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My answer is a little bit fact and a little bit my own experience.
Let's start with what I can say off the top of my head. Monster Cable is much more expensive and doesn't really have an effect on the quality of the connection. The primary benefit I've experienced is that the cables don't get twisted as easily and are more easily secured.
This Gizmodo post from last year has a major beef to pick with Monster Cable. They allege that Monster Cable gives no benefit to HD connections and that good components in whatever you're connecting it to can offset anything that is detracted from using a bad-quality cable. It goes much deeper into detail on some technical things that are hard for me to parse together. Definitely the best source I've seen on this topic, though.
Source(s):
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/field-notes/the-truth-about-monster-cable-266616...
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claytonkch...
johnsonaar...
claytonkch...
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I hope that puts it into perspective.
From a technical standpoint there are differences in quality in the copper. Purity levels and things like oxygen free might make a small difference, but for a cable transmitting a digital signal that is already compressed it won't be noticed. Very cheap cables might fray at the end or be more susceptible to tight coiling, but it is cheaper to replace them every year than buy monster cables.
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I would be ESPECIALLY skeptical about any consumer level Monster Cables; it seems every big box retailer is selling them almost exclusively these days (Best Buy, Circuit City), and they are selling for upwards of $100 - $150, especially HDMI cables and optical cables. Please. Find one that works, plug it in, and it never even moves... Again, for professional "on the road" use, it may be worth getting an instrument cable because they are better constructed, but otherwise, I do not think they are worth it.
Source(s):
audio producer/engineer, musician
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Answered Question
December 24, 2008 08:56 PM
Is Monster Cable really worth the price?
It's really expensive and I wonder if it's really better than other cables or speaker wires. Isn't copper still copper regardless of how it's spun, packaged and marketed?
http://www.monstercable.com/
http://www.monstercable.com/
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Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| December 24, 2008 09:03 PM |
Let's start with what I can say off the top of my head. Monster Cable is much more expensive and doesn't really have an effect on the quality of the connection. The primary benefit I've experienced is that the cables don't get twisted as easily and are more easily secured.
This Gizmodo post from last year has a major beef to pick with Monster Cable. They allege that Monster Cable gives no benefit to HD connections and that good components in whatever you're connecting it to can offset anything that is detracted from using a bad-quality cable. It goes much deeper into detail on some technical things that are hard for me to parse together. Definitely the best source I've seen on this topic, though.
Source(s):
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/field-notes/the-truth-about-monster-cable-266616...
| Asker's Rating: |
• All of the answers were fantastic. I'd give you all "best answer" if I could. For my purposes, I'll probably look for a suitable alternative to Monster.
jonathan - That link was super. I especially liked the comments from other readers that gave a variety of perspectives.
jonathan - That link was super. I especially liked the comments from other readers that gave a variety of perspectives.
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claytonkch...
December 24, 2008 09:34 PM
Oh gosh. Does the "useful" button go away after I select the best answer? I'm sorry... I was going to click on "useful" for each of my responders' answers.
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johnsonaar...
December 24, 2008 09:40 PM
The only thing to add to any of this, is that the only way a signal could ever benefit from higher quality is ANALOG signal. Any digital cable that you buy, HDMI, DVI, VGA, are all carrying digital signal ie 0100110011001001 with these applications, the 0's and 1's either get there (and the cable works) or they don't get there (and the cable doesn't work) there is NO possibility of degradation of quality because the signal is digital. The only cable type that could benefit from higher quality in theory would be analog cables (RCA, speaker, composite) because these are analog and could benefit from the reduced resistance or other premium cable qualities.
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claytonkch...
December 24, 2008 09:44 PM
johnsonaaron - Thanks for taking the time to add your comment.
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Other Answers (4)
December 24, 2008 08:59 PM
In short - no. Lots of independent tests stated over and over again that *in general* Monster cables are not better than unbranded cables. There might be special situations, when you must run cables very close to others, so there might be a noise issue, but if you do not have to do that, you can save your money...
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December 24, 2008 09:03 PM
I would never buy monster cables. Consider the premium that they charge for a simple HDMI cable, say $30 instead of $3, that is 10 times the price. Unless you also spend that premium on your TV, receiver, speakers, sound proof walls, there is no reason to spend it on the cables. I hope that puts it into perspective.
From a technical standpoint there are differences in quality in the copper. Purity levels and things like oxygen free might make a small difference, but for a cable transmitting a digital signal that is already compressed it won't be noticed. Very cheap cables might fray at the end or be more susceptible to tight coiling, but it is cheaper to replace them every year than buy monster cables.
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December 24, 2008 09:25 PM
I have found them to last longer in professional applications where the cables are under constant stress and use (for instance, a guitar cable). However, pretty much ANY cable these days comes with a lifetime warranty; simply take them back to the store, and voila - new cable. I would be ESPECIALLY skeptical about any consumer level Monster Cables; it seems every big box retailer is selling them almost exclusively these days (Best Buy, Circuit City), and they are selling for upwards of $100 - $150, especially HDMI cables and optical cables. Please. Find one that works, plug it in, and it never even moves... Again, for professional "on the road" use, it may be worth getting an instrument cable because they are better constructed, but otherwise, I do not think they are worth it.
Source(s):
audio producer/engineer, musician
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December 24, 2008 09:38 PM
Just my input, I agree with all the others. I used to sell electronic equipment and I've tried several different cables. Expensive cables are a rip off. The only advantage that SOME of them have is that they're more durable than the cheap ones. Not even all of them have that advantage though. While monster cables certainly will last a long time, they'll be outdated long before they go out.
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