Un-Sound Advice about Cables

[gene]

Monster isn't lying, they may just be stretching the truth, or taking creative licence.I still am not sure what a "flux tube" is, it has no meaning to me. But it may just be a trademarked buzz word.

John;

you should visit a Monster booth at CES/CEDIA and determine if its lying when they give a demo of their speaker cable (12 awg) vs a comparible brand X (24AWG) lighting up a light bulb touting the Monster difference without telling the consumer its solely attributed to the gauge of the cable.

Or perhaps goto a department store that carries the brand who gives demos set up by Monster comparing their Component Video cables to brand X's compositive video cables touting how much better the picture is with the Monster brand again not telling the consumer the difference they are seeing is in connection type, NOT the cable.

Check out this little editorial we wrote last year on our experience at their booth.
http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/CESdeceptivedemos.php

Of course you should also verify if its truthful / ethical to be selling NON UL approved power conditioners stating they will protect you from lightening surges only to tell the consumer in small fine print on an interior page of their manual to unplug the unit during a lightening storm.

 

[stratman]

I think the best sharks (salesmen) are at BrandsMart, man, they're tired, scruffy, these guys don't sleep for days, they don't get company shirts, I feel sorry for the poor devils. I was there yesterday with my brother in law looking for any "after-the-holidays-good-buys" and like Gene we were having a blast just listening to what these guys were spewing out of their pie holes, I kinda felt sorry for the uneducated consumers though. "HDMI is mandatory with hi-def and without it your tv won't work with a hi-def receiver" was the last straw we just had to leave.

 

[mtrycrafts]

"HDMI is mandatory with hi-def and without it your tv won't work with a hi-def receiver" was the last straw we just had to leave.

Maybe you should have jumped in? "Excuse me, but I don't think that is accurate." "It will work fine with component."

 

[westcott]

Gene,

What flat panel mfg's were you considering, by the way?

My wife and I are doing the same and think we have narrowed it down to a Pioneer or a Panasonic. We are also looking to get a video processor like the DVDO® iScan™ VP50. It seems SD programming really seems to benefit from the latter.

Your thoughts?

 

[stratman]

Maybe you should have jumped in? "Excuse me, but I don't think that is accurate." "It will work fine with component."

I know, but it just caught me by surprise. And one look at the salesman and I didn't know who to feel sorry for, him or his victim!

 

[Audioholics]

What flat panel mfg's were you considering, by the way?

Don't ask Gene about flat panel or rear projection manufacturers! What are you on your 6th display this year, Gene? lol

 

[jneutron]

John;

you should visit a Monster booth at CES/CEDIA and determine if its lying when they give a demo of their speaker cable (12 awg) vs a comparible brand X (24AWG) lighting up a light bulb touting the Monster difference without telling the consumer its solely attributed to the gauge of the cable.]

It's actually not a bad comparison. I used the 24 guage out of the box for my upstairs ht setup, as it met my need. I have a little dvd/5.1 setup, it's about 1 inch tall (I love the form factor) with itty bitty speakers. Works for me. Does anybody expect monster to direct you to HD? No. How many want to go to HD?. Monster is both creating a demand and meeting it. I personally know that guage is important at times, but do not necessarily recommend garden hose to those who ask me.

As for Cedia, nobody's offered to pay my way....yet. (hint)

Of course you should also verify if its truthful / ethical to be selling NON UL approved power conditioners stating they will protect you from lightening surges only to tell the consumer in small fine print on an interior page of their manual to unplug the unit during a lightening storm.

Is it unethical to sell non UL product?..I do not think so. It is unethical to claim such if it is not, however.

They said "it's always a good idea" to disconnect in the event of a storm..and I absolutely agree with that statement, it is correct.

Their product is supposed to be able to supress transients. Up to an energy level, it will do so and survive while protecting the equipment. Up to a second threshold, it will supress and not survive, again protecting the equipment.. Beyond a third level, it will be toast as well as anything that is connected to it.

