Monster has embarked upon an already lucrative partnership with Disney, tied to the December release of the movie TRON: Legacy. An entire new line of TRON-themed electronics has already begun to arrive, and will continue over the course of the next few years: This is apparently an elaborate deal, as Monster plans on being there for the sequel, the TRON: Uprising tie-in TV series set to air on the Disney XD channel in 2012, and of course the inevitable Blu-ray release of Legacy. Monster's designers worked closely with the Disney folks to ensure that the look of the film carried over to the various gear, and they include some pretty sophisticated features.
The TRON PS3 Slim Powerstation (suggested retail price $79.95) is an ideal fit for fans of the film, attaching unobtrusively to the game console/Blu-ray player while bringing Monster's Clean Power Stage 1 filtration to remove electrical noise/interference that could improve game/movie audio. It also packs a four-port USB Smart Charger for controllers, etc., with no need for a separate charger, even when the console is turned off). The ports also allow extra peripherals (Rock Band, anyone?) to be connected.
The 2.1-channel TRON Light Disc Audio Dock ($249.95) offers up-to-the-minute iPod/iPhone compatibility, driven by four 1.5-inch speakers and a single 3.5-inch long-throw woofer for some pretty outrageous sound from a compact dock. Visually it's dominated by the light-up TRON "identitiy disc," with interactive lighting effects, including a special alarm clock feature unlocked by the free iTunes TRON app.
The flagship over-ear TRON T1 Headphones ($349.95) combine Monster's oversized Studio drivers for particularly strong bass with a passive noise isolation system. This product also introduces Monster's LED light drive system for a glowing effect as nifty as what we see in the film. A removable boom microphone can be placed on either side to suit a gamer's style, in addition to ControlTalk, which enables hands-free calling with the iPhone and other smartphones, as well as music playback control on many iPod models..
Style-wise, the T1 headphones are similar to the surprisingly affordable TRON T3 In-Ear Headphones ($59.95), although the comfortable, interchangeable eartips will be seldom-seen. These feature Monster's headphones patent-pending Monster Flat Cable with a uniquely tangle-resistant design. Both the T1 and T3 are available now.
And due at the end of March are the TRON Daft Punk Special Edition Premium Headphones ($349.95), which are more than just a white version of the black T1's. Firstly, they will be shipping with a pack-in of the specially remixed of the TRON: Legacy soundtrack, the first recording ever to be encoded in Monster High Definition Headphone Surround, powered by Astound. The soundtrack, by Grammy winners Daft Punk, was specifically re-engineered for headphone playback and created by some of the best minds/ears in The Biz. Shown at the Monster CES booth was a special, color-coordinated surround sound processor, an in-line pod intended to render a more movie-like feel over the headphones. I can't wait to hear these things....
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