How much are beats headphones and the sound?

I think they are brilliantly designed to fit right for its target market..

Ie. The iPod gen.. Music these younger generations listen too mostly suit and benefit with the little excitement that Beats bring forth. Especially when plugged direct to iPods, iPhones, iWhatever--playing out some Pop, Techno, Dub-step, Rap, Rock, Lounge, even some contemporary Jazz.. the bass boost, slightly receding mids, whilst adding some sizzle to the highs sure are welcomed alterations.

Used as above, I've tried my Stax, and some of the better more accurate HPs, could sound a tad anemic, lacking the punch and excitement for most of the time.

To them, through Beats ~ music seem energized. To me ~ sounded like its purposely tuned to mimic the favorite classic sloping "V" on a parametric EQ which most of us probably used to love in our teen years.

Perhaps ultimately not for me now, but my children aged 12, 17 & 20yrs absolutely adore them, so there's definitely that market for them out there.
*Surprisingly, when playing their kind of music, I actually do find them quite enjoyable too. ;p

I should have added above that they are fairly well built. I only say that because I know how hard my son is on his portable stuff. He's on his fifth or sixth iPod, but the same pair of Beats.

Dr Dre was the sole owner of beats audio, He contracted the specifications to monster audio to produce his product!, then Dr Dre met Htc cell phone company, made a deal for soft ware, BTW, is better than the headphones by alot!,, to be put on their HTC products, HTC liked the soft ware, they made Dre Dre an offer he could not refuse for controlling capital in his company!, million, up-on millions of dollars did he make off with!, kinda like robing a bank in his case, LOL!, Dr Dre still owns some of the company, and yes, they are still prodused by monster audio for HTC!, and another note, the beats audio soft ware is on some HP lap top computer models, with a whole recording beats audio soft ware for studio use!

BTW, Dr Dre is a rapper and studio engineer and professional DJ world wide!, No, He is not my cup of tea, You got to give it to him, A damn good business man!