Monster MCC AV100 Activity-based A/V Home Theater Controller
by Monster
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Our Price: $182.00
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Category: CE
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Manufacturer: MonsterModel: MCC AV100
Product features:
- Wide Field IR capability for maximum AV control range and flexibility
- Simple One Step setup process for components.
- One Touch activity based control of AV Components
- Charging Cradle with rechargeable lithium-ion battery for longer-lasting power.
- Controls and integrates up to 15 AV components
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Monster MCC AV100 Activity-based A/V Home Theater Controller
Customer Review: Better luck next time (I hope)
Summary: 2 Stars
Opened the package and loved it immediately. Well, as soon as immediate gets, after having spent 5 minutes overcoming the nearly bullet-proof marketing packaging that is designed to resist professional safe crackers.
OK, what a cool design. The remote nests easily into the horizontal recharging station, which itself has a very cool blue 'continuity' light which indicates it's plugged in. The wall-wart is slim and oriented so it can fit into just one space of a multiple outlet strip. Also very cool.
The back lighting is gorgeous, the size and weight is just right. The buttons feel good. It lights up when you move it and can operate while charging. Wow, huh?
My AV system currently has eight remotes, and I was looking forward to getting it down to just one like you might imagine. And buoyed by the positive reviews here, I was (yes was) set to hop into remote nirvana ASAP. Last night I let the battery charge overnight, got all the equipment model numbers written down in the meantime, and woke up today ready to get 'er done! WooHoo!
Meh.
After creating the on-line ID, and listing the gear and model numbers, things started to veer off the pathway to joy. I started to discover that the Monster on-line configuration application would insist on keeping some basic settings, like:
("which input does your VCR use when playing a tape?" --What do you mean which input does it use? It doesn't use any inputs, for playback they're all outputs... Maybe they mean the receiver? ...no they didn't, but it's too late now, the VCR is now associated with a VCR2 input that is actually on the back of the Denon 2708 receiver, whoops you can't change it now!) Wah-wah. Onward!
So, it got worse. After setting up the "Activities" which as other reviewers have said, are macros for equipment sets and inputs, into the AV room we go with our Monster 100 Light Saber, ready to take on Darth Boredom and throw out those evil remotes. Heh, well, not so fast.
Turning on the DVD player was good, but when checking out the hard-wired buttons (the ones grouped together in the square with the central select joystick-button in it's center) I realized that the Next Chapter >>| Last Chapter |<< buttons didn't do anything. This was confirmed by watching the top of the display which makes a little "wave" animation when the remote is sending a command. The little animation looks like this ))) It does it when you push any of the other buttons, but shows nothing when you push >>| or |<<.
Oh, oh, kids, this is putting a damper on the celebration, so it's back to the on-line configuration deal. March back to the front room.
Finally we find the Device reconfiguration dialog. You'll see that the database has loaded >>| and |<< for your Denon 3930Ci, but it's not in the remote. So I did a manual "teach" session, back into the AV room, and at least the Next and Last chapters are in the virtual 'soft keys' but the hardware buttons, still nothing.
Now for some reason the Monster database has configured my single-disk DVD player as being a 5-disk. Back out to the computer, delete the Disk 1 Disk 2, etc, reload the remote, back to the AV room, but now the Virtual >>| and |<< are gone. The Disk 1 Disk 2 Disk 3 Disk 4 Disk 5 selections are still there. So I have lost what I gained and didn't get rid of what I wanted to lose. It gets worse!
Turns out that you can't reboot/reformat the remote. Once you stick in an equipment set, they are in there. I tried manually deleting all devices, reloaded the controller again, and nope. Did a controller firmware update which is supposed to delete everything, nope.
Four hours later, the unit is back in it's shipping box, I'm writing this, and we'll try it again with a replacement. One very nice thing is how easy Amazon has made doing an exchange. They even send you a link to a pre-paid UPS label and set you up for a reshipment at no charge when your device comes bad on arrival. This is a very nice touch.
