Bob Ankosko

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Monoprice Ships 16-Inch Monolith THX Ultra Sub
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 25, 2021
Monoprice is now shipping the 16-inch THX Ultra-certified subwoofer it announced in August.
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Bluetooth Speaker Reviews
Monster Blaster Bluetooth Boombox
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 17, 2016

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $400

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Killer outdoor music system
Super sturdy design
Battery powered
Awesome one-time, “no-fault replacement” policy
Minus
Pricey
Heavy!

THE VERDICT
The Monster Blaster will shock you (and your neighbors) with its powerful sound.

As I removed the Monster Blaster from its box, I felt like I was lifting a dumbbell from the rack. Seriously, the thing weighs about 17 pounds, and it’s built like a tank, ready for the rough and tumble of outdoor use.

And when I say rough and tumble, I’m not kidding. If you buy the Blaster from monsterproducts.com, it’s covered by a lifetime warranty with “one time, no-fault replacement.” As Monster explains on its website: “If the Blaster has any issues (your fault or ours), return the product and get a replacement.” Buy it elsewhere, and you get the one-year standard warranty.

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CES 2013
Monster Fuses Fashion and Tech with New Headphones
Bob Ankosko  |  Jan 07, 2013
When it comes to headphones, for Monster it’s all about fashion with lots of color and style, a parade of headphone-wearing models, celebrity endorsements and marketing—lots of marketing. A host of celebrities—including recording artist and former Prince collaborator Sheila E, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees—were on hand at Monster’s pre-CES 2013 press event to help Monster introduce a slew of new headphones.

Highlights include the gaming-focused EA Sports MVP Carbon by Monster headphone ($270), featuring proprietary surround processing and available in black or white beginning in February/March; the in-ear ClarityMobile line with three models aimed at business travelers—a $50 model with an in-line microphone and two $70 models—slated to hit stores in April; an angular on-ear addition to the Diesel VEKTR line offered in military green and chrome ($280); three washable iSport in-ear models for the work-out crowd, ranging from $80 to $160; seven on-ear and in-ear DNA models, featuring a triangular ear cups and dual inputs that allow five ‘phones to be connected at once, ranging in price from $130 to $230; new on-ear and in-ear Bluetooth-powered wireless models with noise cancellation for the Nokia Purity line; and the youth-focused N-Pulse headphones, a new addition to the NCredible line developed with Nick Cannon and available in black or white for $200.

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CEDIA 2012
Monstrous Sound on the Go
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 05, 2012
Surprisingly big sound from a tiny box is what you can expect from the Bluetooth-enabled ClarityHD Micro Speaker Monster introduced at CEDIA Expo. The concept: Instead of suffering through the tinny sound you get from your smartphone, tablet or PC, stream the audio to a portable speaker that easily fits in a briefcase or backpack.

CSR’s aptX audio coding is employed to deliver CD-quality sound and functions such as playing music, answering calls and Bluetooth pairing are handled by simple voice commands. Operating range is 30 feet and the speaker’s lithium-ion battery is said to last 5 hours on a single charge. Available in black and white, the ClarityHD sells for $220 and has a minijack input for use with non-Bluetooth devices.

CEDIA 2013
More Backyard Fun: The SonArray Sound System
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 27, 2013
If you’re going to rock out in the backyard, don’t skimp on speakers. Among the dozens of products on display in the expansive Dana Innovations booth at CEDIA 2013, the one that caught my eye was the “SonArray by Sonance.” For $2,499, you get eight outdoor satellite speakers plus an in-ground subwoofer (that bronze mushroom top in the photo). With stealthily strategic placement in your landscaping, Sonance says you can serenade a 2,000 square foot area. The sound? Way better than you would expect.
Audio Video NewsNew Products
More CE Week Tech Bits: Wire-Free Earbuds and Microphone Modeling
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 08, 2015
Previewed at the recent CE Week event in New York City, the HearNotes wire-free earbuds use Kleer technology to stream CD-quality uncompressed audio with “extremely low latency and power consumption.”
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New Products
More February 2015 New Gear
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 24, 2015
GoldenEar's latest speaker, a wireless video transmission system, Panasonic's THX-certified 65-inch Ultra HDTV with full array LED backlighting, and more.
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Audio Video News
More Gift Ideas for the 2023 Holiday Season
Bob Ankosko  |  Dec 04, 2023
Will you be giving the gift of AV this holiday season? Of course, you will — you read Sound & Vision! In addition to fielding alerts about holiday specials, we’ve been keeping an eye out for deals. Here’s the latest round…
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
More Headphones from CES 2021 and Beyond
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 04, 2021
In post a couple weeks ago, we focused on some of the wireless headphones introduced at last month’s virtual CES 2021, the first virtual gathering in the show’s 53-year history. We’re visiting the massively popular category again, this time with a look at headphones introduced at the show or shortly thereafter, including models that bring new form factors and technology into the fold.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
More News & Gear for Summer 2023
Bob Ankosko  |  Aug 17, 2023
The volume of AV news and product announcements is picking up as summer winds down and home entertainment companies set their sights on Labor Day specials, CEDIA Expo 2023 (watch for our preview in early September), and, ultimately, a holiday selling season that can make or break a brand’s financial standing for the year. Let’s have a look…
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