At Monster, we are honored to have enthusiastic and responsive fans and we understand that delays and product changes can be frustrating. As we have continually emphasized, however, it’s most important that as true Monsters we take the steps necessary to deliver to you the highest-quality product that provides the best possible user experience. 

We appreciate your feedback and would like to bring you up to date on the latest developments with the Monster Game T1 Championship Edition Music and Gaming Headphone.  As we have mentioned, the T1’s will be sold standalone and can be easily transformed into a full fledged High Performance, High resolution Gaming Headphone with the addition of the Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP (Tron Edition).  The DSP is for use in conjunction with the accompanying BOOM Microphone with LED.

Here are some common questions we would like to answer:

1. Why are the headphones not bundled with the Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP (Tron Edition)? 

Put simply, we would not be able to offer the newly optimized T1’s to you at a reasonable price if we bundled them with the Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP.  The T1’s are designed to be the world’s first high end music headphone with the capability to switch gears to be a true high end Gaming headphone.  We have developed the T1 driver to have a much faster response, eclipsing that of any other headphone we have ever built.  The driver has enough movement to hit the lower frequencies without breaking up or distorting.  We incorporated a sound isolating ear-cup design with extended flexibility and comfort.  In addition, the headphones are mobile-ready out of the box and their Light Drive system achieves over 10 hours of full headphone illumination on a single AAA battery.  

We really wanted to make sure that we addressed the customers who really wanted to use the headphone for music listening.  By offering the Voice/Chat DSP unit separately, the T1 can stand alone as a high fidelity music headphone for those who just want to use it for music, while gamers have the option to augment the T1 into a full fledged gaming headphone.  In essence, the customer gets to choose.  

2. What is the pricing of the T1’s and Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP?

The T1’s MSRP is $299.99 and the Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP MSRP is $129 although it can be found at most retailers for $99. 

3. When will the T1’s and DSP be available?

The T1’s will be availablein late September.  The Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP will be available sometime in December.

4. Where will the T1’s and DSP be available?

Amazon, Fry’s Electronics, Sonic, J&R, PC Richards and Son, Brandsmart, Best Buy Canada, Futureshop Canada, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and HH Greg, Crutchfield, and Vanns.  Other possible locations will be announced at a later date. 

As we get close to the official release of the Voice/Chat Headphone Surround DSP (Tron Edition) in time for the holidays, we’ll be reaching out to some of our Monsterous Facebook fans to get your feedback on the performance of the product. Please stay tuned for further information on the T1s. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with release news.

At Monster, we pride ourselves on sound quality, regardless of whether it’s about maximizing your home theater system or upgrading the jams on your MP3 player. But this year, we’re venturing into brand-new territory —the gaming industry.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the soundtrack to Final Fantasy XII or Sonic the Hedgehog, music is an integral part of the video game experience, and at Monster, it only makes sense to enter the game.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will be our “coming-out” party, as it’s the largest industry tradeshow for computer and video game-related products. Tens of thousands of influencers and industry professionals attend the event every year to catch the latest in games, products, features and trends. So we’re definitely going to make a splash this year.

While the Monster Power Charging Station and Tron Light Disk Audio Dock on display, the big daddies of the event will be the Monster Gaming T1s, T1 Daft Punk Edition and T3s. With these headphones, Monster’s goal is to provide the gaming industry with something that not only looks awesome, but most importantly, sounds great. So if you have a handheld gaming device, a console, or simply play games on your smartphone, we have something for you.

At the event, bloggers, journalists and other attendees will be allowed to try on the headphones, use the LED features, and try out the latest games in anticipation of their mid-August release.

So make sure to stay tuned to our social channels, as we’ll provide the latest news, photos and videos, live from the event. And don’t think we forgot about our loyal fans! There’ll be plenty of gaming giveaways throughout each day, so stay tuned for more details…

Monster celebrates Miles’ legendary accomplishments and his 85th birthday with a special giveaway. We invite all jazz lovers to try your chance at winning memorabilia until the contest ends on June 17.

Each week, one fan will win a copy of the 40th Anniversay Edition of Bitches Brew. One grand prize winner will receive the Collector’s Edition of Miles Davis classics from Sony and Monster Miles Davis Tribute Headphones. Two runner-ups will each receive the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of Kind of Blue and Monster Miles Davis Tribute Headphones.

