Is MONSTER really worth it?

[LightScribe]

Im out shoppigng for a lot of wires such as fiber optic cables, s-video, speaker wire, etc. Im noticing many employees recomending me to go for the monster brand...... they all say its "the best of the best" "top of the line" "you cant go wrong"

is it really that good? i own a few monster composite cables and there alright, but nothing really impressive.

 

[MACCA350]

Im out shoppigng for a lot of wires such as fiber optic cables, s-video, speaker wire, etc. Im noticing many employees recomending me to go for the monster brand...... they all say its "the best of the best" "top of the line" "you cant go wrong"

is it really that good? i own a few monster composite cables and there alright, but nothing really impressive.

They're recommending it because they make a huge profit on it. You can buy better quality at a better price.

cheers

 

[porziob]

Im out shoppigng for a lot of wires such as fiber optic cables, s-video, speaker wire, etc. Im noticing many employees recomending me to go for the monster brand...... they all say its "the best of the best" "top of the line" "you cant go wrong"

is it really that good? i own a few monster composite cables and there alright, but nothing really impressive.

I don`t know about best of the best. They`re generally good OVERPRICED cables. Try Blue Jeans cable. Cheaper than Monster, yet will compete w/ mega buck cables.

 

[mazersteven]

I will also recommend Blue Jeans Cables.

 

[EastCoaster]

Im out shoppigng for a lot of wires such as fiber optic cables, s-video, speaker wire, etc. Im noticing many employees recomending me to go for the monster brand...... they all say its "the best of the best" "top of the line" "you cant go wrong"

is it really that good? i own a few monster composite cables and there alright, but nothing really impressive.

Cables generally (as long as you don't get the fire sale brand) will give you the same results. No need to fork over huge $$$ at all - and definitely no need to buy Monster cable at the dealer's - they get their highest markup on the cables.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I'm partial to RadioShack's Gold cables myself.

 

[LightScribe]

Could you guys recomend me a few brand name cables to look out for? I heard AR is fairly good. Monster cable certanly looks the thickest and most insulated out of the bunch.... but im not really a cable expert.

 

[HiJon89]

Just buy from BlueJeansCable.com You know the cables are quality and you're not overpaying and they're cut to the exact lengths you need. Almost all "brand name" cables are overpriced and inferior to BlueJeans. And although the name BlueJeansCable isn't extremely well-known, the components they use are. For the most part they use Belden coax with Canare connectors, just about as good as it gets.

 

[Haoleb]

I'm partial to RadioShack's Gold cables myself.

Ive got a few sets of RS golds, At least a couple of them have intermittent connections due to the type of termination style they use. While they look decent and sound just fine you would be better off going with something that has a soldered connection.

One of my sets is actually pretty nice. Nice big cable, nice connectors and even Ferrite chokes on one end. I havent seen anymore of this newer style of Gold series at any radioshacks though lately.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Could you guys recomend me a few brand name cables to look out for? I heard AR is fairly good. Monster cable certanly looks the thickest and most insulated out of the bunch.... but im not really a cable expert.

You cannot go wrong with the cables from monoprice.com. I think you will like their prices
Depending on the speaker cable runs, 14ga or even 16ga will do you well. Cables are way over hyped in audio circles, some circles that is

 

[riceaterslc]

You cannot go wrong with the cables from monoprice.com.

i agree. great prices and super fast shipping!

 

[emorphien]

There's nothing wrong with Monster cable, there's also nothing great about it and the prices aren't justified.

I was given a pair of 15' Monster cables years ago. I just slapped on the last of a set of nice Banana connectors I had. I guess now I've got a spare/backup cable. That or I can sell it. It's fine cable, this is of a reasonable gauge too, not skinny stuff like a lot of the Monster Cable you see in most stores.

 

[LightScribe]

I was going to purchace from monoprice but all of their speaker wire is not in stock at this time. I think the 12 AWG speaker wire is coming in the 25th of December.... but im not positive.

Blue Jeans Cable seems good.... however, the price cannot match those of monoprice.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I was going to purchace from monoprice but all of their speaker wire is not in stock at this time. I think the 12 AWG speaker wire is coming in the 25th of December.... but im not positive.

