Monster SuperThin Display Mounts Preview

While it is always fun to point out overpriced products that manufacturers release, it is good to remember that they can also release reasonable priced products. Monster hasn't been known as a value-oriented company but their new line of SuperThin Flatscreen mounts look pretty reasonable to us. They've announced three new lines - the Desktop model (pictured above) and two wall mounts called the Premium and the Elite (no images have been released yet).

To start with, the MDAS1 Desktop Model costs $129. The MDAS1 offers a flexible solution for installing a flatscreen on a desk. With many mounts, you need some sort of wall or upright structure with which to connect the mount. The MDAS1, however, connects directly to the desktop with a clamping mechanism. The clamp attaches to an all-aluminum articulating arm. It is available in three different colors including the Candy Apple Red shown above, Silver, and Light Gray/White. The MDAS1 supports flat-panel displays from 10 to 32 inches and up to 20 pounds. It supports all VESA patterns (the standard threaded insert connection on the back of the display) and can lift up to 14.6 inches with an arm extension of 25.24 inches. The MDAS1 can tilt a total of 130 degrees and has an 180 degree pan range.

One thing we really like about the MDAS1 is that you can add additional arms to hold up to four different displays. We're not sure if they will all attach to the same aluminum pole (we would assume so). It is also unclear if the 20 pound weight limit is for all four displays (and the arms) or if it is 20 pounds per display per arm. That would be up to 80+ pounds hanging on a single clamp. Seems like that would be too much weight for most desktops.

The Premium wall mount line has ten different models that can support displays up to 130 pounds with screen sizes from 10 to 84 inches. The Premium line starts at $40 (technically $39.95). The Premium mounts keep the display no more than an inch away from the wall. With such a small distance, you only get up to 12 degrees of tilt out of the Premium line. You'll want to make sure that your display doesn't have connections that come straight out the back or you'll have clearance issues. Unless, of course, you don't mind cutting holes in your drywall to accommodate your cables. 

Lastly, the Elite line is the higher-end wall mount option from Monster. Starting at $69.95 these mounts will support displays up to 150 pounds and from 10 to 100 inches. There are seven different Elite mounts from Monster. Unlike the Premium line, the Elite can be pulled away from the wall. When fully retracted, the Elite collapses to 1.9 inches. They can pulled out up to 19.1 inches from the wall. Again, they support all the VESA patterns and can tilt up to 15 degrees and have a 90 degree swivel when extended. After you install the Elite mount, you have a horizontal adjustment of three degrees in both directions. The Elite mounts come fully assembled and are constructed out of super light and strong aluminum. 

All of these mounts are designed with DIY "weekend warriors" in mind. All the mounts come with the necessary hardware for quick installation plus a bonus level, stud finder, and wall template. Simplified instruction manual is included with easy online access to installation videos. The idea is that anyone can pick up one of the new Monster mounts and hang their display with confidence.

Conclusion

The new SuperThin mounts from Monster might not be the cheapest on the market, but they are certainly priced competitively. While the name may be enough to sell to many people, the fact is that Monster has gone the extra mile to make sure that the end user, and not some custom installer, can hang the display. With all the necessary hardware, a level, stud finder, and wall template, you probably won't even need to go online to watch the installation videos. With the MDAS1 desktop mount, Premium tilt mount, and Elite articulating mount, there is something for everyone. Pricing starts at $40.

For more information, please visit www.monsterproducts.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.