighter on the wallet.

$90-$100 (approx)

www.akg.com

Philips M1BT

Getting more from your wireless. Source: Supplied

Dr Dre decided to cut the cord by releasing a pair of wireless, Bluetooth headphones but reviewers sang a familiar tune: their sound was still too harsh. This pair from Philips are a similar price but fared much more favourably. With a superb sound that avoids the unrefined effects of wireless audio, these beauties deliver a detailed and focused performance. They don't look as appealing as Beats but it a sacrifice worth making. After all, they'll be on your head anyway.

$380

www.philips.com.au

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