Could someone explain the 'Monster Cable' thing to me

[timetohunt]

I am very new back into the audio hobby, but making large strides as I read here and grow my system. One thing I noticed was this aversion to the brand of Monster Cables. I wanted to get going quick and found myself buying a few products from them, simply because they were available locally, and I did not want to short cut on some of the better components I bought.
Plus, I wanted sound now, and am a bit impatient.

For example, I aquired very good speakers and a very good sub. So, the best interconnects that were out there (form stores), seemed to be from Monster. I have to admit, I like the banana plugs I bought. I hate paying those high prices, but I did not want to do an injustice to components that cost a good deal of money anyway.

So I guess I bought into it (as it would seem) and grabbed the Monster stuff. From some of the reading I have done it is almost like a "Jeff Gordon" syndrome. Everyone knows he is a decent driver, but most people hate him because he is so 'pop culture'. So for you that have been in this for awhile - tell me - what is with the Monster Cable thing. I would prefer to know, and will buy better if its out there, and if the reasons are right. Sorry if this seems like a studip question. But my sensitivity to brand names is very new because I just got back into this hobby. Thanks.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Monster makes excellent cables, don't be confused about the quality. The issue people have with Monster Cable is the ridiculous marketing BS, markup and gouging on prices. You can buy cables of the same or better quality for much less $.

Jack

 

[Seth=L]

That belkin PureAV stuff and Acoustic Research are just as good, if not better than Monster. At least there cables and interconnects don't present possible damage issues to your components.

 

[Davemcc]

I won't buy Monster just because of the price. I mean, c'mon, what is it? It's some copper wire with some connector or other stuck on the end. $50? $100? Now that Monster has dominated the industry with jacked up prices, it seems like every company thinks their 3 feet of wire is priceless, too. It's hard to find decently priced wires out there now. If I ever pay $100 for a cable, it better be made of unobtainium.

 

[no. 5]

if you already have Monster their is no reson to change a thing, but if need cables their is no reson to look for Monster.

it better be made of unobtainium.

hay Dave, do you have a background in engineering?

 

[emorphien]

There's nothing wrong with Monster or most other designer/expensive wire, but it's nothing different from the cheap stuff. They just slap a bigger price tag on there.

If it's dirt cheap on sale I have nothing against it, but I wouldn't rush out to buy Monster (or any other overpriced cable) otherwise.

 

[Davemcc]

hay Dave, do you have a background in engineering?

No, but I do work in a foundry. So far, we haven't been able to produce any unobtanium alloys, some sort of supply problem.

 

[mtrycrafts]

One thing I noticed was this aversion to the brand of Monster Cables. Thanks.

Also, they have a habit of filing lawsuits against anyone that has Monster in their name for their business. The legal cases are by the hundreds. Predatory practice. A bully on the block.

 

[tubesaregood]

I hate Monster with a passion. They're liars.

 

[markw]

Monster puts out a decent product.

But, so do many others who don't charge anywhere what Monster demands. When you buy Monster cable, a most of what you're paying for is advertising and marketing, not engineering, manufacturing and materials.

If you want equal or even better cable check out blueleanscable or monoprice.

 

[Audioholics]

That belkin PureAV stuff and Acoustic Research are just as good, if not better than Monster. At least there cables and interconnects don't present possible damage issues to your components.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Monster Cables have never presented any damage issues that we are aware of. Unless you mean the way they tend to grab the RCA connections and rip them off... that is an issue.

 

[JonBaker99]

I don't care for Monsters business practices, but they make a fine product (although higher priced than many competitive products). I can't really fault Monster, they've made a successful business out of marketing and selling a fairly "un-sexy" product like cable. They have done a fantastic job of branding and distributing themselves and that all costs money, hence the higher prices.

I've got some Monster cables, some other brands. They all work well.

 

[dave1490]

I don't care for Monsters business practices, but they make a fine product (although higher priced than many competitive products). I can't really fault Monster, they've made a successful business out of marketing and selling a fairly "un-sexy" product like cable. They have done a fantastic job of branding and distributing themselves and that all costs money, hence the higher prices.

I've got some Monster cables, some other brands. They all work well.

no one like,s moster,s price.i buy of ebay and thier dirt cheap,got some z-300,s for $22 and thier $99 cables.same for m1000i,thiers aguy that,s selling 5pair,s for $135, and the 400 series can be picked up for $20 delivered.

 

[mikeyj92]

I just plan ahead, order online (bluejeans is my preference) and save quite a bit of cash.

I will never buy cables at local stores again.

I don't understand why everyone who takes the time to research products online, who essentially knows what they are going to buy that requires cables, doesn't just order the cable right away and save themselves some chang. I see more and more people looking to save whatever they can on Receiver XXX, yet they will then just go and blow cash on cables from their local store, (ie at BestBuy, the AR 6' HDMI cable is near 3x the cost of bluejeans 6' hdmi, and their lowet price monster cable, only 4' long btw , is 4x the cost...plus you have to pay tax.)

It just doesn't make sense...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have some speaker wire from Monster; a friend gave me a spool of it. I have a surge protecter, Opt cable and some RGB from Monster; an ex-GF bought it for me. When I have to pay for it, I buy from Monoprice.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Monster Cables have never presented any damage issues that we are aware of. Unless you mean the way they tend to grab the RCA connections and rip them off... that is an issue.

That was exactly what I meant. I was short on time when I made the post. I wouldn't use Monster to connect poorly constructed components via RCA, that you can be sure of, not worth the risk.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Also, they have a habit of filing lawsuits against anyone that has Monster in their name for their business. The legal cases are by the hundreds. Predatory practice. A bully on the block.

I wasn't aware of this. I'm ok with it if it is a similar type product and they are legitimately trying to protect their name from being ripped off, but not if it is just to be the only company with the name "Monster." Is it only in electronics or do they go after the monster truck crowd, etc crowds? In electronics, is it companies with that name or product lines?

Jack

 

[Hi Ho]

I wasn't aware of this. I'm ok with it if it is a similar type product and they are legitimately trying to protect their name from being ripped off, but not if it is just to be the only company with the name "Monster." Is it only in electronics or do they go after the monster truck crowd, etc crowds? In electronics, is it companies with that name or product lines?

They went after Disney for the movie, "Monsters Inc.". They also went after the Discovery Channel for "Monster Garage".......

Monster fiercely protects its name

 

[skizzerflake]

You can even find fairly decent cables at Radio Shack, for a fraction of the price of Monster. Ironically, Monster gets it from both ends. Those of us (including me) who are skeptics on cable issues think they're too expensive for what you get. High end zealots, on the other hand think Monster is just one step above bailing wire. It's not bad stuff, but definitely overpriced.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Well any cable is going to lose its connector if you pull on the cord!

Monster™ positives:
*works just fine
*available most anywhere
*repels werewolves (not one confirmed death to a Monster cable user)

Monster™ negatives:
*expensive ($1500 for 6' of Sigma Retros®)
*shady copywrite litigation
*Nameless assassin could be behind you right now ready to garrote you with a set of THX approved navajo-white speaker wire.