So... Is Monster Out Of Business?

[BMXTRIX]

It could be some sort of coincidence that I was looking to see if I could find some of their good quality 14/4 bulk speaker cable and suddenly I felt like the entirety of their behemoth industry had exploded into nothingness. While there is certainly no love lost for me on this, it was surprising to find their website inactive and a lot of talk online about Noel's declining health and the extreme shrinkage Monster has seen in just the past few years. Down from 800 employees to just 139, and that was at the beginning of 2018, with a failure to report earnings and such so far this year and incredible shakeups in management.

Has anyone actually heard any real news recently about them? Have they closed up shop? Or is their website just 'down' and I'm being a fool on this?

The fact I can pick up 1,000 feet of 14/4 bulk speaker cable for $250 on Amazon while Monoprice's 14/4/1000 is running closer to $400 makes me feel like maybe I need to pick up a couple of rolls before they are gone forever.

 

[Swerd]

I hadn't heard anything about Monster going belly up. Its apparent demise would not be unwelcome news. Good riddance.

The skeptic in me suspects this could also be a cheap effort at publicity.

Most of its products are not bad, if unremarkable. But they are overpriced and overhyped. Monster earned its well-deserved miserable reputation by reaching new lows in their marketing efforts. However, if Monster does fail, I fully expect some other unscrupulous company to step forward to fill the vacuum. Thanks to marketing campaigns like Monster's, there is no shortage of gullible customers.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

Their brand and patents (and Lawyers) could be picked up by Bose!

 

[j_garcia]

The sad thing is, they started off doing fine. It was when the greed crept in that things went wrong. When money is coming in a good company makes the best of it and improves rather than trying to gouge customers for more.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

In addition to what Swerd correctly said, Monster's extremely aggressive their brand "protection" was one of the main things which turned me off big time to them.
Just one example:https://techcrunch.com/2008/05/27/monster-cable-sues-monster-mini-golf-in-monster-lawsuit/
few more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Cable#Trademark_disputes

 

[lovinthehd]

How did their proposal to sell cryptocurrency to raise funds go?

 

[shadyJ]

In addition to what Swerd correctly said, Monster's extremely aggressive their brand "protection" was one of the main things which turned me off big time to them.
Just one example:https://techcrunch.com/2008/05/27/monster-cable-sues-monster-mini-golf-in-monster-lawsuit/
few more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Cable#Trademark_disputes

This is why Blue Jeans should take all of Monster's marketshare.

 

[lovinthehd]

This is why Blue Jeans should take all of Monster's marketshare.

Except no one's heard of Blue Jeans Cable in general....that idea from Kvn about Bose buying the brand makes more sense (and is a bit scary).

 

[mtrycrafts]

Look out your windows. Can you see me dancing in the street yet?

 

[davidscott]

Had some original speaker cables back in the 80' and I thought they were better than the lamp cord they replaced. Turned green after many years of use. Still have some interconnects I used in the early 2000s not bad but overpriced and in storage now. Also still have a sub cable but no sub so who knows? So yeah I think they were ok but way overpriced for what they were. I think that this is a brand whos time has come and gone. Still a lot of product to be had online.

Dave

 

[Beave]

I don't think they're out of business (yet?). But they are (desperately) trying to find new businesses in which they can succeed (so far without much luck).

This is their latest puzzling venture:

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/monster-debuts-monster-illuminessence-affordable-color-changing-led-mood-lighting-solutions-offering-instant-ambiance-starting-at-25-per-room-1027829986

 

[MR.MAGOO]

Monster website seems okay, was just there!

 

[Kvn_Walker]

I don't think they're out of business (yet?). But they are (desperately) trying to find new businesses in which they can succeed (so far without much luck).

This is their latest puzzling venture:

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/monster-debuts-monster-illuminessence-affordable-color-changing-led-mood-lighting-solutions-offering-instant-ambiance-starting-at-25-per-room-1027829986

It really hurt them when they lost the Beats brand to Apple. Beats was everything Monster could hope for- celebrity and athlete endorsements, absolutely insane profit margins, and a product that sold itself.

For a few years there, "Beats" was to headphones what "Bose" was to speakers. It was the only brand Joe Public knew to associate with a product category.

 

[highfigh]

Except no one's heard of Blue Jeans Cable in general....that idea from Kvn about Bose buying the brand makes more sense (and is a bit scary).

Ever see the cheap speaker wire that comes with Bose systems? They would have to re-tool the whole line to accept anything heavier than 18 ga.

 

[highfigh]

I don't think they're out of business (yet?). But they are (desperately) trying to find new businesses in which they can succeed (so far without much luck).

This is their latest puzzling venture:

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/monster-debuts-monster-illuminessence-affordable-color-changing-led-mood-lighting-solutions-offering-instant-ambiance-starting-at-25-per-room-1027829986

That page came back as "Can not be displayed".

 

[highfigh]

Had some original speaker cables back in the 80' and I thought they were better than the lamp cord they replaced. Turned green after many years of use. Still have some interconnects I used in the early 2000s not bad but overpriced and in storage now. Also still have a sub cable but no sub so who knows? So yeah I think they were ok but way overpriced for what they were. I think that this is a brand whos time has come and gone. Still a lot of product to be had online.

Dave

If the wire turned green, the jacket is PVC and can't be used inside of walls. The wire is only damaged on the surface, but if you aren't using it, look into the scrap value- you might be able to break even on the cost.

 

[Beave]

That page came back as "Can not be displayed".

Thanks for letting me know. For some reason it's not linking correctly.

Let's try this. Here's the Google search, and the article is at the top:

https://www.google.com/search?q=monster+cable&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=nws&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1lI3YlbTfAhUoUt8KHcm8BkQQ_AUIDygC&biw=1366&bih=674

 

[Beave]

This link might work too:

https://www.prweb.com/releases/monster_debuts_monster_illuminessence_affordable_color_changing_led_mood_lighting_solutions_offering_instant_ambiance_starting_at_25_per_room/prweb16004594.htm

 

[mtrycrafts]

If the wire turned green, the jacket is PVC a...

Jogged my memory of a long time ago someone at an local audio store saying that they could hear that tarnish causing a crackling sound and needed replacing.

 

[davidscott]

If the wire turned green, the jacket is PVC and can't be used inside of walls. The wire is only damaged on the surface, but if you aren't using it, look into the scrap value- you might be able to break even on the cost.

Thanks but I jettisoned them when I moved. Didn't really know about the scrap value. Still have some Monster Interlink 100 and 300 as well as a sub cable in storage. Probably will never use them again but I have some spare interconnects if I ever need them. All in all decent but overpriced kinda like my entry level AQ cables now. But at least the AQs are newer.