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| Brand: Monster
Category: CE
List Price: $399.95
Buy New: $245.75
You Save: $154.20 (39%)
New (51) Used (1) from $229.99
Rating:  20 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5
Dimensions (in): 12 x 14 x 10
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: MCC AVL300
Model: MCC AVL300
UPC: 050644312588
EAN: 0050644312588
ASIN: B000CQP5YS
Release Date: April 16, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 The good and the bad after six months May 27, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Hi, let me preface this by saying I also have a Phillips Pronto Pro TSU6000 remote. It is a similar but more expensive unit than the Monster. Many of my opinions are based on comparing the two devices. They differ considerably with both having strengths and weaknesses. I've owned both of them for over six months now. I suspect a lot of the people saying this is the 'best remote ever' have not tried anything else in the same price range.
Overall I'm pleased with the AVL300. It is very feature rich. The inclusion of an RF module is an example. With the Pronto RF is an expensive option.
The physical size is also nice. The Pronto is much bulkier and cannot be operated with one hand. It also slips out of your hand easily and you shudder when the $600 device hits the floor. Conversely the Monster is easy to grip and many of the functions can be accessed using only one hand.
The Pronto makes extensive use of 'soft' keys whereas the Monster does not. By 'soft keys' I mean the touch screen rather than actual buttons. It sounds cool and high tech but is over rated. Pressing the touch screen is by nature imprecise. You don't get any tactile feedback so you often miss the key you want and hit the wrong one. The Monster uses true buttons AKA 'hard keys'. It's much easier to tell when your finger is on the button and far less error prone.
The software for programming the two devices is vastly different. I won't try to go into all the details here but here are some highlights.
The Pronto software is very powerful but requires considerable technical savvy. You have to create the entire user interface for the touch screen buttons and panels from scratch. You also have to manually create all the macros to turn on groups of devices. It takes days to setup a moderately complicated home theater. On the bright side there is a big user community that shares what they have created. That can give you a big head start.
The Monster software is wizard based and guides you through the process. The basic setup is pretty straight forward and easy. While it still requires time and technical savvy it's nothing like the Pronto. Fine tunning things is more challenging. Also, the list of home theater components they support is remarkably extensive. They have the codes for just about everything it seems. They have game systems, lighting controllers, stereo components and even had the codes for my Escient Fireball media server. Not having to learn codes from the original remotes saves so much time. One disappointment is they don't take full advantage of discrete codes. These are special codes for A/V devices that typically can't be accessed via the OEM remote but do exist. The discrete codes are huge assets when controlling home theaters.
The software is not without issues. First, it is very slow and clumsy. For example when you click the forward and back button in the wizard there is a noticeable delay before anything happens. Also, you frequently have to go back to the very beginning when configuring multiple settings and devices. It gets tedious. The software could be more intuitive as well. Worst of all you always must have a live internet connection and login to their site to configure the remote. What the heck is that for?? You can't even change the text label on a button without logging into the web. Maybe that's why it's so sluggish going through the wizard.
I hate the charging base for the remote. The remote doesn't snap into the charger it just lays loosely on top. It's very easy to not get it seated properly, or knock it out of position. When that happens obviously it doesn't charge. Many people have reported problems with it.
As compared to the Pronto Pro I would say the biggest strength of the Monster is the hardware. The greatest weakness is the software. It needs more customization capability and an 'advanced mode' so that I don't have to go through the wizard all the time.
Last but not least I have to mention that my unit broke. It recently decided it was not going to charge at all anymore. The support people at Monster were very helpful and I'm in the process of getting it replaced.
Happy remote controlling!
 The best remote out there April 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After using this remote for a while I'm finally ready to post a review. The reason it took so long is because it also took me a while to set it up properly. Once I got it working though, it delivers. I'll share some of my experiences and see if any of them help you decide.
First of all, the remote is used to control several AV components, including a Blu ray player, AV receiver, video projector, music server and more. All of them are concealed inside a closet with wooden doors, so having an RF (radio frequency) remote was mandatory. Out of the box you get the Remote, an RF extender (called Omnilink), cables and software. The remote looks great, except for the center select button which feels very cheap and feels it will break easily. Installation is quite easy, and after you plug in the remote, the setup program will completely guide you adding each component and setting up different `activities' for you to use. For Example, if you set up and activity called "Watch movie", you will control de DVD player, receiver for volume without having to switch back and forth. Sounds easy right? So far yes, but chances are, you won't get it right the first time, so you will have to go back and redo some settings, or even customize the buttons to your needs. Whatever the reason, every time you choose update be prepared to spend about 10 - 15 minutes in front of your computer. Another feature is the built-in help from the remote: it ask you basic questions of current connected equipment and fixes the problem for you (e.g. Is the Cable Box on?, is the TV set to HDMI 1? Etc).
One of the nice features is the ability to control lights wirelessly. Of course, this comes with an extra cost, and you will find yourself adding around 100 extra for each dimmer you choose to add. Granted that you probably spent a fair amount of money in the home theater itself, its something you don't want to miss out. After adding each dimmer, you will have to add it with the software and can choose different light settings (% of light you want to dim).
If any problem should arise, you can always reach tech service and they will help you out. I consider myself tech-savvy, and I still had to call. Fortunately my problem was an easy fix but was not listed in the help files. After spending time you will learn to fix problems yourself, but I guess the ultimate objective is that anybody in your household can use it without needing help.
In summary, this is an awesome remote once you get all the settings right, but it will take you a while to get there. Four stars it is.
 Excellent Remote April 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this remote after my son's friend sat on my Harmony 890 which was a great idea that did not quite deliver. Since I loved the concept and the Monster remote had similar software, I took a chance on the higher priced Monster AVL300 and have not been disappointed. Setup was easy - one button did not get the correct code and I easily used the learning function to fix that. The omnilink feature actually works perfectly. The "joystick" controller is a little quirky - however, it works consistently so you just have to adjust to how it behaves.
This is a great remote - easy to program and customize, works well, and is easy to use.
Best Product on the Market, Great Customer Service March 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Now that the price is down out of the stratosphere (I paid $500!), this is a must buy. The programming interface is easy and intuitive. It works more effectively and most simply than any other programmable remote, and I've owned several.
Not to be overlooked, the customer service at Monster is great! The hours are a bit stingy (M-F working hours on the Pacific Coast, so I always have to call from my office), but the people are friendly, knowledgable and quick to do the right thing (when I had a problem with the remote, of my own doing, they didn't hesitate to send out a completely new one free of charge).
This is the best product on the market. Now you can afford it. Buy it.
great remote! February 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was looking for a remote and was thinking about a control 4. I came across this remote and thought I would take a chance. It does take time and patience to set up and the intructions are not at all helpful. I had to call tech support and they did a great job setting up the remote. Once I figured out how the whole thing works I was able to tweak the system to my needs. My wife and 6 year old son are able to use the remote with ease. Just don't get frustriated with it just call tech support and let them set it up for you.
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