For your chance to WIN, visit www.monstercable.com/headphones/milesdavis

Tip #11 

Pirates, Not of the Caribbean

China Arrests 3001 in product piracy.

Fake Goods Cost Jobs.

Counterfeit products cost the global economy an estimated $600 billion.

Johnny Depp may cut quite the dashing figure in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, but the headlines tell the story that global piracy in the 21^st Century is no laughing matter. In fact, the next installment of the Pirates series, as profitable as it may turn out to be, will probably be pirated and available online and on the street before the first weekend of release is even halfway over.

While we all joke about buying a fake Rolex from the guy in the overcoat on the street corner, the sad fact is that product piracy is a global phenomenon that is by no means limited to digital media or fake timepieces. From seemingly insignificant products like toothpaste and cigarettes to jeans, electronics and even prescription drugs, the scope of the counterfeiter knows no bounds.

Contributing to the problem is the fact that one of the easiest things in the world to fake is a website. So what happens is that the counterfeiters not only can make fake products, but even clone where you buy from online so it looks exactly like the “real” site too. Almost seems perfect, except that while the fake products may look like the genuine article, they don’t work as well … plus, they certainly aren’t covered by warranties, or even made of tested materials.

And, in a surprising twist, the counterfeiters will even advertise models that the true company doesn’t even make. Just the other day, Monster received a Facebook message asking if the Monster Ferrari, Lamborghini and Kobe Bryant Headphones were real. Interesting ideas, but not ours and not Monster quality!

Monster is a part of a growing number of companies that believe product piracy must be confronted to insure you know there are fakes out there and how to protect yourself. The recent announcement by China that it arrested over 3000 people involved in counterfeiting is evidence that pressure can be placed on the pirates. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LU4N281.htm 

Monster fans often ask us how they can tell bona fide Monster products from the fakes. Good question. We’d love to spell it out for you. The only problem is: so would the counterfeiters. By telling you, we’d only be telling the pirates how to make even better fakes and these days while the fakes don’t perform like Monster quality, they do look awfully close!

The advice that we always offer is to buy from an authorized Monster dealer. Best Buy, Apple, and many others as shown on our website are all authorized. But be careful, some sites like Amazon.com are authorized, but other retailers involved in the Amazon marketplace may not be. So, be careful to buy from the right people.

Oh, and there is one other bit of advice: if the price sounds too good to be true, it is.  Buyer beware!

For a list of authorized Monster Cable dealers, please visit: http://www.monstercable.com/where_to_buy/default.asp 

For a blacklist of known dealers of fake Monster products, please visit: http://www.monstercable.com/counterfeit/dealers_blk.asp

And, to report a suspected counterfeit Monster Cable product, please send an email with all details to legal@monstercable.com.

Monster Ferrari Headphones? Interesting idea, but not ours and definitely not Monster quality!

Tip #10 

Connections, Not Birds’ Nests

From the vantage point where this tip is being written, there are visible three unique installations which, in a sense, could represent archaeological epochs. On top of a filing cabinet, a Samsung DVD-to-VHS recorder is perched atop a Sony receiver and the two feed into a wall-mounted Zenith flat screen. Tucked away in an alcove, a Windows Vista-powered computer that never-ever worked is somewhat connected to a small printer, a Dell monitor and a couple of speakers. And, the computer in use is a vintage Mac Mini in line with a variety of components including the Apple Cinema Display, an HP all-in-one fax-printer-scanner and an Apple back-up drive.

Other than being hugely behind the times, these three tech curiosities share one common – and hideous – trait: each features a frighteningly visible profusion of wires. Though attempts were made to tame the miserable spaghetti, spaghetti won. Sound familiar?

At the back of every computer, home theater or video game command post you’re likely to find a similar web of intertwined cables. It is enough to make you never want to get on your hands and knees, squeeze behind the gear and fix whatever may be ailing your system.

This same syndrome was noted this past weekend by Tony Bradley of PCWorld.com in a article suggesting tips to bring the mess under control: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/220111/clean_your_pc_cable_clutter.html.

One nice tip Tony shared in his article: use Monster’s Cable-It cable management system. Thanks for the props, Tony!

