Apple Adds 'Anti-Beats' Master & Dynamic Headphones to its Online Store, Proves Open to Competition

[MacRumors]

Though Apple acquired its own headphone brand with the purchase of Beats Electronics earlier this year, the Cupertino company is demonstrating that there's still room for competitors in its Apple Store with the new addition of premium headphones by Master & Dynamic.

As of this week, Apple is now selling the Master & Dynamic MH30 On-Ear Headphones and the Master & Dynamic MH40 Over-Ear Headphones in its online store after launching in select retail stores last month. Priced quite similarly to premium Beats headphones, the $349 and $399 Master & Dynamic headphones focus on both design and high-quality audio, much like Beats.

In a July post, Forbes profiled Master & Dynamic's headphones, labeling them "the Anti-Beats by Dre." Rather than aiming for a more modern look with a bass heavy sound and flashy advertising, Forbes says Master & Dynamic headphones have been designed with a classic style, a focus on music, and a desire to provide a quality product for a niche market.

The niche that Jonathan Levine, the company's founder and CEO, saw was that Beats had blown open a massive market, but left a huge hole between premium headphones that prioritized style and those that focused on audio quality. Master & Dynamic seeks to wed design and quality in a way that attracts both audiophiles and users who wear their headphones as an accessory.

Master & Dynamic headphones, which are new to the market this year, have gotten largely positive reviews from music-focused publications, being lauded for their sound quality and their comfortable design, which includes earcups with calfskin and lambskin. One reviewer compared the headphones to the Parrot Zik, another set of high-quality headphones that have received excellent reviews.

In October, Apple removed Bose headphones from its Apple Stores, a move that some chalked up to Apple's reluctance to sell a product that competed with its line of Beats headphones, but Bose products began returning to the Apple Store earlier this week. It remains unclear why Bose headphones had been removed from Apple Stores, but it may have been related to a now-settled patent infringement lawsuit Bose levied against Beats.

Most Bose headphones have not yet returned to Apple's online and retail stores, but it is possible they'll be re-added in the near future. Though Apple has placed a heavy focus on Beats headphones, giving them a prominent place both in retail stores and online, Apple has shown few signs of cutting out all competition.

In addition to adding new headphones from competing brand Master & Dynamic, the company continues to sell a range of other headphones from companies like Bowers & Wilkins, Alpine, Parrot, SMS Audio, Marshall, Denon, Sennheiser, and more.

Article Link: Apple Adds 'Anti-Beats' Master & Dynamic Headphones to its Online Store, Proves Open to Competition

 

[LostMyiPhone]

See guys, we're not *that* bad...

 

[carrrrrlos]

Let’s see how long they’te up there.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

I'm old school...

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

Where as other tech companies are creating adverts comparing them to Apple

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

But those are nothing like my motorcycle speakers...

 

[H2SO4]

I shop with my eyes first these days. Those cans have piqued my interest.

EDIT: Sorry, just saw the price, I’ll be buying Sennheiser Momentum instead.

 

[Tony78228]

when I read "anti beats" I thought, so these are affordable then...lol

 

[MasterRyu2011]

Since these head phones focus more on audio quality rather than simply aesthetics, shouldn't they be called "pro-beats" instead..

 

[sittnick]

Radio Shack headphones

I'm old school...

Don't laugh, I grew up with the $23.95 pair of headphones in that catalogue (OEM Koss). They were great until the standard 1/4" connector started cutting out. On the receivers, I still miss analogue knobs.

 

[jc1350]

A sale is a sale.

 

[TsunamiTheClown]

I'm old school...

Image

That turtleneck tho.

 

[puckhead193]

at about half the price i'll stick with my AT m50x

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

That turtleneck tho.

It hides what the Missus leaves on my neck.


----------

Don't laugh, I grew up with the $23.95 pair of headphones in that catalogue (OEM Koss). They were great until the standard 1/4" connector started cutting out. On the receivers, I still miss analogue knobs.

I'm looking forward to the resurrection of Heathkit for that reason. I don't suppose they'll have a tube digital radio, will they?

 

[ChazSch]

Apple seems to change direction A LOT these days...ban an App, reinstate it two days later....remove Bose, put 'em back. Release Safari, call it back.

seems like mid-level managers are making decisions and senior staff then reverses it. Odd, very odd. Shows the daily disconnect

 

[dannyyankou]

I shop with my eyes first these days. Those cans have piqued my interest.

EDIT: Sorry, just saw the price, I’ll be buying Sennheiser Momentum instead.

Same, I've been looking into the Momentuns and it seems like they have a good combination of style and audiophile sound.

 

[ayale99]

Makes sense. These are products for two different target markets. Beats are for people who have no clue about audio quality and more interested in a fashion statement because they saw a celebrity on TV wearing them. Masters & Dynamics, B&O, Bowers & Wilkins, etc are for people who know what good audio quality is.

 

[The Barron]

Turtle Neck, are you sure?

That turtleneck tho.

That could be the famous Dicky worn by so many celebs back in the day. Who were those dudes? Hmmmm

 

[mr.steevo]

Personally, I prefer Grado Labs SR80. Made in the USA and a better price too.

 

[Happy-Mac]

Don't laugh, I grew up with the $23.95 pair of headphones in that catalogue (OEM Koss). They were great until the standard 1/4" connector started cutting out. On the receivers, I still miss analogue knobs.

I'm pretty sure my kids will remember these when they grow up (also about $23.95 a pair), but the cord is replaceable, so no worries about the male connector wearing out.

Growing up, my parents told me "no headphones, they'll damage you ears!"

So, I would crank up the stereo until the windows would rattler while they were still at work

 

[scottsjack]

That is an excellent, and unexpected, sign of reasonableness on Apple's part. As a seller of quality equipment the Apple Store would do well to offer several lines of quality headphones.

 

[kolax]

That is an excellent, and unexpected, sign of reasonableness on Apple's part. As a seller of quality equipment the Apple Store would do well to offer several lines of quality headphones.

Also makes business sense. They'll make money selling their competitors headphones.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

IDK, this makes about as much sense as selling Windows, to me.

 

[scottsjack]

IDK, this makes about as much sense as selling Windows, to me.

To be honest I see no reason that the Apple Store should not sell both Windows and Office. Many Mac users live in the real world and use both.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Priced quite similarly to premium Beats headphones, the $349 and $399 Master & Dynamic headphones focus on both design and high-quality audio, much like Beats.

??? Personally, I guess I can get into Beats being focused on design but the "high-quality audio" part of that doesn't seem to fit (IMO).

It reminds me of how articles about how iOS "flatter" seems to be automatically paired with "more modern" as in "a flatter, more modern design." I can certainly see "flatter" in the new iOS but I struggle with "more modern" given that 2 and 4-color minimalist icon designs were prevalent way back in the 1980's when 16 and 32-color graphics were cutting-edge.

For me anyway, the appendage of "much like Beats" should be cut. Or perhaps I need to be enlightened on non-Appleite reviews of Beats being noted for "high-quality audio"? Personally, I think Beats phones sound OK but they don't seem to have much focus on reproducing the intended sound unless the intended sound is heavy on the bass. I would judge audio quality on the quality of that reproduction as intended by the artists who make the audio, so biasing to the bass would not yield a "high quality" rating from me (but that's just me).

I perceive the main idea of this move is to offer a line focused on quality of sound (as it's intended to be heard) in addition to the home-owned line focused mostly on amped-up bass, design & marketing. Else, if those phones are about the same in price, design and audio quality, why bother?