Do you want a set of nice headphones? Do you want a set of headphones endorsed by Dr. Dre? If the answer to both of those questions is “yes,” then perhaps Beats headphones are for you. The question, as it is with many luxury brands, is whether you want to spend $300 for a pair of headphones, and why.

Our rocking colleagues down the hall at Consumer Reports just published their headphones tests, and we were surprised to learn that they think Beats sound pretty nice, at least for the larger, pricier, over-the-ear models. Beats by Dr. Dre Executive headphones topped their ratings for that headphone type, and Beats Studio headphones actually did better on tests than headphones that cost more.

Ultimately, it comes down to what music you like, and your personal style. Do you listen to a lot of hip-hop or other bass-heavy music? Beats are ideal for that. Do you want to look cool, or specifically to be seen wearing Beats headphones? Then you know what to do. “In almost almost every category there are lower-priced models that offer the same, and sometimes better, sound quality,” note the electronics mavens. “So if sound quality is your only consideration, choose one of those models rather than a Beats set.”

If you aren’t so much into bass and what you’re looking for are earbuds or compact headphones, then Beats are probably not the choice for you. There are other headphones at those price points that will look almost as cool and cost a lot less.

Are Beats by Dr. Dre headphones worth the money? [Consumer Reports Electronics]

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