The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5749 · by **El Duque** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:03 am

The latest Seibertron.com gallery takes us into the world of third-party products with BTS-04 Sonicron. Based on All Hail Megatron concept sketches by Guido Guidi, this figure seeks to provide fans with an updated version of G1 Soundwave. Sonicron retains the original figure's object-former qualities by transforming into a modern styled micro-cassette recorder complete with ability to accept the G1 cassettes.

In addition to the usual extensive gallery of high quality images that you've come to expect we have also uploaded video a review of the figure by Seiberton himself. The video is embedded below as well images and links to BTS-04 Sonicron's gallery.

Can this guy edge out Music Label Soundwave for a spot on your Classics Decepticon shelf?

The toy was provided to Seibertron.com by site sponsor BigBadToyStore.com. You can purchase this item from BBTS at http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

BTS-04 Sonicron (BTS)
3rd Party Products

by **WolfDawg** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:25 am

I dig the review, but I'm just not sold on the figure. His legs look way too chunky and from what I can tell, ALL of his joints are unreasonably loose. It's a good concept, but Music Label Soundwave (which I have) does his job 10x better. Hell, I think WFC Soundwave is a pretty decent stand-in for a classics Soundwave. Both ML Soundwave and WFC Soundwave actually look better as well and fit more in scale with the seekers and many of the other classics Decepticons. There's really no point to getting this guy unless you're a 3rd party fan.

The 60 dollar price tag isn't too bad for a 3rd party figure. But again...he's pointless.

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:07 am

I've been back n forth on this figure a lot.

I preordered instantly when he first came out, then I canceled, then flip-flopped again.

As it stands I don't have a preorder in for him, and I have to say I'm still torn.

From the gallery, I think I like him about as much as I expected I would, but, as I expected, I still like ML Soundwave more.

I like that he is a little bigger, I actually wish he was closer to voyager sized, but added bulk is OK for me, I prefer Decepticons to be larger than Autobots. I like the new twist on the bot mode with the asymmetric parts, and the chunky legs are not as bad as I had thought. I like the alt mode and the speakers. I like the head, I thought I wouldn't, but I do. Of course I LOVE that he can house the cassette-bots. But he has a few minuses too.

I don't like the dinky weapons. They look anemic, especially given the chunkiness of the body. And what's up with the red on the missile launcher? I hate the tab that sticks out the back. It is also a problem in alt mode, causing him to sit up on the tabs. If it could rotate so it was flush with the body, it may actually work a lot better and help alleviate the wasp-waist that he has. That part alone is probably the deal breaker for me.

If I didn't already have ML Soundwave, I'd probably get this guy, and be pretty happy. He's not a bad choice for a Classics Soundwave, and the price isn't terrible for a 3rd party, fully transformable, deluxe sized bot. However, there is a better choice in ML Soundwave, and a cheaper choice in WFC Soundwave.

by **Rated X** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:25 am

Still debating on this one. I dont give a rats ass about fitting G1 cassettes into my classics figures chests. If they had made him slightly smmaller to be in scale with the perfect effect cassettes, I would have bought. Im using United Cybertron Soundwave to fill in for now.

News Credits: 32 · by **UltraPrimal** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:41 am

Pretty good for your first video review Seibertron. 1 tip though. NEVER quote "he who shall not be named". Stay as far away from that guy as you can and you'll do fine.

Personally, when it comes to 3rd parties, for me, it depends on the 3rd party company. Guys like FansProject, Perfect Effect, Headrobots, and Junkion Blacksmith I can get behind because, for the most part, they're meant to go with official Hasbro products or otherwise fill a niche that official will not be filled. Other guys like iGear, who's basically just a high priced knock-off company and steal all their designs from official products, I am firmly against. This thing kind of falls in the middle. It's a stolen design, but it probably would have never been produced as a toy. But we can never be sure of that. Now Hasbro can never produce it because BTS has already produced it.

