Monster Superstar: Mini Bluetooth speaker with audiophile aspirations
Speakers
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
The Monster Superstar is in with a slim, splash resistant wireless bluetooth speaker that the company describes as the world's smallest audiophile bluetooth speaker. The Monster Superstar is in with a slim, splash resistant wireless bluetooth speaker that the company describes as the world's smallest audiophile bluetooth speaker.
It's available for around $130 online. It's available for around $130 online.
It comes in a few different color options. It comes in a few different color options.
I'm David Carnoy. I'm David Carnoy.
I review a lot of the portable bluetooth speakers here at cnet, and I'm not sure I've run into any tiny bluetooth speakers that audio files would really like. I review a lot of the portable bluetooth speakers here at cnet, and I'm not sure I've run into any tiny bluetooth speakers that audio files would really like.
And I have my doubts that the Superstar would impress any audio files. And I have my doubts that the Superstar would impress any audio files.
That doesn't mean that it's a bad little speaker. That doesn't mean that it's a bad little speaker.
I like it's form factor and its nice soft to the touch silicone cover that wraps around its plastic body. I like it's form factor and its nice soft to the touch silicone cover that wraps around its plastic body.
You can prop the speaker up vertically or lay it down horizontally, and have the two small drivers fire upward and have the bass port on the back reflect off the surface. You can prop the speaker up vertically or lay it down horizontally, and have the two small drivers fire upward and have the bass port on the back reflect off the surface.
With a built-in microphone, it has speaker phone capabilities, and there's a line input for non-Bluetooth devices. With a built-in microphone, it has speaker phone capabilities, and there's a line input for non-Bluetooth devices.
It charges via micro-USB and offers about five hours of battery life. It charges via micro-USB and offers about five hours of battery life.
That's average for this class of speaker. That's average for this class of speaker.
As far as sound goes, you've got some bass, but not a lot. As far as sound goes, you've got some bass, but not a lot.
And a reasonable amount of clarity, at lower to mid volume levels. And a reasonable amount of clarity, at lower to mid volume levels.
Like a lot of these little speakers, it plays loud for its size. Like a lot of these little speakers, it plays loud for its size.
But it also distorts with certain tracks at higher volumes. But it also distorts with certain tracks at higher volumes.
I like this speaker, particularly its design. I like this speaker, particularly its design.
But there are others speakers out there that sound as good or better and costs less. But there are others speakers out there that sound as good or better and costs less.
JBL Flip 2 for instance. JBL Flip 2 for instance.
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
Which can be hired for around $99, that's about what this should cost too. Which can be hired for around $99, that's about what this should cost too.
I'm David Carnaway, thanks for watching. I'm David Carnaway, thanks for watching.
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
The Monster Superstar is in with a slim, splash resistant wireless bluetooth speaker that the company describes as the world's smallest audiophile bluetooth speaker. The Monster Superstar is in with a slim, splash resistant wireless bluetooth speaker that the company describes as the world's smallest audiophile bluetooth speaker.
It's available for around $130 online. It's available for around $130 online.
It comes in a few different color options. It comes in a few different color options.
I'm David Carnoy. I'm David Carnoy.
I review a lot of the portable bluetooth speakers here at cnet, and I'm not sure I've run into any tiny bluetooth speakers that audio files would really like. I review a lot of the portable bluetooth speakers here at cnet, and I'm not sure I've run into any tiny bluetooth speakers that audio files would really like.
And I have my doubts that the Superstar would impress any audio files. And I have my doubts that the Superstar would impress any audio files.
That doesn't mean that it's a bad little speaker. That doesn't mean that it's a bad little speaker.
I like it's form factor and its nice soft to the touch silicone cover that wraps around its plastic body. I like it's form factor and its nice soft to the touch silicone cover that wraps around its plastic body.
You can prop the speaker up vertically or lay it down horizontally, and have the two small drivers fire upward and have the bass port on the back reflect off the surface. You can prop the speaker up vertically or lay it down horizontally, and have the two small drivers fire upward and have the bass port on the back reflect off the surface.
With a built-in microphone, it has speaker phone capabilities, and there's a line input for non-Bluetooth devices. With a built-in microphone, it has speaker phone capabilities, and there's a line input for non-Bluetooth devices.
It charges via micro-USB and offers about five hours of battery life. It charges via micro-USB and offers about five hours of battery life.
That's average for this class of speaker. That's average for this class of speaker.
As far as sound goes, you've got some bass, but not a lot. As far as sound goes, you've got some bass, but not a lot.
And a reasonable amount of clarity, at lower to mid volume levels. And a reasonable amount of clarity, at lower to mid volume levels.
Like a lot of these little speakers, it plays loud for its size. Like a lot of these little speakers, it plays loud for its size.
But it also distorts with certain tracks at higher volumes. But it also distorts with certain tracks at higher volumes.
I like this speaker, particularly its design. I like this speaker, particularly its design.
But there are others speakers out there that sound as good or better and costs less. But there are others speakers out there that sound as good or better and costs less.
JBL Flip 2 for instance. JBL Flip 2 for instance.
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
Which can be hired for around $99, that's about what this should cost too. Which can be hired for around $99, that's about what this should cost too.
I'm David Carnaway, thanks for watching. I'm David Carnaway, thanks for watching.
[MUSIC]. [MUSIC].
