Monster dna on ear headphones review

That alone would be a pretty nasty issue to have, but the problems with fit don’t end there. The headphones are light on the head with decent clamp, but the headband somehow exerts an abnormal amount of force on top of the head. Much worse than even any planar magnetic headphone I’ve used. I can not wear the DNA Pro for more than an hour before I have a mild headache.

Sound Quality

Amping and Burn-In I’ve noticed no signs of burn-in or benefits to an amp with these. Use them as you’d like from the get-go. The biggest challenge will be finding how to wear these to get a good fit.

Bass With the name Monster I was expecting an overly bassy and muddy sounding headphone due to an overly exaggerated bass response. I quickly realized that my preconceived notions were wrong and unfounded based on my experience with their Beats line. The DNA Pro are neither pushy or muddy in the lower regions, all while putting out an impressive amount of bass. On the whole the bass is controlled, energetic and punchy while not once interfering with the mids.

There are times when I find the bass to be highly satisfying, some of the best that I can remember hearing in a headphone. Unfortunately I find that the bass response is missing a sense of encapsulation, taking away immersion, and it’s due to the poor seal that I’m receiving. During these times I cup my hands around the outside and gently push the headphones towards my ears to complete the seal and the bass is now perfect, surrounding me and enveloping me inside of it. With a perfect seal the bass has huge sub-bass presence, clean and rumbling without being bloated. The mid-bass hits hard and clean, carrying the energy through songs that rely on the lower region energy to come to life. Unfortunately the seal isn’t perfect without interference from me, therefore I’m going to write my review as I wear them normally.

The sub-bass of the DNA Pro is mildly exaggerated making them a contender for bassheads who are looking for more than just bass. Not only is the sub-bass present with a slight rumble, but it is done so as to be clean and controlled. I can’t think of an instance where the sub-bass drowned the thump of a kick drum or drowned out vocals. In songs like James Blakes Limit to Your Love the DNA Pro show off their ability to quickly reproduce the quickly fluctuating bass line in a clean manner. The sub-bass isn’t textured as cleanly as more expensive headphones though, I find it to come off a bit blurred at times, not as detailed as higher end headphones. The sub-bass also suffers from lacking the immersion necessary to really pull me into the music.

On the whole I find that the mid-bass tends to be controlled, punchy, full and energetic. The mid-bass carries the energy in cases of high BPM dance music as well as in high energy rock songs and hits with authority when listening to hip-hop. I find the bass to be warm and full, enjoyable and space filling. The bass can decay quickly to keep up with fast paced songs such as The Mars Volta’s Cicatriz ESP, or it can lend itself to lingering a bit to fill out tracks like Massive Attack’s Paradise Circus. At times the bass is immensely satisfying. There are times though when I find the mid-bass to lack in texture, coming off blurred like the sub-bass, and there are times I find it to be a tad bloated. I find that the DNA Pro show inadequacies in recording and mastering techniques and I feel that this is the cause of the discrepancy I hear. The texture of the bass certainly needs more detail though with a more natural sound, this seems consistent across songs.

Mids/Highs The mids have highly impressed me, especially in combination with the quality of the bass. The mids are full, clean, and detailed, some of the best I’ve heard in a while. Cursive’s song Am I Not Yours? really shows how great the mid-range of the DNA Pro is. There are two guitars, cello, and vocals all vying for attention at times, in addition to the backing of the bass guitar and drums. There is a lot going on in this song and lesser headphones would sound congested, hiding the minor details that really make this track. The DNA Pro impress most during the chorus when the two electric guitars blare with heavy distortion while Tim Kasher (vocalist) is wailing his lines. As this is occurring the cello is heard with clarity in the background. Not only am I hearing the cello, but I hear the quick pitch changes and the quick scrapings of the bow. The mid-range is incredibly lively and it suits the dirtiness of the guitar in this track, fully bringing this song to life. What the bass lacks in texture, the mid range makes up for it fully. The mid-range is detailed and lively with the finesse required for acoustic tracks and the grittiness that brings heavy rock tracks to life. Boy the mid-range is lovely.

The highs are the weakest part of the sound and that’s saying something. The highs are detailed and lean bright without being fatiguing. They are as detailed and textured as the mid-range with good extension. I like to throw on Pink Floyd’s Money when testing highs for the saxophone solo because it’s wonderfully recorded with no distortion present, any heard would be the fault of the headphones. The saxophone remains clean from the low noted start to the building highs. The highs are well represented, but they aren’t lively, in-fact I find them a bit dry and slightly thin at times. In-fact the mid range is so lively that at times I forget about the highs and envelope myself in the mids.

Presentation The sound is intimate with a slight cave like feeling, this is a common problem with closed headphones though. The width of the sound is decent, above average for closed headphones, with good depth. The great imaging qualities of the DNA Pro bring the music to life, placing the instruments around my head in a 3d space rather than placed in front of me. Instrument separation is also top notch, allowing me to pick apart the various instruments in complex passages. The sound never feels cluttered despite being closed, rather the sound is intimate and enveloping.

Conclusion

Now comes the tough part for me. On one hand the DNA Pro sound pretty stellar. I love the bass response, with my hands cupped, the mid range is superb and the highs are clean and well extended. If these had the comfort of the Mad Dogs then these would be an instant buy for anyone who doesn’t mind the aesthetics. Unfortunately I find myself wanting to take the DNA Pro off of my head after an hour as the headband puts an uncomfortable amount of pressure on top of the head. The ear cups are also poorly designed, offering little swivel to get a proper seal.

All things considered, the DNA Pro are one of the best sounding headphones I’ve heard in a while. I find them more lively and engaging than the Mr. Speakers Mad Dogs and just as detailed. If you think that you might be one to get a good fit with these and don’t mind discomfort of a headphone then go for it. You won’t be disappointed with the sound.

Is Monster headphones a good brand?

Monster is one of the better-known headphone companies in the world, building headphones that are as stylish as they are great-sounding. That's been true for a while now, and the company is showing no signs of slowing — despite the growing competition from the likes of Beats.

Do Monster DNA headphones have a mic?

Active Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode: Experience superior sound quality with the DNA FIT wireless headphones. Our bluetooth earbuds utilize 6 built-in mics to detect & eliminate outside noise, creating an immersive listening experience.

Who made DNA headphones?

After their divorce from Beats Audio in early 2012, Monster has apparently teamed up with Viacom to make and market their DNA headphones, a set of on-ear cans bathed in style and slightly better audio than its predecessors.

Which Monster earbuds are the best?

The Monster Clarity 101 AirLinks are great for sports and fitness. They're easily portable, lightweight, and fairly stable earbuds. They come with three sets of tips so you can find the best fit for you. They also have an IPX5 rating for water resistance.