Monster Controller 300 reviewed: it's worth it

If you wept in great anticipatory globs at the introduction of the Monster Controller 300, then you'd better sit down, Gladys, the review is out. What looks to be an obnoxious clutter of buttons actually delivers an antithesis of ease to home theater and environmental control. See, this mega remote is developed in a partnership with Monster Central and Logitech, yeah the outfit behind the highly regarded Harmony Universal remote controls. As a result, the controller takes full advantage of Harmony's beefy device database and setup infrastructure for AV control. However, it also packs multi-room RF and advanced lighting control. First impression? Well, RemoteShoppe says the AVL300 controller looks "a lot better in person" than it does in the pics. Initial setup was quick and smooth -- the mini-USB-equipped AVL300 remote and OmniLink RF receiver were both auto-detected (by what we assume was XP) and the installed Monster Central Setup software automatically checked and downloaded the latest firmware for the devices. Nice. The software then allowed the reviewer to add additional AVL300 controllers to the home system, one of the "biggest advantages" the Monster Controller has over all other remotes in this price range, according to RemoteShoppe. The reviewer then installed a couple of RF lighting modules for controlling the room brightness before dropping the new room configs into the Monster Central Setup database. After the AV components were added, the AVL300 and OmniLink were update in about 4 minutes. Conclusion? The AVL300 with OmniLink and ControlNet lighting is "revolutionary" with "unbelievably easy set-up," affordable price, and hottastic Z-wave RF technology which obviates the need for direct IR control -- nevertheless, the AVL300 can be used as a line-of-site, IR controller in a pinch. Sure, there were a few nits like a preference for a higher resolution screen; and that center joystick feels just a bit too "fragile." But if your home touts a state-of-the-art, multi-zone, whole-home theater/audio system, well, this is about as good as it gets in this price range.

[zuricher @ Dec 15th 2006 7:46AM]

I only they could spend a few more bucks on product design. looks awful for a device that has to lay around in my living room...

[rj @ Dec 15th 2006 8:17AM]

something just doesn't look right. why are the volume/channel buttons mounted horizontally? and where are the frigging navigation keys?! sorry.. i'll just stick with my harmony.

[benshead @ Dec 15th 2006 8:19AM]

"What looks to be an obnoxious clutter of buttons actually delivers an antithesis of ease to home theater and environmental control."

Antithesis?

That sentence is the antithesis of making sense.

[tyler.howe @ Dec 15th 2006 8:30AM]

I'm so very glad someone else pointed that out. I was on the edge.

[Jason @ Dec 15th 2006 8:40AM]

$550 for a remote. LMAO.

[zargon @ Dec 15th 2006 11:38AM]

That is a drop in a hat compared to other home automation systems.

I have been looking to automate a few of my rooms, and the options are either really expensive or don't work (X11's crap).

I most likely will spend the cash though when we move into the new house. Just the basement probably, mainly the living room. I would like the in-wall outlets, rather than a object that plugs into them. I also may switch to a laptop or UMPC for my remote, I would get more functionality out it compared to Philips Pronto or the other high end systems.

[Gadget Extremest @ Dec 19th 2006 12:10AM]

You obviously don't get it. Remotes like these are not for merely turning your tv on and off, but are meant to control your entire home, every thing from the Air Conditioning, to the Oven, Garage Door, Outside Lights, Pool Pump, DVD Player, ETC (and the list goes on) is meant to be controlled by devices like the Monster Remote. $550 is nothing, you should check out Crestron's $3,000 grand daddy tv remote, home controller, and information center. The possiblities are almost limitless, heck you could even rig it to remotely start your car on cold mornings.
http://www.crestron.com/features/applications/home/

You can even connect the IP the surveillance camera mounted near your front door to this (Crestron) thing, so you will know who is at the door before you even open it. Great for those time when you wish to ignore door to door Kirby Vacuum Cleaner Salesmen. And you can do it with out missing a minute of your favorite episode of Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood.

[James D. @ Dec 15th 2006 8:53AM]

I really dont care about the spelling/grammar errors on here generally, but just so your readers don't start misusing the word antithesis:

antithesis: 1.) opposition; contrast: "the antithesis of right and wrong." 2.) the direct opposite (usually fol. by of or to): "Her behavior was the very antithesis of cowardly."


I *think* this is the word you wanted:
apotheosis: 1.) the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god. 2.) the ideal example; epitome; quintessence: "This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression."

[Andy @ Dec 15th 2006 9:01AM]

the misuse of the word "antithesis" really tripped me up for a bit when i was trying to read this.

anyway, i'm not in the market for a new remote, but my Harmony is one of the greatest things i own.

