Best Dr Dre Beats headphones

Dr Dre, the world's most rhythmic GP, is treating the nation's lugholes with his particular brand of bass-heavy headphone medicine. The distinctive Beats headphones bear the name of the hip-hop legend and some audacious, iconic styling. Sound quality isn't always perfect, but some headphones in this range sound decent and have a durable feel, so check our recommendations on this page if you're considering splashing out.

The Beats line-up encompasses both on-ear and in-ear headphones, as well as speakers. The on-ear range is the most recognisable however, with the Beats Solos adorning the ears of every trendy young gadabout from here to Shoreditch.

The Beats line is known for a bassy delivery that makes these 'phones ideal for listening to pop, hip-hop or rock. In our experience the cheaper on-ear cans can sound a little muddy, with the bass occasionally ballooning out of control and obscuring the rest of the mix.

As always when it comes to headphones, I'd recommend going ears-on yourself before buying, to see how a set chimes with your personal expectations of sound quality and comfort.

The Solos impress with their build quality and folding earcups, as well as a thick, replaceable cable that's unlikely to wear out very quickly. There's a cable remote with a built-in mic for iPhone users too, though the bass-heavy sound that comes through these cans sometimes sounds a bit muddy.

If you've got more cash to spend you could opt for the Studio or Pro models. These are very pricey, but the Pros are a tonne of fun, even if they're not the most... balanced headphones we've ever listened to, or the most comfortable.

Strap these beasts on to your noggin and you'll quickly feel your teeth rattling free of their fleshy moorings as the aggressive, noisy bass pounds your senses. You'll have to sell vital organs to afford the high-end on-ear Beats, but our music has never sounded so explosive.

On the in-ear side of things, we've been impressed by the sound quality offered by the Tour headphones, which also have a cool iPhone remote built into the cable. At under £100, we reckon these buds would make an excellent upgrade from the iffy headphones that come bundled with iPods or other Apple products.

The Diddybeats offer potent bass and clear sound elsewhere, though the earbuds and cable are very heavy, so may slip free of your lugs, and the Powerbeats are worth investigating if you're looking for something to use while exercising.