It's like Classics Springer. A few years back, a Hasbro design book was given to a few VIP fans that had a close relationship to Hasbro. In that book was a possible design for a Classics-style Springer. Now whether that design was leaked to FansProject and that's where they drew inspiration from or if their Defender toy was already designed and it was just a coincidence is unknown. But now Hasbro cannot produce their own Springer because it would be too similar to Defender. That's probably why they rushed out their own Wreck-Gar/Junkion figure. To cock-block FansProjects own planned version that they showed off at TFcon 09.

Also, Spy Submarine mode?

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:43 am

Well you certainly covered all the bases. Unfortunately, this was enough information to sell me on NOT buying this figure. Honestly, I like my Cybertron or WFC Soundwave better. As far as putting tapes in his chest....well I'm working on a lil something for WFC

Gonna pass, thanks for saving me some green Seibertron!

News Credits: 129 · by **epicvoiceguy** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:44 am

Some features weren't shown in the video review that Optimus shows in "his" review. Check out Optimus Prime's humorous review of BTS-04 Sonicron.

by **Andrius** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:58 am

UltraPrimal wrote: It's like Classics Springer. A few years back, a Hasbro design book was given to a few VIP fans that had a close relationship to Hasbro. In that book was a possible design for a Classics-style Springer. Now whether that design was leaked to FansProject and that's where they drew inspiration from or if their Defender toy was already designed and it was just a coincidence is unknown. But now Hasbro cannot produce their own Springer because it would be too similar to Defender.

That's just crazy talk. The target market for companies like Fansproject is minuscule, relative to Hasbro. Hasbro could release their own versions of any 3rd party product and more than make their money's worth. What's more, Hasbro could probably release an exact replica of Fansproject's "Defender" mold, withstand any litigation Fansproject would throw their way, and countersue FP into oblivion.

These 3rd party companies are great for us fans, but they are not going to have any noticeable effect on Hasbro's sales.

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:11 am

Andrius wrote:That's just crazy talk. The target market for companies like Fansproject is minuscule, relative to Hasbro. Hasbro could release their own versions of any 3rd party product and more than make their money's worth. What's more, Hasbro could probably release an exact replica of Fansproject's "Defender" mold, withstand any litigation Fansproject would throw their way, and countersue FP into oblivion.

These 3rd party companies are great for us fans, but they are not going to have any noticeable effect on Hasbro's sales.

Agreed. Which is fine by me. Keep it small, keep 'em coming. I love 3rd party stuff. I do feel its unlikely Hasbro will pump out a Springer anyways. The 2 pack repaint with Rat Bat will likely be the last Springer you see for a good while.

News Credits: 9 · by **Hip-Hoptimus Rime** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:26 am

This figure looks great in both modes, but the tabs sticking out seem amateurish. The one sticking out his back in robot mode doesn't bother me as much as the ones on the bottom of the alt mode, those actually keep the thing from standing like a real recorder. The robot mode chest is a little overpowering, but he really does look great.

Moot points for me, can't afford it anyway. I mean, I could, but I'd have to skip other stuff I'd enjoy more.

by **TCWJoe** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:39 am

A little off topic, but since ML Soundwave has been brought up. I still have not found out whether it will carry G1 cassetes or not. I've wanted a G1 style Soundwave since I got back into collecting Tranformers (Armada era). I don't have a big collection and justifying the expenses on a high priced toy is very difficult to me. But if I get a G1 style Soundwave I want to be able to use tapes which could decide whether I go ML or with "Sonicron".

News Credits: 9 · by **Mykltron** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:42 am

It looks better than I expected but I still wouldn't buy it. I'm happy with Music Label Soundwave.

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:47 am

TCWJoe wrote:A little off topic, but since ML Soundwave has been brought up. I still have not found out whether it will carry G1 cassetes or not. I've wanted a G1 style Soundwave since I got back into collecting Tranformers (Armada era). I don't have a big collection and justifying the expenses on a high priced toy is very difficult to me. But if I get a G1 style Soundwave I want to be able to use tapes which could decide whether I go ML or with "Sonicron".