So why does Monster have a database that has gotten a premier piece of equipment like the one-disk Denon 3930Ci wrong? Why can't you erase/reboot the remote? Does the >>| and |<< work for anybody?
Here's my advice if you're going to go this Monster 100 route.
1. Do it on a weekday. Monster has no phone support on weekends, and no email support is listed. There's a place for the link but there is no link or address.
2. Drag your computer into the AV room so you won't spend 15 trips going back and forth, or have WiFi on a laptop. Get the two in the same place.
3. Have all of your remotes with you when you set up the Monster 100 because you may need to do some "Teaching" and it's handy to refer to the original buttons when setting up the remote configuration.
4. Save the box, paperwork and packaging when the Monster 100 arrives, because you may have a similar adventure.
Finally in case some of my Review Readers might wonder if the problem might lie in user error, first please consider that I am a radio producer with 16 years in the business, proficient with digital production using Pro Tools, I own my own recording studio, built my own computer from parts I bought, and can even run an iPod.
I hope to come back to this soon to bring good news about how all is now well. In the meantime I still have my 8 remotes to keep me warm...
So I sent the original Monster remote back using the handy UPS-return label Amazon thoughtfully provides us.
A few days passed, then I received an email from Amazon stating Whoops! These are no longer in stock! I checked the website and it looks like there are plenty. While we went around that issue in several emails it gave me time to think. Did I REALLY want to try another one of these?
Finally I decided to just throw in the towel on this MMC-AV100 and wait for the Philips TSU-9200, which was announced at the time to be released in the USA "in the Fall of 2007". If I'm not mistaken, that's pretty soon (I'm writing this on November 4th.)
Description of Monster MCC AV100 Activity-based A/V Home Theater Controller
MONSTER MCC-AV100 15 Device Monster MCC AV100 IR Home Theater ControllerMonster Home Theater Controller AV100
 Unique & stylish ergonomic design. |   Table-top charging station allows use of remote while charging the supplied lithium ion battery. |
The AV100 Remote from Monster Cable has the capability to replace all of your existing remotes. Unlike other remotes on the market, the AV100's Component and Activity buttons send multiple commands to multiple devices automatically, allowing true one-touch control. You can control even the most complex AV systems, and extend their functionality with the special feature buttons. The unique ergonomic design of the AV100 features an intuitive layout of easy-to-read large tactile buttons. Thanks to the special illuminated backlit buttons, this remote is easy to read in the dark.
 One-touch control of any home entertainment system! |
Easy to Use
Best of all, there is no complex programming required to use this remote. Use your computer and the online setup wizard to easily configure home theater functions to create home entertainment activities. The Intelligent Monster Tracking Memory remembers what each component is doing, so when you switch activities your gear responds accurately. This functionality is easy enough for the whole family. You don't have to be a technophile to use the AV100. Everyone from the kids to the babysitter can command home entertainment with ease!
Convenient One-Remote Control and Functionality
The AV100 provides convenient one-remote control and functionality. This means that you can control multiple systems with one remote! Use in different rooms to control both local and main systems. With maximum versatility, the AV100 easily commands all of your AV gear.
Function Buttons
 | Quickly scroll through satellite and digital cable program guides. |  | Allows direct access to important picture controls like aspect ratio and PIP. |  | Allows convenient access to surround sound and DSP modes while listening. |
Monster Central Control
Monster Central Control is the world's most advanced remote control setup and information source. The web-based setup is fast and easy. The remote congfigurator walks you through your remote setup by simply asking you what home theater equipment you have and how it is connected.
The exclusive online content ensures that you get the most from your remote and home theater experience. You can obtain easy-to-understand technical assistance and advice at Monster Central Control, plus important software downloads and updates.
Make the best connections by downloading the Monster Connnection Guides for everything from PVR to iPod hook-ups.
 Web-based setup |  Online Content |  Connection Guide |
What's in the Box
Monster Home Theater Controller AV100, long-lasting lithium-ion battery, tabletop charging system.