Hip-Hop icon and legendary rapper/producer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young has partnered with Interscope Geffen A&M Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine and Monster, a leading manufacturer of professional audio and video accessories, to create the “Beats by Dr. Dre” headphones.

A consummate producer with a penchant for details, Dr. Dre’s newest innovation is designed to maximize the listening experience for consumers by capturing the subtle nuances hidden in most musical recordings. Featuring powered isolation technology created to reduce external noise and enhance sound quality, the former Death Row Records co-founder and Aftermath Records boss conveyed his confidence that “Beats by Dr. Dre” meets his standard for the way headphones should perform.

“Artists and producers work hard in the studio perfecting their sound, but people can’t really hear it with normal headphones. Most headphones can’t handle the bass, the detail, the dynamics. Bottom line: the music doesn’t move you. With Beats, people are going to hear what the artists hear and listen to the music the way they should – the way I do.”

Years in the making, Jimmy Iovine expressed his satisfaction in the final product, explaining: “Dre and I have been developing these headphones for a while and in Monster we found a partner that could work with us to crystallize his vision and develop them to the quality level he expects.”

The stylish black high-definition headphones emblazoned with a red “b” logo enclosed in a white/metallic/silver circular design are retailing for $349.95 at Apple and Best Buy locations. To entice shoppers to sample the “Beats by Dr. Dre,” listening stations have been set-up at select stores so that consumers can hear and experience the difference in audio engineering.