Beats by Dre

You're paying for a name. Are they awesome? YES. Are there others just as good? Probably.
Did I just buy my daughter some for Christmas? Yes.....
I got the Beats Solo, $170 I think they were from Best Buy.

EDIT: I believe this is one of the few products that money equals quality. I understand what you're saying. Name brands like Bose, Beats, iPhone all those are pricey, but you know what you're getting. Doesn't always mean the next person agrees with what it costs.

A.,

I personally don't have them. But I bought a pair last year for our "second" son (known him since he was born, he's now 15, over to the house A LOT) and he LOVES them. I got them NEW on ebay for $79.

I bought him the beats ear buds this year - Groupon - $79 as well.

Two other kids that we know (teenagers) have them. I'm surprised at how well they take care of them...guess they realize the price?!? LOL! They use them daily.

Look around - you might find a deal!!

I just bought these for my 14 year old, but I browsed Bradsdeals.com (my super fave deal site), and got a refurb pair in lime green for $80 and free shipping. They came a couple of weeks ago and look absolutely brand new, and work awesome. I think he will be thrilled; and I wasn't spending $200 on a pair! They came from a website called Sharkstores, I think, and I had never ordered from them before.
Keep your eyes open; there are refurb pairs I see on deal sites like I mentioned, and you can probably get them for $100 or under.

These headphones are the latest and greatest fad. The teenagers love them. We got my daughter some and they were about $200 from Best Buy. She loves them. Me.....I don't get it, but then again I'm not into electronics that way. I would also suggest you get an extended warranty. You might be able to find them on sale now for $160 or so. I think new colors have been introduced also.

From what I understand (from older teen relatives--very grounded ones, who are out of high school).. they actually do sound better than any of the "cheap" headphones. But once you get into the realm of $100 headphones, they are not better than any other $100 headphones... then it's a matter of the name. And as a teen, you do not want to be seen with knockoffs.

My 15 yr old asked for some. Target had them on Black Friday for $119 in the store, and $115 online, regularly $179. That's what he's getting.

I just read a post on my FB where there are some fakes ones going around so just beware/aware so you might be able to spot a fake.

I would not pay this much for anything for a kid. Even if they were the best kid in the world. I am just to aware of the worth of stuff. That's a lot of gallons of milk or gallons of gasoline to spend on head phones.

That's nearly someone's rent or house payment. I do know a couple of people who have house payments below $300 per month.

That's more than a new bike or any other normal toy a kid could want so if I decided to get them for kiddo you know there would be super strict rules about them. Only in his room and never ever ever ever outside the house, not even in the vehicles to listen to a video or music. They could fall out of the vehicle when we're stopped and be lost forever. No way no how would these items be normal use. They'd be strictly regulated.

I'd probably buy them on ebay or amazon if I could find the better price. Ebay has some good guarantees now.

Ditto Jim!

In our musical family, where we listen to music with a critical ear towards balance, harmony, etc, we own Beats. They are fantastic for true musicians.

However I was hard pressed into the switch at the age of 52. There are plenty of great products on the market. If you're buying them as a fashion statement, I'd say forget it. If your buying them because your son is sincerely, genuinely interested in music, loves music, can't spend a day without music, then you will not regret this purchase.

BTW, I use the PowerBeats, and they are less expensive then the headphone sets. They are designed for going to the gym or exercise and have a super comfortable over the ear holding piece. They are on sale for less than $150 right now. Also, check Ebay or Craigslist if you don't mind slightly used.

I don't care how great they are, I would never ever pay that kind of money for headphones.

My kids don't even know who Dre is. Ask him..."Who's Dre? What songs does he perform in?" I'll be shocked if he knows.

I read the reviews for this product on Amazon and many state that these are way overpriced and sound like a pair of $60 Skullcandy headphones. Save your money.

They are nice, but that's it, I've had some that were equally nice and a quarter of the price. You are paying for the name, and their popularity.

There is never a time in my life where I could or would justify $200 on a set of headphones. If my kids wanted them, they'd have to earn and buy them themselves.

I don't care if they're God's gift to headphones, I will NOT pay $200 for them.

ETA: My husband and I are struggling to justify to ourselves to spend $200 on a PS3 instead of the monthly payments to Rent-A-Center and wind up paying around $800.

I know, choke, choke! I did it a couple yrs ago for my youngest. It was his only present but he loves them and takes good care of them.
He is a music geek and music sounds amazing through good headphones.

Everybody spends money on stuff others would not. I would not dream of wasting money on a mani/pedi or special make up and potions. Others would.

I bought my 15 year old daughter some beats (solo) last year for Christmas. She loved them. I, personally, thought they were only ok (quality wise). The part that I didn't like us that if you listen to them even half full volume, they can be heard by people around you. I have some good quality earbuds that fit inside the ear that sound better than the beats and they are noise canceling and no one can hear my music.

Now the biggie... The broke after about 8 months! No sound on the right side. I returned them to be fixed, but I had to pay to have them sent back. Then they returned them without the correct cord (without volume control on the cord). Then they broke again 3 days later! Given my daughter's experience I think the quality isn't that great and they're way over priced, unless you can get a deal (but they might not be under warranty).

But of course it's all about the name for teens. They don't care how great they are. Or lack thereof. I know you're not going to be able to talk you son into a different brand.

I don't understand what they are, are they just way to listen to music with out other people hearing it, and they plug into your music source??

or are they the music source itself? what makes them so good, they block out extra noise??

do they damage you hearing any more or less than regular headphones?

tx