Monster Unveils Universal 3D Glasses, Clarity HD Line
By John Laposky — TWICE, 6/22/2010
New York – Monster on Tuesday filled in the details on its previously
announced new Clarity HD sub-brand and stuck its foot firmly in the 3D
market with a pair of universal active-shutter glasses.
Head monster Noel Lee appeared at the Consumer Electronics Association Line
Shows event and debuted new headphones, home entertainment loudspeaker
solutions, docking speakers, cables and cleaning products, among others.
Monster’s first 3D glasses, Monstervision Max 3D, are compatible with any
brand 3D TV and boast built-in RF technology to avoid the common problem of
IR interference that can plague existing active-shutter glasses. The RF
transmitter allows for the system to expand to be paired with thousands of
Monstervision brand glasses, Lee said.
Proprietary active-sync software is embedded in the transmitter and receiver
to prevent sync loss and pairing drops. The glasses are rechargeable and
offer more than 800 hours of use in a single charge, Lee said.
The glasses were designed to fit over a user’s existing prescription
eyeglasses.
The glasses are expected to ship in August. A bundle of one pair with RF
transmitter will have a suggested retail price of $249, with extra glasses
available for $169 each and an extra transmitter for $59.95.
Lee said an expanded line of Monstervision glasses, in various colors and
styles “designed by some of the most famous designers in the eyewear
industry,” will become available later this year.
Monster’s Clarity HD line debuted with a new set of ear buds, which Lee said
“resolves incredibly low-level detail. They are great for classical music,”
Lee told TWICE. “If you like hearing the sound of the bow drawing across the
neck or fingers sliding down strings, these are ideal.” He likened them to
“a magnifying glass for your music.”
The ear buds include Control Talk technology for iPhones and will have a
suggested retail of $229.
Also in the Clarity HD line are two Bluetooth portable speakers for handheld
devices, the black Clarity HD Precision Micro Bluetooth speaker ($119), for
use with Blackberry devices, smartphones and notebook PCs, and the silver
iClarity HD Precision Micro Bluetooth speaker (also $119), for use with
iPod, iPhone and iPad.
The ultra-compact form factor devices deliver Bluetooth 2.0 HD audio, which
Monster combines with audio and digital signal processing for clarity.
Built-in microphones allow for hands-free dialing, and lithium-ion batteries
provide up to five hours of listening on a single charge.
The two systems boast dual 35mm full-range drivers and a passive radiator
subwoofer design for clarity and powerful low frequency bass response, the
company said.
Wireless music streaming is made possible by coupling advanced audio
distribution profile (A2DP) with audio video remote control profile (AVRCP)
for wireless audio and video playback control. The speakers may also be used
with a wired connection using a standard 3.5mm headphone port.
At the top of the Clarity HD line is the Executive speaker series with
accompanying iPod dock, a complete desktop audio system powered by a
built-in 75 watt-per-channel amplifier. Each 12-inch by 6-inch by 6-inch
speaker features a 5.25-inch polypropylene woofer, a 1-inch silk dome
tweeter and low-resonance cabinets with bi-amp design.
The system is voiced for high-resolution digital media playback and
time-aligned for linear response. Precision crossovers provide detailed
sound staging, Lee said, adding that the system’s master/slave configuration
allows for simple installation and setup.
The included Executive-series iPod dock has a built-in master volume control
and a full-function IR remote control. The dock includes an auxiliary audio
input that allows playback from other digital audio devices.
The system will retail for $449.95.
The company also showed a new iPad Cleaning kit, an addition to its line of
Outlets To Go laptop power adapters, and announced that its SuperTip ear bud
tips, originally included with Monster’s Turbine Pro earphones, will be
available as a stand-alone product for use with any brand ear bud.
Also on display was a pair of the recently announced TRON headphones,
co-developed with Walt Disney Pictures. Details are available here.