Blue Jeans Cable seems good.... however, the price cannot match those of monoprice.

How about their 14ga wire? 16ga?
Tough choice, having it right now for more, or can wait for the lesser priced product.

 

[jonnythan]

I was going to purchace from monoprice but all of their speaker wire is not in stock at this time. I think the 12 AWG speaker wire is coming in the 25th of December.... but im not positive.

Blue Jeans Cable seems good.... however, the price cannot match those of monoprice.

Check cablesforless.com as well. Prices are slightly above Monoprice, but much better than Blue Jeans.

 

[GreenJelly]

ANY cable if fine with Digital Signals, such as HDMI, SPDIF (optical/coaxle 5.1 cable) DMI, etc.) So find the cheapest ones you can find. DONT worry about gold connectors with Digital Signals, just make sure you stay under the specified length set by the standard (which is large). I need to research DMI and HDMI max spec length.

Nothing good comes out of Monster (unless you find supersales). Anyways, If you care, buy a cable that looks good and that also is flexible, good strong build quality... Outside that, dont worry. Bluejean cables look good. I like that you can order them to the exact length you need them to be. If you cant build your own cables, then this is awsome.

Speaker Cable should be from HomeDepot or a Electronic's store... I recommend the RadioShack brand thick speaker Cable. I think its reasonable price. It looks great, and I think its a good price, though I havent researched it...

Speaker wire, I like 12 or 14 Gaudge cause they fit my connects the best. I would recommend 14->16 gaudge for thoose who dont have my special needs. Of course copper. Any stranded wire will do.
Mike

 

[jonnythan]

Gold connectors are good for corrosion resistance, not just signal integrity.

 

[GreenJelly]

Gold is not part of the standard requirements. Digital doesnt care about good signal integrity, unless you plan on triing to exceed the distance and or cable construction set forth by the standards, I wouldnt worry about it... though it isnt like goldplate isnt cheap.

I run 1 Gigabyte eithernet, at distances of over 100 feet. Yet none of it contains GOLD.... Got to figure, about all thoose claims of gold...

If the digital signal fails, in the slightest... it will produce a greatly distorted image or will go black with an error, until it sinks up again. Hence its easy to tell if you have a problem with wires when you deal with digital. In audio, you will hear a clicking sound, no sound, or pure digital static (which is different then regular static, and you will notice it, and say... WOW that sounds really weird <or groovy>)

 

[GreenJelly]

Gold is not part of the standard requirements. Digital doesnt care about good signal integrity, unless you plan on triing to exceed the distance and or cable construction set forth by the standards, I wouldnt worry about it... though it isnt like goldplate isnt cheap.

I run 1 Gigabyte eithernet, at distances of over 100 feet. Yet none of it contains GOLD.... Got to figure, about all thoose claims of gold...

If the digital signal fails, in the slightest... it will produce a greatly distorted image or will go black with an error, until it sinks up again. Hence its easy to tell if you have a problem with wires when you deal with digital. In audio, you will hear a clicking sound, no sound, or pure digital static (which is different then regular static, and you will notice it, and say... WOW that sounds really weird <or groovy>)

 

[jonnythan]

Gold is not part of the standard requirements. Digital doesnt care about good signal integrity, unless you plan on triing to exceed the distance and or cable construction set forth by the standards, I wouldnt worry about it... though it isnt like goldplate isnt cheap.

I run 1 Gigabyte eithernet, at distances of over 100 feet. Yet none of it contains GOLD.... Got to figure, about all thoose claims of gold...

Funny that you mention ethernet.

I've assembled hundreds if not thousands of ethernet cables. The conductors are always copper, yet the crimp-on RJ-45 connectors always have gold contacts. The RJ-45 ports and jacks always have gold (or gold-plated at least) contacts.

Even RJ-11 telephone cables and telephone handset cables have gold-plated contacts. Go ahead, take the cable off your phone handset and look at the connector. It's gold plated.

Know why? It has nothing to do with signal integrity, because copper and tin will work just as well.

It's for corrosion resistance. Copper and tin will corrode over time and lose their ability to make contact.. doubly so if you use dissimilar metals. Gold will not corrode.