[James @ Dec 15th 2006 9:17AM]

So, he's already committed the atrocity of giving a favorable review to anything Monster puts out, and he goes on to make a hilariously ironic misuse of language as well? Toss this shill, Engadget -- anybody who could say something favorable about Monster products is either being paid off, or has been replaced by the Borg.

[Andy S. @ Dec 15th 2006 9:44AM]

So, wait. An expensive, ugly remote that requires XP to set up?

Pass.

[PDubNYC @ Dec 15th 2006 9:50AM]

I can't imagine that I would ever buy a Monster product, but I really like the idea of being able to control other devices. The pricing of the system seems absurb, but that is pretty much the case with every Monster product I have ever seen.

I'm afraid Thomas Ricker does this quite consistently. His english language Kung Fu is not very strong (his pseudo ghetto-speak is even worse), which, for someoe who writes supposedly informative and witty product blurbs, is not a good thing.

Perhaps he and Paul Miller are really the same person.

[Josh @ Dec 15th 2006 10:00AM]

I thought this looked like a cheaper alternative to the Harmony out there. Was hoping it was $50, and was disappointed to find it was $550!

Are they nuts?

If a remote costs that much, it shouldn't look like it costs $50. It should be gold plated with a few diamonds.

[cuby @ Dec 15th 2006 10:27AM]

in addition to the "antithesis" snafu, he also misused "obviate". obviate is to "remove the need for", so you can't "obviate the need for" something. it's like saying a "myriad of" something. myriad comes with the "of" pre-installed.

nitpicky, sure, but tech blog readers are an eagle-eyed bunch. a single word misuse can ruin our morning ;)

[b00le @ Dec 15th 2006 10:34AM]

apotheosis, mayhap?

[autopilot @ Dec 15th 2006 11:20AM]

I am sure i saw Starbuck using one of those once.

[Tavis Veighey @ Dec 15th 2006 11:28AM]

I have a Mosaic 9950 and I am really happy with it!
(Picture http://img433.imageshack.us/img433/4066/prodmosaicef1.jpg)

It fits in the hand, has a backlit display, easily programmed, and it learns from other remotes!

[Raghu @ Dec 15th 2006 1:56PM]

Zargon, have you tried Insteon stuff? I am trying to find some unbiased feedback on that before I dive in. There are more options and it is less expensive than Z-wave. Also works with OS X which is kinda getting more important to me.

[Joe @ Dec 15th 2006 12:12PM]

Sooo... It's really just a rebranded/pricier harmony 890, which can be found for 200-250 on ebay ($400 in stores)

Has z-wave too.

[Rick Lyon @ Dec 15th 2006 12:14PM]

For $550 I'll save $50 and get the Harmony 1000 that does everything this one does (sans wall wart) $550 for such an atrociously hideous design is outrageous and right up Monster's alley. So $600 I'd get a Pronto or something better if not a Harmony. NOT worth it.

[zargon @ Dec 15th 2006 4:34PM]

I have not tried anything yet other than the Radio Shack branded X11 gear and some el-cheapo remote controlled adapter from Target.

I was just looking for a cheap fix until we move, didn't want to invest a lot of time or money when we knew we would be moving to a new house in about a year or so.

All I know, the X11 is junk. It uses your existing electrical wires, so there is no real control other than their devices.

I will take a harder look when the time comes to actually do it.

[KC @ Dec 15th 2006 5:54PM]

You mean X10?

[GhostDoggy @ Dec 16th 2006 7:46AM]

Any commercial website that recommends a Monster product is not to be trusted.

[josh @ Dec 16th 2006 1:40PM]

if you are scoffing at $550, the product isn't for you. we have a very successful business set around high-fi and selling $40,000 control systems. Oh wait that's just the programming cost. There is a market for these things. That being said, the monster remote sucks.

Wait for Einstien (by Monster) however. It is the "holy grail" of the new digital age. and the remote for that, is damn sexy.

[Phil @ Dec 16th 2006 5:29PM]

Whoa- That is one fugly looking remote.

Forget about being hit with the ugly stick... that thing IS the ugly stick.

"Monster" Controller is right!

That remote is so ugly, when you point it at the TV, it always turns off.

Okay, I'm done. (It's pretty ugly though.)

[Mister Fingers @ Dec 16th 2006 6:40PM]

Z-Wave is significantly better than X-11. X-11 is complete crap. Good for it's time (late 70's) but no good now.

PS. The Logitech Harmony 890 does everything this remote does and is cheaper.