The Monster cable management lineup features a couple of different products, depending on whether you’re trying blend a wall-mounted flat screen in with your décor or just attempting to bring a particularly vicious computer under control. The cost is modest, the kits are customizable and easy to use and the benefits are sorta, kinda, invisible. And that’s a good thing.

For further information on Monster Cable-It™ products please visit: http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4556 or http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4675

Dear Monster fans -

 Last December just as Tron: Legacy was hitting theaters, Monster introduced a line of Tron inspired products. We’re pleased to announce that the Tron Identity Disk (a.k.a. the Tron Sound Dock) started shipping last week and is now on sale at select retailers including Apple (online), Amazon, OneCall, Frys and many others. If you’re itching for a sneak peak be sure to check out some of the videos and reviews already posted (ScreenRant.com Review | YouTube.com/SoldierKnowsBest Review | JoBlo.com Review). 

While the Tron Identity Disk is now in stores, the T1 Gaming and Daft Punk edition headphones are still being fine-tuned in order to ensure they will provide customers with the very best in sound quality, features and performance. These products are now set for release in [very] early April.

And while we’re talking about the T1 headphones, we’ve had a number of questions on these headphones that warrant a little more explanation on the differences between the Gaming (Black) and Daft Punk (White) versions. 

Q: Are the T1 Gaming and Daft Punk headphones the same? 

A: The T1 Gaming and Daft Punk headphones are indeed different, and not just in how they look! While both headphones will give you amazing detail, clarity and bass for listening to music and movies, the T1 Gaming headphones are designed to give gamers the ultimate edge with ground breaking noise-isolation, thundering low-end, and an LED light drive system (which can be turned off). The Daft Punk special edition headphones on the other hand are tuned specifically for fast-paced, techno, trans and club style music and feature our fastest driver to date. 

Q: Do both headphones come with ControlTalk and a Gaming Mic? 

A: While both headphones do include Monster’s ControlTalk feature for use in controlling the track, volume and even taking calls with your iPod/ iPhone or other mobile device, only the T1 Gaming version includes the game mic. However, the Daft Punk special edition comes with it’s own features including a bundled HDSD (that’s high definition surround headphone) mix of the Tron Legacy sound track and are tuned specifically for trans, techno and club style music delivering all the detail no matter how fast the music moves. 

Q: Is there a separate sound amplifier sold with the T1 Gaming or Daft Punk headphones 

A: Yes, there will be a separate Surround Sound Amp / Mixer for T1s available as a standalone product that you can buy separately or in a special edition bundle with the T1 headphones. This Surround Sound Amp provides a unique digital sound processor not found in other headphones and includes all of the cables  necessary to hook up to Game Consoles, PCs and MP3 players.  That’s the latest on the Tron by Monster products.

If you have any more questions or would like to share a comment on the Tron products please visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/monstercable.

Monster exploded into 2011 with a series of exciting and innovative product and partnership announcements. At the recent NAMM tradeshow in Anaheim, California, Monster’s booth was packed every hour of the 4 day show.  Celebs were in abundance including Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Earth, Wind and Fire, Slayer’s Kerry King, Filter, and many more. Top DJs like DJ K Sly dropped by to rock the Monster DJ station with smokin’ impromptou sets.  Monster featured new products for 2011, which included Beats Pro headphones, new Monster Cable pro products and Tron/Disney headphones and docks. 

Stuff.tv, the major tech and lifestyle site, is on the CES beat keeping tabs on the hottest new gadgets.  They just named the Monster Miles Davis Trumpets High Performance In-Ear Headphones as a top CES Hot Stuff award winner!  Check out their recap.

The Miles Davis Trumpets follow the Miles Davis Tribute High-Performance In-Ear Headphones.  The new Miles Davis Trumpet headphones were created in conjunction with Miles Davis Properties, LLC. They are being offered in a specially packaged set along with the seminal Miles Davis album “Sketches of Spain” in a specially remixed and remastered version in Monster High Definition Stereo (HDS) and High Definition Surround Sound, specially engineered to capture the music’s true harmonic depth and resonant tonal characteristics. The release of Monster’s Miles Davis Trumpet headphones coincides with the upcoming 40th anniversary Collector’s Edition of Davis’ Bitches Brew Live in February 2011.