The consumer has these "unspecified expectations", and Monster sells product to meet that.

I also do not test the airbags in my van, but expect them to work. Also, that darn fridge light...does it really go off when the door is closed?? Ah, the mysteries of the universe..

Cheers, John

 

[epicenterdude]

Before I knew better

Unfortunately, before I knew any better, and quite some time ago, I purchase some speakers, yamaha a/v receiver and a laser disc player from "Un-SoundAdvice". Because I didn't know better, I was advised by the salesman to buy the monster cable speaker wires all of the same equal length to get the most out of my system. So needless to say, for my front speakers and center channel there was a big coiled up pile of extra speaker wire behind each one to match the length of the two rear speakers. Now these speaker wires and laser disc player are all collecting dust in the garage. Glad to know that there is a place like this to get educated, wish I knew better back then. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Briant73]

It's actually not a bad comparison. I used the 24 guage out of the box for my upstairs ht setup, as it met my need. I have a little dvd/5.1 setup, it's about 1 inch tall (I love the form factor) with itty bitty speakers. Works for me. Does anybody expect monster to direct you to HD? No. How many want to go to HD?. Monster is both creating a demand and meeting it. I personally know that guage is important at times, but do not necessarily recommend garden hose to those who ask me.

I disagree, Monster is purposely using small gauge wire to compare against so their product looks better at lighting up a bulb. I find their test dubois at best.

 

[Seth=L]

Romex cable is cheaper than Monster, we should use that instead.

They are snakes at Monster, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, they are snakes.

 

[stratman]

Romex cable is cheaper than Monster, we should use that instead.

They are snakes at Monster, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, they are snakes.

Mr.Seth,
How have you been? Yes, they are snakes at Monster, or are they monsters at Monster? I remember seeing an architectural magazine a few years back that featured the home of the MAIN MONSTER, it was a huge McMansion, then I understood why those cables were so expensive, Crystal and caviar certainly are !!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Also, that darn fridge light...does it really go off when the door is closed?? Ah, the mysteries of the universe..

Cheers, John

You will know when it didn't go off
The temperature in there will not be cool enough and you will know this the next morning Or, at least if you have enough bulbs in there. Yes, from experience, first hand

 

[mtrycrafts]

I disagree, Monster is purposely using small gauge wire to compare against so their product looks better at lighting up a bulb. I find their test dubois at best.

Monster is preying on the less informed, of course, most who go in there.

 

[Audioholics]

When no one else is around, I bet jneutron argues with himself in front of the mirror...

 

[Seth=L]

That's Jimmy Neutron, right?

 

[jneutron]

I disagree, Monster is purposely using small gauge wire to compare against so their product looks better at lighting up a bulb. I find their test dubois at best.

The test is indeed dubious. However, what would you use to explain IR drop to an unscientific person who needs advice?

Their test does that, in an most "illuminating" fashion.

We all concur that larger guages drop less, many of us can detail that from simple calculations, some from the atomic level. But overwhelming the consumer in this way doesn't make a sale, all it does is produce the "deer in the headlight" reaction. Monster's display does accurately depict powerloss to the average consumer.

Cheers, John

 

[jneutron]

Monster is preying on the less informed, of course, most who go in there.

In that, we concur. It is unfortunate that the general public is less informed.

Happy New year.

Cheers, John

 

[jneutron]

When no one else is around, I bet jneutron argues with himself in front of the mirror...

You laugh. This is actually a rather accurate statement. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. (I hate it when the mirror wins).

That's Jimmy Neutron, right?

At the time I required a moniker, the choices were sully and jneutron. My kids voted on jneutron, so I used it. (not that they think I'm a geek or sumptin).

Cheers, John

 

[Seth=L]

At the time I required a moniker, the choices were sully and jneutron. My kids voted on jneutron, so I used it. (not that they think I'm a geek or sumptin).

Cheers, John

They probably just like the show.

 

[jneutron]

They probably just like the show.

Nice try. Politically correct.

No, it is because I am a geek. And they know it..

Cheers, John