CES 2009

(Credit: Monster)

If you can't get on board with the extra-long earpieces of Monster's Beats by Dr. Dre Tour earphones, perhaps the new Turbine In-Ear Speakers are more your style. The earpieces on these aren't the tiniest I've come across, but they're compact enough to fit into my small ears comfortably. And in true Monster fashion, the Turbine earphones have a nice, sleek look going for them. Each earbud is encased in a "black chrome" all-metal housing, which gives the set a sturdy feel and fashionable look. I also dig on the thin, color-coded ring around each 'bud that indicates the left (blue) and right (red) channels. Surprisingly, and unlike with the Tours, the Turbine's cable is nothing special--it's the standard tangle-prone variety. Personally, I prefer the flat, ribbon-like variety of the Tour earphones, as it's less prone to snarls and seems much more durable.

OK, I have to say it: calling earphones "In-Ear Speakers" comes off as a tad pretentious. Frankly, any set of earbuds--even the ones that cost $500 or more--aren't going to compete with a good set of speakers. With in-ear 'phones, it's exceedingly difficult to pull the sound outside of your head, which is why some purists shun earbuds entirely (listener fatigue is a common complaint). That being said, I was impressed by the Turbine's sound quality in initial testing. Low-end response is great (plenty of bass here), and the mids are warm and buttery. Highs are fairly detailed, but might not be crisp enough for some listeners. Sound isolation is about average; several standard silicone tips are included, as well as a couple of sizes in the triple flange variety. I was able to achieve a pretty secure fit with the smallest sleeves. All-in-all, these 'phones stand to be a real competitor in the $150 price range. Check back for an in-depth review in the coming weeks.

Photos: Monster Turbine In-Ear Speakers

(Credit: CBS Interactive/Sarah Tew)

Excuse me a moment while I brush the stars out of my eyes. I just spent the better part of my lunch hour chilling with a bunch of Monster executives and rapper Ludacris, who creates some of my favorite workout-friendly and anger-releasing tracks. OK, so maybe I only spent 5 minutes one-on-one with the guy, but it was enough to ascertain that he's not only a talented artist, but also an exceedingly nice and polite guy. He also has no idea what an MP3 player is. Well, now he does. But when I asked him what MP3 player he used, he replied with something along the lines of "a what, now?" I proceeded to explain that it was a portable device, something that you might take with you to the gym to listen to music. He held up the iPod in his hand and said, "like this?" Exactly. He also has an iPhone.

With this information in hand, I was pretty sure I already knew the answer to my next question, but I pressed on to ask him what headphones he used, the just-announced Monster Turbine In-Ear Speakers hanging from his ears as I spoke. He wasn't sure, exactly, but he could say that the Turbines were much better, due to the "suction thing" on the tips. So you have it from Ludacris himself--sound isolation is where it's at. And I confirmed that he had been using the stock Apple earbuds before that; no wonder the Turbines sounded better. It never ceases to amaze me that so many musicians never get around to upgrading their listening experiences, despite the fact that I've seen plentiful photos of music-minded celebs like Justin Timberlake cruising around with the ubiquitous white earbuds.

From left to right, Head Monster Noel Lee, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Kevin 'The Little Monster' Lee. (Click for more pics.)

(Credit: CBS Interactive/Sarah Tew)

The real news from Monster and Ludacris, however, is the release of Ludacris' new album, Theater of the Mind, in High Definition Stereo Surround. The album was actually mixed by Head Monster himself, Noel Lee, and I must say it sounds fantastic. If you get a chance, it's definitely worth listening to the format--hopefully places like Best Buy will have listening stations set up in the near future. It's difficult to describe in print, but let's just say you feel like you are in the studio. If you want to enjoy the album in HDS--on DVD, by the way--you'll need at least a surround sound system to notice the difference between it and a standard CD. The cheapest systems now are running for around $300-400. Monster also has plans to release a mixed down version that will be compatible with Dolby Digital Technology, which lets you experience the surround sound through headphones.

Note: stay tuned for more info on the Turbine headphones.

Photos: Monster and Ludacris at the Venetian