New York – Monster earlier
this month filled in the details on its
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 an event in New York 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
.
