Monster Cable Beatbox

Beatbox by Dr. Dre from Monster

In 2008, Dr. Dre and Monster teamed up to launch a pair of headphones, Beats by Dr. Dre ($349.95, 4 stars). Two years and several products later, the partnership has launched its first iPod dock, the Beatbox by Dr. Dre from Monster. At $449.95 (list), this is one of the more expensive docks on the market, and while it suffers from some rookie mistakes (a remote control without full iPod navigation, for instance), it gets the most important thing right: the Beatbox sounds excellent, and it is seriously powerful. It has tremendous bass response, yet somehow still feels balanced - the bass isn't boosted so much as it is well-represented. While there's room for improvement, it easily earns our Editor's Choice for high-end iPod speaker docks. The 6.5-by-20-by-6.5-inch, 20-pound Beatbox has a black, matte plastic contour on the sides and rubber on its top panel, where a Beats by Dr. Dre logo is emblazoned. It's certified for both iPods and iPhones, so you'll never hear any interference in the speakers from your phone. Continuing a recent theme in iPod docks, the Beatbox is wedge-shaped, making it a perfect fit for room corners.