Green Monster

[stratman]

No, not jealousy. Monster of the cable kind. I just helped a buddy dismantle his HT this afternoon, he has Monster XP wiring for the front surrounds and center, anyway when I removed the speaker wires they were green, obviously its corrosion, but at odd places, not just at the terminals, but all along in spots accross the cables. Has anyone seen this before? They're only about 7 years old. Could this be a chemical reaction between the copper and the insulation? It makes me think about complicated in-wall installations, that could be a problem.

 

[pikers]

On the surface, it shouldn't matter other than being ugly.

 

[MDS]

I've seen it before on other speaker wire. I've heard that the basic zip cord from Home Depot eventually turns green as well. I'm not sure if it really hinders performance of the wire or is just a reaction between the copper and the insulation as you suggest.

Buy wires with a solid color jacket and you'll never notice a problem like that.

 

[Seth=L]

For a company that tries to thwart this problem, or at least advertises that it does I find this odd. Oxygen the the cable along with moisture build-up causes that corrosion. So if the wire was in a location that ever became moist, like a basement, they could and most likely would corrode at any point in the cabling.

 

[Haoleb]

It is my understanding that there was a time when some monster cable had a jacket that reacted with the copper causing it to oxidize. I too have some old monster cable that turned black along the entire cable in just a couple years. I have some of that RadioShack "Mega cable" too which is just as shiney as when it was new though too. Depends on the dielectric used. I believe I remember hearing this problem has been fixed though.

 

[Cleaners]

Monster vs Audioquest

I am updating my system - going with high end main floor speakers and separate AMP.
Is there really a value in $300 speaker cables and XLR connectors?
Will Home Depot give me all the cable I need for a fraction of the cost?
My last estimate for all my cabling (Audioquest) was $2200.

 

[avaserfi]

I am updating my system - going with high end main floor speakers and separate AMP.
Is there really a value in $300 speaker cables and XLR connectors?
Will Home Depot give me all the cable I need for a fraction of the cost?
My last estimate for all my cabling (Audioquest) was $2200.

Check out bluejeancables or monoprice for great cables at a good price. There is absolutely no need to waste 2200 on cables when 100 bucks will do.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am updating my system - going with high end main floor speakers and separate AMP.
Is there really a value in $300 speaker cables and XLR connectors?
Will Home Depot give me all the cable I need for a fraction of the cost?
My last estimate for all my cabling (Audioquest) was $2200.

As stated, absolutely no need to go with those EXPENSIVE cables. Home Depot will have speaker cables for you; even their low voltage landscape wire is fine, if you don't mind the black color, as it may be less expensive still. However, most likely you won't find video and interconnect cables there. Monoprice would be a great bet.
The only value for those $300 cables is to the company laughing all the way to the bank

 

[Cleaners]

Cable sting

Well, I guess they got me this time. I was suprised how efficient the sales service became as my order for cables began to stack up on the counter. The sales person even offered to fit the banana plugs on the ends of the $10/ft wire - that service was performed for free while you wait.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out Monoprice.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Well, I guess they got me this time. I was suprised how efficient the sales service became as my order for cables began to stack up on the counter. The sales person even offered to fit the banana plugs on the ends of the $10/ft wire - that service was performed for free while you wait.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out Monoprice.

Is it too late to return any of those cables? Do so if you can and rub it in that they sold you such needlessly expensive cables.

 

[Cleaners]

Cable Not-Ready

I will eat the cut wire with the fitted plugs.
But I still have 9 unopened boxes of a/v cables - all Audioquest - Cobra's, Diamondbacks, Digital Video, YIQ-X (?), it's very impressive to see.
I have had some issues with my receiver stack, so I'm stilll waiting to get everything home - hence -the stack of unopened boxes.

I feel like an idiot - this chain store has been around since i was a Kid (Magnolia HI-FI), it was one of the few places to find a B&K Pre-amp stack. I got great service, but all the while questions kept coming up in my head.

But some of the equipment was not ready and I got the chance to think about it - and talk on-line. I hate the feeling that I paid a $1000 just for commission.

A question for another board will be if anyone has B&K experience ?, and if the is any value to a stack that just focus' on power to sound and not up-processing and HDMI conversions. B&K makes nice stuff but they are very limited on all the video conversion going on.
Anyone know if B&K is looking at a new line anytime soon?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I will eat the cut wire with the fitted plugs.
But I still have 9 unopened boxes of a/v cables - all Audioquest - Cobra's, Diamondbacks, Digital Video, YIQ-X (?), it's very impressive to see.
I have had some issues with my receiver stack, so I'm stilll waiting to get everything home - hence -the stack of unopened boxes.

I feel like an idiot - this chain store has been around since i was a Kid (Magnolia HI-FI), it was one of the few places to find a B&K Pre-amp stack. I got great service, but all the while questions kept coming up in my head.

But some of the equipment was not ready and I got the chance to think about it - and talk on-line. I hate the feeling that I paid a $1000 just for commission.

A question for another board will be if anyone has B&K experience ?, and if the is any value to a stack that just focus' on power to sound and not up-processing and HDMI conversions. B&K makes nice stuff but they are very limited on all the video conversion going on.
Anyone know if B&K is looking at a new line anytime soon?

Those unopened boxes should be returned. If they try to give you grief, or tell you those are the best or similar, tell them you cannot afford the best then.

I don't have B&K but they have been around a long time and seem to be pretty good product.