Beats Audio vs. Monster

If it is easy to compare two latest HTC and Nokia smartphones popular on the market, then the headsets coming with them are more difficult to compare. This is due to the controversial responses coming from the consumers and also fierce marketing battles going on.

With the more and more technological development of the smartphones and the software coming with them, the users are more demanding as to the quality of their favorite pastime – that is listening to music on the fly. If before the audiophiles were satisfied with any kind of sound coming from their devices, now they are more intelligent as to the details of the music they hear.

HTC continues to put great emphasis on Beats Audio technology and headsets coming with its smartphones. The company acquired 51 percent of Beats’ shares over the summer for $300 million and came forward with its first smartphone, the HTC Sensation XE with Dr. Dre Headset. HTC claimed there are technological innovations as to the sound quality, which will enable the listener to “hear the sound inside.”

“Beats has found a unique way to harness popular culture in a manner that is unlike any other brand today,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “It’s an exciting brand that has been built around providing something very special, and we believe our strategic partnership will provide customers with unbeatable sound on HTC phones. We obsess over every detail of a consumer’s mobile experience and audio is a critical part of that experience.”

How this technology is doing with the customers is still not clear, for the range of comments is very wide, starting with adoration and amazement, statements about a new era in sound technology and finishing with negative ones, like not bringing the quality advertised, too expensive, not fitting well and so on.

There is also an interesting detail about the performance of Beats Audio headsets: there is information that in order to prove their superior quality they must be connected and work with a device, which came with pre-installed Beats Audio software. This proves that Beats Audio is not only the physical headsets, but also a unique software solution, which integrating with the brand’s hardware, produces the sound quality advertised. For example, when connecting Beats Audio ear buds to the HTC Rezound smartphone, Beats Audio logo appears on the screen of the phone, indicating that now it plays with Beats Audio technology. This means it will impact the experience of the music. If you connect Beats Audio headsets to an earlier smartphone, no such logo appears.

But the fact now is the HTC smartphones with Beats Audio continue to attract customers, and not least to the existence of Beats Audio feature.

Now what about Nokia’s headsets for their leading smartphones? This is what Nokia has put on their official website, “These mobile HD headphones are the result of collaboration between Nokia and Monster. With great mobile features and high performance speakers they deliver outstanding audio quality and hands free convenience. They’re constructed from premium scratch resistant materials to ensure light weight, durability, and good looks. And yes, they do sound great.” One of the latest smartphones to go with the Monster headset, the Nokia Lumia 800 continues its successful march across many territories.

Well, Nokia has opted for Monster in October this year and the companies came up with their first fruits of their cooperation, that is Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset and In-ear Nokia Purity Stereo Headset, which come in four colors: black, white, fuchsia, and cyan. The Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset is made from scratch-resistant material and features an on-ear design. There is one Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset specially designed for a Windows Phone device (with ControlTalk cable), and the rest are for the rest. The Nokia Purity Stereo Headset is developed specially for those who like ear buds and boasts of its “low bass, clear mids, and crisp highs” and is available in five different sizes. All headsets come with hard shell carrying case, which are specially designed to save space and are made from a durable material to protect the headset inside. They weigh only 18 gr and have music and call-handling control buttons on the cable. They also come with some instructions on how to isolate the noise for best experience.

As to the question whether HTC’s Beats Audio is better than Nokia’s Monster headsets remains to be solved in the future. The fact is that both companies claim that their product is superior over the other, both claim they have made sound innovations, to provide completely new audio technology. The sheer analysis of user comments is unfortunately not much helpful for the final conclusion on this matter, for the listening experience is deeply subjective and also depends on many external factors; such for example is mood and predisposition to a brand. Some consumers even state nothing good can come out of Monster even without trying the Nokia Headsets itself and that is surely based on previous negative experience. The same can be said for HTC’s Beats Audio. One thing is clear though — a new era is coming when high-range smartphones are competing not only with their internal characteristics and features, but also their accessories, which can be a decisive factor as to which phone is more popular with the general public.