Monster speakers? NOPE!

[Sheep]

While viewing the CES 2006 coverage, I found some shoking information...

The Speakers Monster is marketing as THX certified, as actually Crystal Audio speakers.

Looky.

This is the Crystal Audio system (5.1 THX D)
http://www.crystalaudiovideo.com/productcat.asp?PrgID=000000000000001.EN&PrdID=000000000000139.EN&PrcID=000000000000031.EN

Heres the Monster system..

http://www.monstercable.com/THX1/sound/speakers.asp

Other then the boxes, all the drivers and ports look the same.

Anyone else see this or am I on crack?

SheepStar

 

[MACCA350]

Yeah... THX select

 

[HookedOnSound]

Coincidence ?... I think not!

I suspected they were OEM'ed by Wharfedale or similar.

Just goes to show you, who needs R&D when you can achieve similar success by using marketing instead ?

Thanks for posting the thread Sheep!

 

[eric0531]

I heard the Monster speakers a couple of weeks ago, the Fryes in Wilsonville OR had a room set up with just the Monster speakers in them, running Pearl Harbor. They sounded very good, perhaps a bit laid back for my taste, but when I looked up the pricing - holy &$%#. I'll give them this, though - the Crystal speakers are ugly, the Monster's are very, very attractive. And actually I don't think the drivers are the same - 6.5" fiberglass vs. 7" Kevlar, and the dust caps look a little different. But the similarities are pretty striking.

 

[sivadselim]

Sorry but they don't look to be the same speaker to me. At all. The tweeter is completely different, the mid-bass drivers are a different material and size, and the cabinetry on the monster speakers is not only curved but far superior in construction material and appearance.

And even if they were made in the same factory, SO WHAT? What's your point? It's very common for manufacturs to sell rebranded items manufactured by a 2nd party manufacturer.

Are Crystal Audio speakers white-van speakers or something?

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Whats the difference between the tower bass module and the subwoofer?

 

[3x10^8]

And even if they were, SO WHAT? What's your point? It's very common for manufacturs to sell rebranded items manufactured by a 2nd party manufacturer.

It's still good info to know... all about educating the consumer for not falling for marketing hype. And monster is definitely all about the marketing hype.

 

[zumbo]

Sorry but they don't look to be the same speaker to me. At all. The tweeter is completely different, the mid-bass drivers are a different material and size, and the cabinetry on the monster speakers is not only curved but far superior in construction material and appearance.

And even if they were made in the same factory, SO WHAT? What's your point? It's very common for manufacturs to sell rebranded items manufactured by a 2nd party manufacturer.

Are Crystal Audio speakers white-van speakers or something?

Time for your medication? Lighten-up man!

 

[jcPanny]

THX Speakers

I thought that all THX main speakers were designed to play down to 80 Hz. So what is the point of floorstander mains with multiple mid and bass drivers? I guess you can charge more for the larger cabinet and extra drivers.

If you check out the high end THX Ultra 2 speakers from Klipsch, they don't include floorstanders.

 

[zumbo]

I think this was a good find, and it has merit. Good job Sheep!

http://www.crystalaudiovideo.com/productcat.asp?PrgID=000000000000001.EN&PrdID=000000000000003.EN&PrcID=000000000000006.EN

 

[sivadselim]

I think this was a good find, and it has merit. Good job Sheep!

What is the "find", exactly? And why does it have merit?

There's nothing dubious about either companies' advertising claims, so I don't understand what's been "found". If you'll explain it to me, I might understand. Of course, Monster's speaker manufacturing is "farmed-out", as I would imagine most of their larger electronics (amps, power conditioners, etc.) manufacturing is.

So even if they are the same, I ask again, are Crystal Audio speakers held in low regard or something? And as another poster said, doubtful Crystal Audio makes 'em either.

 

[zumbo]

What is the "find", exactly? And why does it have merit?

There's nothing dubious about either companies' advertising claims, so I don't understand what's been "found". If you'll explain it to me, I might understand. Of course, Monster's speaker manufacturing is "farmed-out", as I would imagine most of their larger electronics (amps, power conditioners, etc.) manufacturing is.

So even if they are the same, I ask again, are Crystal Audio speakers held in low regard or something? And as another poster said, doubtful Crystal Audio makes 'em either.

Look at a Mazda pick-up. Clearly a Ford Ranger. But, I argued with a co-worker who thought they had a Japanese(Mazda) designed/built truck.

