Pros: Removable cable, energetic/engaging sound, good sound imaging and separation, good level of detail retrieval, clean sound.
Cons: Aesthetics seem aimed at kids, poor fit, comfort is bad, too much sound leakage for portable use in quiet environments.
Style: Closed circumaural
Tonal Balance: Mild v-shape with clean mids.
Preferred Genres: Drum & Bass, Classic Rock, Synth Driven Indie Dance, Hip-Hop, Progressive Rock. Overall I’ve enjoyed the DNA Pro with a large variety of music, these are highly versatile.
Amping: Not necessary
Listening Set-Up: Musicbee (WASAPI) -> Schiit Modi -> Schiit Asgard 2
 

Design and Build Quality

 

 
 
Build Quality
The DNA Pro are built about just as good as any consumer grade headphone in this price range. That is to say that they are built well enough to hold up to daily use as long as you’re not rough with them. The construction seems primarily of plastic that feels likely to break if flexed too hard and pleather pads which feel rather cheap. I can’t find a way to remove the pads either so once they’re worn out they seem to be irreplaceable. The head size hinges feel solid, there are no creeks, but they don’t make me feel confident about using them in public, which is all well and good as I wouldn’t use them for public use anyway due to their leakage.
 
Fit
The fit is the low point of the DNA Pro, it’s a shame really as they sound quite nice, but I find them uncomfortable to wear for extended time periods. The biggest problem is the lack of swivel for the ear cups. This causes uneven distribution of pressure from the pads, which in turn makes it hard to get a good seal with these. The bottom of the pad digs into the area under my ear while the top part loosely presses against my head. The loss of seal creates a loss of intimacy and loss of bass. I’ve managed to find a “fix” for this, by pushing the headband more towards my forehead I find that the pads cup around my ear better. The seal still isn’t perfect, but it’s better than wearing the headband on top of my head, even if it looks goofy.
 
That alone would be a pretty nasty issue to have, but the problems with fit don’t end there. The headphones are light on the head with decent clamp, but the headband somehow exerts an abnormal amount of force on top of the head. Much worse than even any planar magnetic headphone I’ve used. I can not wear the DNA Pro for more than an hour before I have a mild headache.
 

Sound Quality

 
Amping and Burn-In
I’ve noticed no signs of burn-in or benefits to an amp with these. Use them as you’d like from the get-go. The biggest challenge will be finding how to wear these to get a good fit.
 
Bass
With the name Monster I was expecting an overly bassy and muddy sounding headphone due to an overly exaggerated bass response. I quickly realized that my preconceived notions were wrong and unfounded based on my experience with their Beats line. The DNA Pro are neither pushy or muddy in the lower regions, all while putting out an impressive amount of bass. On the whole the bass is controlled, energetic and punchy while not once interfering with the mids.
 
There are times when I find the bass to be highly satisfying, some of the best that I can remember hearing in a headphone. Unfortunately I find that the bass response is missing a sense of encapsulation, taking away immersion, and it’s due to the poor seal that I’m receiving. During these times I cup my hands around the outside and gently push the headphones towards my ears to complete the seal and the bass is now perfect, surrounding me and enveloping me inside of it. With a perfect seal the bass has huge sub-bass presence, clean and rumbling without being bloated. The mid-bass hits hard and clean, carrying the energy through songs that rely on the lower region energy to come to life. Unfortunately the seal isn’t perfect without interference from me, therefore I’m going to write my review as I wear them normally.
 
The sub-bass of the DNA Pro is mildly exaggerated making them a contender for bassheads who are looking for more than just bass. Not only is the sub-bass present with a slight rumble, but it is done so as to be clean and controlled. I can’t think of an instance where the sub-bass drowned the thump of a kick drum or drowned out vocals. In songs like James Blakes Limit to Your Love the DNA Pro show off their ability to quickly reproduce the quickly fluctuating bass line in a clean manner. The sub-bass isn’t textured as cleanly as more expensive headphones though, I find it to come off a bit blurred at times, not as detailed as higher end headphones. The sub-bass also suffers from lacking the immersion necessary to really pull me into the music.
 
On the whole I find that the mid-bass tends to be controlled, punchy, full and energetic. The mid-bass carries the energy in cases of high BPM dance music as well as in high energy rock songs and hits with authority when listening to hip-hop. I find the bass to be warm and full, enjoyable and space filling. The bass can decay quickly to keep up with fast paced songs such as The Mars Volta’s Cicatriz ESP, or it can lend itself to lingering a bit to fill out tracks like Massive Attack’s Paradise Circus. At times the bass is immensely satisfying. There are times though when I find the mid-bass to lack in texture, coming off blurred like the sub-bass, and there are times I find it to be a tad bloated. I find that the DNA Pro show inadequacies in recording and mastering techniques and I feel that this is the cause of the discrepancy I hear. The texture of the bass certainly needs more detail though with a more natural sound, this seems consistent across songs.
 