Music Label will NOT tote tapes my friend. The chest does open, but it is where the mini SD card goes. YES MINI. Not sold anywhere in the states. I had to order mine from China. And the tards at Best Buy: "oh man you mean micro SD, like for a phone!" NO YOU BLASTED IDIOT MINI! M I N I
MINI!!!! :BANG_HEAD:

by **MagnaBlade** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:54 am

Looks pretty good from some angles, but from a side/profile view, I really don't like the legs. They are too wide and flat. From a straight on front view they look better than from the side, but they are too skinny for my liking.

I like the head sculpt, the shoulder speakers, and the paint apps.

News Credits: 6 · by **BeastProwl** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:22 am

FLOPPY FLOPPY :lol:

News Credits: 335 · by **Down_Shift** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:26 am

They should have made his chest the size of actual micro cassettes. He's way too bulky toes really good interpretation of GG's soundwave.

So far it's a pass.

by **Biocore** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:32 am

Hello my fellow saybertronians from saybertron.com!

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:58 am

Biocore wrote:Hello my fellow saybertronians from saybertron.com!

No. I will not change. I shall forever pronounce it Cybertron.com
"cept not spelled the same"
-John Coffey, The Green Mile

by **DJLazer** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:10 pm

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

News Credits: 767 · by **Dead Metal** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:13 pm

UltraPrimal wrote:It's like Classics Springer. A few years back, a Hasbro design book was given to a few VIP fans that had a close relationship to Hasbro. In that book was a possible design for a Classics-style Springer. Now whether that design was leaked to FansProject and that's where they drew inspiration from or if their Defender toy was already designed and it was just a coincidence is unknown. But now Hasbro cannot produce their own Springer because it would be too similar to Defender. That's probably why they rushed out their own Wreck-Gar/Junkion figure. To cock-block FansProjects own planned version that they showed off at TFcon 09.

I'm going to call BS on that, FP desinged and announced Defender after Hasbro announced in 08 that there won't be another Classics Springer, because the BotCon Games of Decepticon Springer repaint of Cybertron Defence HotShot and the Universe 2.0 Springer repaint of Cybertron Evac where "good enough" and "covered all aspects of the character".

Also, I'm completely let down by this. I was hoping for something better than G1 Soundwave, but this has the exact same problems I have with G1 Soundwave, so no thank you.

News Credits: 8 · by **LiKwid** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:29 pm

Thanks for saving me $60 ryan

I think I'll look for a device label Sw though, looks kinda cool:)

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:54 pm

Thanks for the review Ryan.

Looks like a big pass: feet/boots too big, too fiddly, and a mess in back.

News Credits: 6 · by **BeastProwl** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:00 pm

This soundwave just straight looks like a knockoff, even though it counts as 3rd party.
Iv'e been collecting knockoffs my whole life, no need to stop now!
Recently, I found a bot who was 1 cybertron thunder cracker, 2 cybertron starscreams, 2 cybertron vector primes, and 1 cybertron optimus prime, and they all combined into a massive robot! That thing was cool! not all knockoffs and 3rd party stuff with "BAD QUALITY" are that bad.

At cosco you can get a knockoff yellow g1 devastator with extra parts that form the head, hands, feet, etc. out of plow and drill components. he's just 10 bucks.

I want this guy.

nuff said

News Credits: 187 · by **GetRightRobot** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:12 pm

BeastProwl wrote:... 1 cybertron thunder cracker, 2 cybertron starscreams, 2 cybertron vector primes, and 1 cybertron optimus prime, and they all combined into a massive robot!...

Can you post pics please?

News Credits: 2 · by **xyl360** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:17 pm

Nice review. I was on the fence on this release. Soundwave is one of my fav all time characters and once I saw this bot in robot mode, I just couldn't get over the asymmetrical look (which I love for some TF's, but not a G1-inspired/updated Soundwave) or the legs.

About a week ago, because of this third party release, I grabbed a Music Label Soundwave (Spark Blue with Reprolabels stickers already applied) on ebay and he is the best Soundwave I've ever seen. It was reasonably priced (cheaper than this third party toy) and to me, he looks far better than even the original G1 toy (which I own and still love). The proportions look more like the cartoon to me, which is what I always wanted. The width and height of the chest on the G1 toy always threw me off, as did the elongated head and yellow eyes (which I painted), but the Music Label version gets it all right for me.