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The Monster Beatbox may not deliver the most refined sonics, but if you're looking for big, aggressive sound from a small box, this is the one you want... If you're someone who doesn't envision playing your music very loud all that often, this probably is overkill and not for you.

Beatbox by Dr. Dre is Monster's first foray into the realm of iPod speaker docks, and while there are some glaring omissions for such an expensive dock, the fabulous audio quality makes up for it.

The Monster Beats by Dr Dre Beatbox doesn't offer the natural, rich and precise tones of its more sophisticated rivals but, just like its siblings, it excels when it comes to aggressive, loud audio.

If you're looking for a party machine, they don't come as sharply focused as the Beatbox. The brand trades on its street cred mostly successfully, and it will play very loudly. While it fits quite well into its chosen market, it certainly won't quell the cries of the audiophiles.

At $450, however, Beatbox is a bit of a reach; it doesn’t perform at the same level as the best $600 speakers out there, but it doesn’t cost as much, either. It’s ... notable more for the quality of its styling than the sonic advantages it offers relative to lower- or higher-end competitors.

The Beatbox excels in some areas, all that good work is undone by the horrific treble – and when you’d rather hit the ‘off’ button than listen even at low volumes, you know there’s a problem.