Monster AV50. . . Any news?

I'm looking for a tabletop remote with well lit hard buttons. The AV50 looks ideal, but it seems to be nonexistant. Is their anything else out there like that?

The CEDIA Expo is next week so I'm sure more info is coming soon

Well, CEDIA's over - anyone hear anything on this?


I'm trying to get some news directly out of Monster Cable, but I haven't heard back yet. I'll post again if I get a reply from one of the PR folks...

The news from CEDIA:


There will be two models. The Av50 and AV55. The 50 will be white while the 55 will be black. The 50 will have an orange backlight while the 55 will have both an orange and a blue backlight and they may be assigned by activity so you can easilt tell what mode you are in. (i.e. blue=watch tv, orange=dvd)


The units are in production now and should be available in about 3 weeks.



Quote:
Originally Posted by remoteshoppe /forum/post/17188132


The news from CEDIA:


There will be two models. The Av50 and AV55. The 50 will be white while the 55 will be black. The 50 will have an orange backlight while the 55 will have both an orange and a blue backlight and they may be assigned by activity so you can easilt tell what mode you are in. (i.e. blue=watch tv, orange=dvd)


The units are in production now and should be available in about 3 weeks.

Click to expand...

Good news - thanks for the update. I heard back from the PR firm that represents Monster, and they stated a November availability date, probably just to be safe. In any event, I'm glad it wasn't discontinued.


The variable backlighting sounds like a neat feature.


Any news on pricing? The original $50 claim seemed optimistic to me, so I'm wondering how much of a "premium" will be charged on the new 55 model...



Quote:
Originally Posted by S-dogg /forum/post/17192763


Any news on pricing? The original $50 claim seemed optimistic to me, so I'm wondering how much of a "premium" will be charged on the new 55 model...

Click to expand...

I believe the MSRP prices will be $59 and $69 for the AV50 and AV55 respectively but we have not received the new price sheets yet



Quote:
Originally Posted by remoteshoppe /forum/post/17201061


I believe the MSRP prices will be $59 and $69 for the AV50 and AV55 respectively but we have not received the new price sheets yet

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That's not bad - I was afraid they would end up closer to the $100 mark. Still very reasonable.


Thanks for the info!

s-dogg- Looks like you were a lot closer to the mark. We just got the Av55 in stock and the price (as you guessed) is at that $100 mark. I think there will still be a market for it just for the unique design but the lower pricing would have certainly helped.

I was starting to think this thing would never be released. I guess if they waited this long, waiting for CES wasn't that difficult.


I'm disappointed at the price. I agree that it will still sell based on the design alone, but definitely not in the same quantities. I had planned on picking up 2 or 3 for multiple TVs, but at $100, I'll only be grabbing one.


Have there been any changes to the product since you saw it at CEDIA? And how's the build quality - does it at least feel like it's worth a Benjamin?