Mids/Highs
The mids have highly impressed me, especially in combination with the quality of the bass. The mids are full, clean, and detailed, some of the best I’ve heard in a while. Cursive’s song Am I Not Yours? really shows how great the mid-range of the DNA Pro is. There are two guitars, cello, and vocals all vying for attention at times, in addition to the backing of the bass guitar and drums. There is a lot going on in this song and lesser headphones would sound congested, hiding the minor details that really make this track. The DNA Pro impress most during the chorus when the two electric guitars blare with heavy distortion while Tim Kasher (vocalist) is wailing his lines. As this is occurring the cello is heard with clarity in the background. Not only am I hearing the cello, but I hear the quick pitch changes and the quick scrapings of the bow. The mid-range is incredibly lively and it suits the dirtiness of the guitar in this track, fully bringing this song to life. What the bass lacks in texture, the mid range makes up for it fully. The mid-range is detailed and lively with the finesse required for acoustic tracks and the grittiness that brings heavy rock tracks to life. Boy the mid-range is lovely.
 
The highs are the weakest part of the sound and that’s saying something. The highs are detailed and lean bright without being fatiguing. They are as detailed and textured as the mid-range with good extension. I like to throw on Pink Floyd’s Money when testing highs for the saxophone solo because it’s wonderfully recorded with no distortion present, any heard would be the fault of the headphones. The saxophone remains clean from the low noted start to the building highs. The highs are well represented, but they aren’t lively, in-fact I find them a bit dry and slightly thin at times. In-fact the mid range is so lively that at times I forget about the highs and envelope myself in the mids.
 
Presentation
The sound is intimate with a slight cave like feeling, this is a common problem with closed headphones though. The width of the sound is decent, above average for closed headphones, with good depth. The great imaging qualities of the DNA Pro bring the music to life, placing the instruments around my head in a 3d space rather than placed in front of me. Instrument separation is also top notch, allowing me to pick apart the various instruments in complex passages. The sound never feels cluttered despite being closed, rather the sound is intimate and enveloping.
 

Conclusion

 
Now comes the tough part for me. On one hand the DNA Pro sound pretty stellar. I love the bass response, with my hands cupped, the mid range is superb and the highs are clean and well extended. If these had the comfort of the Mad Dogs then these would be an instant buy for anyone who doesn’t mind the aesthetics. Unfortunately I find myself wanting to take the DNA Pro off of my head after an hour as the headband puts an uncomfortable amount of pressure on top of the head. The ear cups are also poorly designed, offering little swivel to get a proper seal.
 
All things considered, the DNA Pro are one of the best sounding headphones I’ve heard in a while. I find them more lively and engaging than the Mr. Speakers Mad Dogs and just as detailed. If you think that you might be one to get a good fit with these and don’t mind discomfort of a headphone then go for it. You won’t be disappointed with the sound.
 
Come see the full photo set here.

I have to agree with every point you made except for Fit/Comfort.  I had these (Monster DNA Pro over-ear) for a few days, and I'm VERY impressed with their SQ.  I have a lot of popular headphones in my collection, and these Monsters quickly went to the top of my list.  I will add later my own review as a reply to your post since it makes no sense to start another thread.
 
But regarding Fit/Comfort it almost sounds like you got a defective one or something?  Have you tried another pair, maybe stop by your local Best Buy to check it out?  I don't have a big head, and I can tell you with certainty they have one of the best passive sound isolation I have experienced.  The clamping force is just perfect, and over-ear triangular shaped pads are on par with a comfort of my P7 and M-100 (obviously more comfortable than Momentum).  They form a perfect seal, no sound leakage at all.

This was part of a focus group for Monster and just about all of us complained about the fit. It seems you're one of the lucky ones!

keanex said:

  This was part of a focus group for Monster and just about all of us complained about the fit. It seems you're one of the lucky ones!

Click to expand...

