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Review: Monster Superstar Blaster

Great appearance and sound

Monster’s boombox is brutal to look at, but it sounds nicer than expected.

Karakter
Monster Superstar Blaster
forfatter
Published 2018-08-17 - 2:55 pm
Our opinion
Can play outrageously loud and can be taken everywhere. Worth the price, can be a real bargain!
Weighs quite a lot. Bluetooth and Aux input only.
Specifications

Drivers: 5 full range, 1 subwoofer, 2 passive

Frequency range: –

Amplifiers: –

Max sound pressure: 100 dB

Connections: Aux, Bluetooth 4.0, USB (charging)

Battery life: 12 hours

Dimensions: 46 x 21 x 21 cm

Weight: 7.6 kg

Website: interconnect.no

If Braven XXL is somewhat reminiscent of military hardware, the Superstar Monster Blaster looks like it was taken from a secret lab of an intelligence agency. With its metallic soft, yet sharp forms, it resembles something that could be used to neutralise escaped aliens in Men in Black.

Its ease of use is just as simple as it is easy to read. A five centimetre wide power button on the one side turns on the device, and two equal sized arrows adjust the volume.

You can choose between an indoor and an outdoor setting. The latter setting has less bass, since it is still impossible to play deep bass out in the open. On the other hand, there are power sockets, a microphone and analogue inputs, as well as a USB port for charging.

Monster says nothing about either technical specifications, power or frequency range. But through the dark grey protection grille, you can sense the four full range drivers that are about two inches large, two on each side. A five-inch woofer takes care of the bass, with the help of two square drivers.

 

With the outdoor setting, you get even more of a party sound.

 

Wow, it plays really loud! Not loud as the colossal Soundboks of course, but loud enough to end up in a feud with anyone nearby. The sound level at a nightclub is normally 100 dB. But here it comes with a handle!

Monster Blaster plays not only loud, it goes deep too. Not as abysmally deep as the JBL Boombox, but it has excessive power in the bass drums and electric bass. If you place it on a table, the music is accompanied with the rattling from everything else. It is because the sub-woofer and the two drivers point downward, which puts the surface in motion.

Even though the bass is huge, Monster Blaster doesn’t feel too dark to listen to. It has a very beautiful and free mid-range and treble. So much that you think: “Oh, I can actually live quite well with that!”

Conclusion

The idea of the Monster Superstar Blaster has been to revive the classic boombox, and Monster succeeds unusually well with that. It is extremely rough and sturdy – on par with Braven XXL and JBL Boombox – and plays both thunderously high and with pressure in the bass. Despite this, it is so well nuanced that it can very well be used indoors and placed on a table. But the coffee cups will end up break-dancing when you turn up the volume! Also, the price is very good, compared to the others in the test. Be aware that the Superstar Blaster is on its way out of the assortment. Keep an eye out at the clearance shelves for an even better bargain.

 

Also in this test

Sony GTK-XB60

More flashing than thumping

Despite its party exterior, the XB60 does not play as gripping as its competitors.

Sleek design and impressive light show. Party mode and microphone input. USB charger.
Short battery life with all features on. Requires adjustments to sound good with different styles of music.

Aiwa Exos-9

Works well at home, not when it’s away

You can't complaint about the sound, but it has its limitations as a boombox.

Replaceable battery pack. Plays loudly and powerfully. Balanced and good sound.
The overtones are not the most resolved. Not weather proof. Not exactly a boombox.

Braven XXL

A multi-faceted tank

An armoured vehicle on the outside that turns out to have unexpected music qualities on the inside.

Robust and IPX5 splash proof. Microphone input and USB charger. Unexpectedly good sound.
Quite heavy to carry around. No decent deep bass. Requires a special charger.

Vooni Boombox

Bigger is not better

Just like the gadgets in the Hobbex youth catalogue, the Boombox is too good to be true.

A lot of decibels for its price. Many sound sources.
Immensely huge and terribly heavy. Cheap, ill-considered construction. Sounds terrible.

JBL Boombox

Small speaker, big boom

Despite its relatively small size, JBL Boombox has a great sound with proper bass rendition.

IPX7-waterproof. Long battery life. Potent bass and good sound quality.
No tone controls. High price tag.
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