Look at the "new" Mitsubishi Raider truck. Nothing new about it. It's a Dodge Dakota. But there are tons of fools out there who think they have a Mitsu.

Kawasaki has several motorcycles/atv's that say Kawasaki, but in fact, are made by Suzuki.

Suzuki has several motorcycles/atv's/utility vehicles that say Suzuki, but in fact, are made by Kawasaki.

It goes on-and-on.

For people who have no idea, it's good to have someone like Sheep or fellow audio/car/moto etc. nuts to point-out things to the general public.

 

[sivadselim]

Look at a Mazda pick-up. Clearly a Ford Ranger. But, I argued with a co-worker who thought they had a Japanese(Mazda) designed/built truck.

Look at the "new" Mitsubishi Raider truck. Nothing new about it. It's a Dodge Dakota. But there are tons of fools out there who think they have a Mitsu.

For people who have no idea, it's good to have someone like Sheep or fellow audio/car/moto etc. nuts to point-out things to the general public.

Oh. The monster bash.

Although it IS arguable, if you really get down to it, you've probably got it backwards in both cases. The ranger is a mazda (not vice versa) and the dakota is a mitsubishi (not vice versa). It's this darned global economy thing.

And your point is still not clear to me. Is the value of the ranger (or mazda) or dakota (or mitsu) diminished simply because it is sold under more than one name? Ford and Dodge (who both own huge chunks of those other companies, btw) are not deceptive in their marketing of those models are they?

 

[zumbo]

Oh. The monster bash.

And, although it IS arguable, if you really get down to it, you've probably got it backwards in both cases. The ranger is a mazda (not vice versa) and the dakota is a mitsubishi (not vice versa). It's this darned global economy thing.

You are lost. The Mazda has a Ford engine, drivetrain, interior, and everything else. Everything under the hood is stamped Motorcraft.

The Mitsu has a 318 V8. When did they come out with this Dodge engine? Mitsubishi had a truck called the "Mighty-Max." Nothing like a Dakota. Chrysler dropped the Mighty-Max, and the Jeep pick-up.

Ford owns Mazda.

Chrysler owns Mitsu.

Ford did this so the Ranger could claim the "best selling compact truck."

Dodge is following that idea.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article_id=10119
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=18&article_id=4166

The Ford Courier compact truck was a Mazda. This is what you may be thinking of.

Kawasaki and Suzuki are getting their butt whipped in sales by Honda and Yamaha. So, Kaw and Suz formed a plan to open-up their market by selling a variety of designs under different names to try to catch-up. This opened-up new model lines for both, and dealer locations as well. At no cost. It's all the same idea.

As you can see, you were misinformed. Thus, the reason for a thread such as this one.

 

[Spiffyfast]

I dont really care who makes them, they look gorgeous, but I bet buying the crystal audio versions will be significantly less expensive

 

[zumbo]

And your point is still not clear to me. Is the value of the ranger (or mazda) or dakota (or mitsu) diminished simply because it is sold under more than one name?

No. It increases the availability/sales of both.

Ford and Dodge (who both own huge chunks of those other companies, btw) are not deceptive in their marketing of those models are they?

No. But the general consumer has no idea what they are buying. You, yourself, had it wrong.

 

[zumbo]

I dont really care who makes them, they look gorgeous, but I bet buying the crystal audio versions will be significantly less expensive

This is the point. If you can get the same thing for a less amount, wouldn't you?

Also, what if one company had a better warranty? Wouldn't you want the best warranty?

All things to consider, further reinforcing the need for threads such as this.

 

[Sheep]

Well, I didn't expect this thread to become this popular..

I posted the thread because the Monster speakers are much more money. If you want the same thing, you can buy the Crystal Audio ones for less (as Zumbo has stated god knows how many times).

This is just an informing thread, I'm not saying either speakers are crap, far from it.

SheepStar

 

[Sheep]

Found another similarity.

http://www.monstercable.com/THX1/productPage.asp?pin=2156

http://www.crystalaudiovideo.com/productcat.asp?PrgID=000000000000001.EN&PrdID=000000000000006.EN&PrcID=000000000000006.EN

Pwnd.

SheepStar

 

[akebono]

Found another similarity.

http://www.monstercable.com/THX1/productPage.asp?pin=2156

http://www.crystalaudiovideo.com/productcat.asp?PrgID=000000000000001.EN&PrdID=000000000000006.EN&PrcID=000000000000006.EN

Pwnd.

SheepStar

Funny, did you see that monster cable ad at the bottom of the crystal audio page?