 
Hmm, did you guys all use the same pair?  Maybe it got stretched by someone's huge melon lol!!!  Mine is obviously brand new, but I remember a great seal even with a pair I tested at BB.  I typically use v-moda faders as my earplugs at home when I'm working, but instead last night I put DNA Pros on.  It felt like I was wearing a soundproof helmet.  Funny that I was wearing Monster headphones and was actually wishing these would have a bit more bass
 
Btw, did you see recent detailed review by Mad Lust Envy?  It was even featured on head-fi cover page.  Scroll down to his DNA Pro review here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-2-20-2014-boompro-list-chicoloms-faq-added - his only fitment complaint was due to big size of his head where headband didn't extend far enough, and he also mentioned that he found clamping force to be a bit too strong (which perhaps goes together with headband extension fitment?).
 
Oh, and just curious since you mentioned focus group and considering I'm also from jersey, are there any head-fi or audiophile gatherings in NJ?

Nope we all received brand new packages. Out of curiosity how do other headphones fit on you such as the M50?
 
As for gatherings, there was one not too long ago not far outside of Philly, I couldn't attend though.

M50 is very comfortable and probably more on a loose side, could be a bit stretched out by now since I use it a lot in dj style with one cup off.  P7 was tight at first, but now more comfortable, though I still feel pressure.  M-100 are always comfortable tight, and when I had Momentum (over-ears) it was snugly as well.  Typically most of the over-ears I tried were either comfortable or with a bit of pressure, with an exception of HD280Pro - that one can squeeze your brains out.  I consider myself having an average or below average head size, that's why I would expect to be the one complaining about loose fit   Will ask my wife to take a few pictures of me wearing DNA Pro after work.

Thanks for your detailed reply. I find it interesting even more so now that you don't have any fit issues with the DNA Pro.

Here is a quick selfie of left/right side I took.  As you can see, headband is extended a few clicks, and the fitment is right on.
 
Will post my detailed full review in a few minutes.
 

 

This is a review of Monster DNA Pro over-ear headphones. http://www.monsterproducts.com/headphones/dna/dna-over-ear.asp#128429-00
 
Although well known for their high quality cables, thus a name Monster Cable, a lot of you probably more familiar with their association with another superstar endorsed product - Monster Beats headphones. Either if you are a fan of these headphones or have a critical opinion about them, there is no denial they started the revolution of making it cool to wear over-ear headphones in public and paved the way for other top brand headphone manufacturers to reconsider their designs toward a more fashionable appeal. Once their association with Beats came to an end, when 2009-2012 contract expired and Beats went on to manufacture their own products, the question remained if Monster will continue this winning legacy. After having a chance to test and to review their DNA Pro headphones, I can tell you with certainty they didn't just deliver it but actually surpassed it! Let's take I closer look.
 
From the moment you hold DNA Pros packaging box you know you are dealing with a high quality product. The high resolution cover picture of the headphones and detailed description of all the features provides a great walk-through even before you open the magnetic cover flap to reveal the actual product. In addition to headphones, the accessories include two types of cables, one audio only and the other with in-line remote control, 1/4 inch adapter, high quality carrying pouch, and cleaning cloth. The quality of these accessories is equally impressive. Although I would prefer a hard zipped case to fit their folding design, the included pouch is made out of quality velor material with a durable lining and internal storage pocket, draw string, and carabiner clip. The fitment inside of this pouch is feasible for a folded DNA Pros together with a set of cables, but it was very tight and not as easy to take it out afterwards, that's why I would have preferred a more practical protective hard case.
 
When it comes to cables, Monster stayed true to their legacy and delivered on that as well. ControlTalk cable had a flat tangle free cable with angled plug for a smartphone connection and a really cool in-line remote design with built-in mic. Obviously, volume up/down buttons are for iDevice only, but multi-function button works great for play/pause/talk, double-click to skip the track, and long-press for Google NOW on Android devices, tested successfully with my Galaxy Note 2. Although I did phone call testing in a noise free environment, Monster designed their mic optimized for near-field voice pick-up to reduce any background noise. The other included audio cable which is a mix of straight and short coiled section is by far one of the best designs I have seen, and I can see it becoming my go-to replacement cable for use with other headphones. That extra coil section of otherwise straight tangle free cable makes a huge difference for strain relief of the cable connector without adding a dragging weight of typical coiled cables. Of course, I don't even have to mention how important it is to have a removable cable to extended the life of your headphones where cable connection is usually the weakest point. Plus, removable cable allows future upgrades with other pro cables or using cables with different in-line controls. And speaking of cable connection, each earcup has it's own 3.5mm port thus allowing MusicShare with daisy-chaining to another headphone pair or simply a choice of cable connection to either left or right side.
 
