Name: Music Label Soundwave: Blaster Black Version
Line: Takara Music Label
Manufacturer: TakaraTomy
Released: December 2007
Price: Online: $59.99
Accessories: 2 pairs of extra hands, Wave Bluster blaster, Electric Launcher shoulder cannon, working earphones, instructions, and trading card

      There are 3 versions of the Music Label Soundwave. The one that everyone REALLY wants, is Music Label Soundwave: Spark Blue Version, which is done up in the colors of the original Soundwave. Then there's the Sonic White Version, which is a mostly white so that its alternate mode would most resemble an actual modern MP3 player. And then there's this guy, Blaster Black Version, otherwise known as MP3 or Music Label SoundBLASTER.
      After the 3rd season of the original American cartoons, a 4th season known as the Rebirth series came out in the US. However, in Japan, they discounted this 4th American season and created the series known as Headmaster. During the run of Headmaster, Soundwave and Blaster got into a one on one deathmatch. It was beautiful. First they fired lasers at each other, and then they literally beat each other to death. One (or both, I can't remember) of them even got the other's fist embedded in their chest. In the end, Soundwave exploded while Blaster turned grey. Soundwave's head was picked up by Laserbeak, and he was rebuilt as Soundblaster, while Blaster was also eventually rebuilt as... Billy. Erm, yes...
      It's more dramatic than it sounds, since back then, despite Optimus already having come back a couple of times in the US series, Transformers who died generally stayed dead. This was before they introduced the concept of Sparks (Souls) in Beast Wars. So for that brief moment at least, it seemed like the Blaster and Soundwave were gone for good.
      Anywho, I'm gonna call this guy Soundblaster, so nyeh!

P.S. Yes, this is the Soundwave toy with an actual working MP3 player.

10 / 10 - With MP3 Soundblaster in the hizzouze, there's really no need for a Classics or even Masterpiece version of Soundwave. This sculpt is perfect. Boxy, yet sleek. Modern, yet oldschool. And undeniably Soundwave/blaster. MP3 player mode is also very MP3-ish yet Walkman-ish. Heck, the deck even opens at the press of a button. Transformation is simple yet masterful.

 

9 / 10 - Paint is toygasmically superb. The colors work terrific together and are applied flawlessly. Only weakness is that repeated transforming will chip the silver at some spots. Ordinarily, this isn't enough to warrant docking a point, but being a high end product, this demotivates you from wanting to play with him as much.

8 / 10 - Not only is articulation pretty good. It really couldn't be much better, especially considering that this guy has a working MP3 player in him. Despite this significant gimmick, the designers made sure not make any significant sacrifices in Soundblaster's articulation.

5 / 10 - Now this is a tough category. I'm not sure how much Sonic White is going for these days, but there's a large disparity in prices for Music Label Soundwave. Spark Blue will see you paying the full retail of 10000 Yen plus the cost of import, while Soundblaster you can probably find for much cheaper if you look around.
      This is a fantastic item. It's solid as a toy and has the novelty of being an actual working music player. You get insta-nerd-cred just for owning him, especially the Spark Blue Version. But he's expensive, and therefore, that insta-nerd-cred is well deserved. You'd have to be a Transformers NEEEEERD to get him.

 

 

Overall Score: 90 / 100 - This is a Wonderful Toy

Soundblaster fires at all cylinders. This guy deserves his designation as a high end toy. The price is basically the only major drawback, but you can probably get this black version relatively cheap. If you're a "True BLUE" Soundwave fan, well... sucks to be your wallet.

-Updatedude