Now, lets move on to the main subject of the review - the headphones and their design. Although not exactly featherlight at 268g, once unfolded they still feel light and very well balanced. While using mostly plastic material with an exception of durable metal hinges and metal guiding rails for headband extension, the plastic didn't feel cheap at all, and I really liked its matte finish. The shiny triangular pieces on outer earcups are the only in-your-face shiny parts which hopefully "stick" around for awhile. Now, I would like to talk a little bit more about "triangular" bold design of these headphones. For sure they look aggressive and make headphones stand out from a crowd, but I have a slightly mixed feeling about it. We are so used to a traditional round design, that anything outside of that shape makes it look gimmicky. Don't get me wrong, DNA Pro looks super cool, but this shape made the look skewed more toward gaming or sports headphones rather than something intended for relaxed audiophile listening. Everything else is designed to a perfection from a unique foam pad with a rubbery cover finish of inner headband to a marshmallow soft memory foam earpads encapsulating your ears like pillows while a floating inner earcup adjusts to a curvature of your head. Though I have an average size head, the clamping force was just perfect and they provided an incredible seal with one of the best passive noise isolations I have ever experienced. With a clever sense of humor Monster mentioned on their packaging box "no batteries needed", obviously pointing out their passive noise isolation is as good as an active one. Also, headband had a precise click adjustment for those with OCD who like to keep each side symmetric
 
The sound test I approached being a little nervous considering previous reputation of Beats known for their bloated muddy bass and lack of details across frequency range. But I was in for a big surprise!!! We are talking about a quality balanced bright sound with a nice emphasis on mids to bring some of the best vocal rendering I heard in a long time. Though I listen to a lot of EDM music, I'm not a basshead and always struggle to find headphones with a perfect balance of bass/treble and mids without an exaggerated v-shaped response. Here, mids were perfectly leveled, crystal clear and bright, and with so much details that I had to re-listen to some of my favorite vocal tracks. The treble had a very nice sparkle to it, great extension to reveal details missing in a lot of other headphones I previously tested, while still being easy on your ears during an extended listening without any hint of sibilance. Bass also had a great deal of details with a nice punchy mid-bass and warm sub-bass layer, all nicely separately and controlled without spilling into mids. Furthermore, I found soundstage to be wider than average, very satisfying and rewarding while watching movies with 3D sound effect. Also, stereo separation was excellent. In addition, I was able to drive it easily from my smartphone and laptop, and actually found it to be forgiving even with a few of the lower quality tracks. When used with X5 DAP, beside better sound quality, I also noticed that upper mids had a slight boost with a more upfront character, so I believe the sound can benefit from being amped but it's not necessary in order to enjoy DNA Pros.
 
Overall, discovering DNA Pros turned out to be one pleasant surprise!!! Everything from a built quality to comfort and fitment was expected knowing their previous history, but the quality of their sound is what really caught me by surprise to the point where I had to re-evaluate all the headphones in my collection which elevated DNA Pro to the top. I'm also excited regarding their recent announcement about DNA Pro Wireless which supposed to take advantage of the BT 4.0 with aptX codec and deliver a wireless sound on par with a wired one. In conclusion, it's really hard to find one pair of headphones that are good at everything and can cover all genres of music, but I think DNA Pro comes very close to accomplish that! Also, in their price range they outperform headphones that cost at least $100 more which make them a great value as well.
 
Here are the pictures.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing your review as well as the pictures. It looks like you definitely got a better fit than I.

Hi everyone,
and thanks for your good reviews.
 
i'm seriously thinking of buying this headphones as a gift for my girlfriend and mostly because of all the good things i've read here.
I have some questions that will be hard to answer.
 
How do you think it could compare to the new pioneer se-mx9? 
 
And about the future wireless version of the dna pro, could someone explain to me wha is the "usb direct mode" ?
 
thx

Hey I wanted to get these but I wanna know how they compare to the beat pros and the monster inspiration

Anyone have experience with these vs the SRH 1540? If so how do they compare sound wise, comfort wise, and isolation wise?

I will go ahead and answer my own question. I had a listen to the Pro today and they seal OK for me but were sweaty so comfort was so so and seal and isolation was about the same as the 1540.

Sound wise the 1540 had deeper more articulate bass, better mids, and more detailed treble but a similar upper mid/treble slant. I found it also lacked the dynamics i want unless i turned up the volume. While I enjoyed the portability I would not trade the sound of the 1540. I may try the NAD Viso HP50 again as I think it might give me the portability I want, or I may just live with the 1540 size as it does play well from my portable devices.

There is a new version Dna Pro 2.0. Any difference?