| cycler15 |
What do you guys think about Monster cables? Are they really worth the extra penny?
I usually end up buying Monster cables for my audio/video stuff. I wonder if they make any difference in quality. They cost nearly twice as much as other brands. |
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| ndahbar |
Uh, this thread is about to be moved to the OFF-TOPIC/ELECTRONICS section of the forum, but anyway...
There is nothing special about the monsters, it's just that you can rest assured that their shielding is grade-A stuff, and their connectors are high quality material, so you will get a clean signal for sure, no doubt. Other brands out there may be just as good quality conn and shielding and cost noticably less...but their marketing sux so nobody knows it. =)
Point is, doesn't hurt to buy like 3 kinds, try 'em out and compare to your monster, and just return to store when done testing!
For me, uhm...it's like, well, I ask myself "well gee...I just bought a THOUSAND DOLLAR SOUND SYSTEM and uhm, I'm worried to skimp on $20 for wiring...?" I would just get the Monsters and be done with it unless u have lots of feedback from others on the superb quality of something else for <80% the cost. |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by ndahbar
Uh, this thread is about to be moved to the OFF-TOPIC/ELECTRONICS section of the forum, but anyway...
There is nothing special about the monsters, it's just that you can rest assured that their shielding is grade-A stuff, and their connectors are high quality material, so you will get a clean signal for sure, no doubt. Other brands out there may be just as good quality conn and shielding and cost noticably less...but their marketing sux so nobody knows it. =)
Point is, doesn't hurt to buy like 3 kinds, try 'em out and compare to your monster, and just return to store when done testing!
For me, uhm...it's like, well, I ask myself "well gee...I just bought a THOUSAND DOLLAR SOUND SYSTEM and uhm, I'm worried to skimp on $20 for wiring...?" I would just get the Monsters and be done with it unless u have lots of feedback from others on the superb quality of something else for <80% the cost.
I agree with ndahbar, I have always used Monster cable and been pleased. |
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| JeffK |
Monster cables:
IMHO, complete overkill.
Again, remember the signal that is being reproduced is not only beyond the range of human hearing, but more importantly beyond the range of your speakers.
Now if you are running cables hundred of feet, then maybe I would spend the extra money on the monster cables.
But for 8 to 10 feet - save your money.
JeffK |
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| renov8r |
There are cables that literally sell for HUNDREDS of TIMES what Monster Cables sell for and the really funny part is that some folks SWEAR the hear a difference.
I do believe, that as ndahbar said, the Monster cables do have conssitently good construction/connectors, and usually fairly good shielding (for cables that are designed that way). I also do believe that, within limits, the lower resistence of thicker cables WILL improve the sound of speakers. Well worth the a few bucks more.
But spending literally THOUSANDS of DOLLARS on cables? Not me... |
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| Mando |
I've always thought that Monster Cables were over-rated.
For my Parasound separates, I use Acoustic Research cabling, include 12-gauge copper speaker wire to my M&K 150's. Needless to say, these cables are the BEST vaule on the market for cables....build quality, performance and cost....all awesome on Acoustic Research cables!!!! AWESOME VALUE!! |
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| zafer |
I know someone who's speaker cables cost $2000 each. They're thicker than a garden hose.
IMHO the only monster cable worth spending $$s on is the digital audio link cable from the DVD/CD player to the amp. Upgrading this cable actually makes a significant difference. |
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| frostyra |
If you have a VERY good system (probably well over $5K for the whole system), and if you have trained your ears to listen for the smallest details, then cables can, and often do, make a noticeable difference. BIG difference, no. But the rest of the system has to be up to the task (and it's probably made up of separate components, most of them with brand names most folks have never heard of).
That being said, if you play your music loud, large-wire (14-ga or even 12-ga) speaker wires will be noticeably better than 18-ga in most cases. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by frostyra
If you have a VERY good system (probably well over $5K for the whole system), and if you have trained your ears to listen for the smallest details, then cables can, and often do, make a noticeable difference. BIG difference, no. But the rest of the system has to be up to the task (and it's probably made up of separate components, most of them with brand names most folks have never heard of).
That being said, if you play your music loud, large-wire (14-ga or even 12-ga) speaker wires will be noticeably better than 18-ga in most cases.
Agreed, it's a mixture of good system integration with incremental improvements. Lots of it like the larger guage wiring (within reason) is just common sense.
Good consistent construction. You want that at a minimum. Cheap cables can be the bane of an otherwise good system because of poor connections, or excess hum. Fortunately, most cables sold today meet the minimum compared to the junk that was readily available a few years ago. |
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| BlueStreak |
| I can't justify them. Other components are more important. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by BlueStreak
I can't justify them. Other components are more important.
You don't have to pay much to get decent interconnects to link your components. Technically, cables are components, but not ones you have to devote a lot money or decisions on. |
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| ndahbar |
I dunno guys. I mean this kind of reminds me of what Yahoo! has done recently. They gave all customers 100MB quota (while the measly Hotmail quota remains at a pathetic 2mb. WHY oh WHY is marketing so powerful, and so many ppl fall for Hotmail? *SIGH*). Better yet, I pay $19.99 a year to get Mail Plus, which is now 2GB quota!
19.99 !!! A year! That's like buying 2 beers in any big city, and paying tip !!!
The analogy's point (although it's a bad one, I know, I admit, but it's cool to share w/ you guys nonetheless): What's the big deal about spending like an extra say, 30 or 40 bucks literally ONCE or TWICE in your lifetime to get a brand name over something else, even if the diff is reported to be virtually nil? Who cares? I mean really? ESPECIALLY if you are talking about systems worth over a couple of grand (most folks that are into audio have systems over $1000 for sure, at a minimum).
I am *not* saying that Monster is not taking advantage of newbies in the audio world...they sure as hell are raking in the cash!!! But good for them. Quality products that do not compromise, great marketing, proven track record, company been around for a long time, there are no "OMG MY MONSTER CABLES CAUSED A MELTDOWN OF MY EQUIPMENT WARNING STAY AWAY!!!" type posts from anyone online, etc. |
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| Pauls MDX |
| I believe you should purchase the cables in relation to the cost of the system. The expensive cables do make a difference, but how much can you actually hear with the human ear? The cables can only make a difference if the signal is as good if not better than the cables. Also the longer the run the better the cable should be as not to loose anything in the long distance. Just my opinion. |
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| hondacuraworld |
Cables can definitely make a sonic improvement. Since the proof is in the hearing, I'd be glad to send you a set from our demo room at AudioKarma for you to experiment with.
Here's a link to what we have:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/fo....php?forumid=57
For the price of just return shipping, it's worth a try :) |
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| gdot |
If you have crappy to so-so equipment and don't care too much about the clarity, then use the cheaper cables. But, if you're gonna spend some serious $$$ on your equipment, obviously you expect good sound, then I wouldn't skimp on them.
Would you put 87 octane gas in your Ferrari? :D |
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| laborlitigator |
| I was waiting for Tim to chime in. . |
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| catzx6 |
| As far as speaker wire is concerned, has anyone tried the 12-10 ga stranded (THHM I think) stuff they sell at Home Depot? It's like $.39 a foot. Buy a couple packs of banana plugs, heat up the soldering iron, and play some music. Yeah, it might look like crap with zip-ties every few inches, but some people like that "industrial" look. :D Okay, I'll admit I'm running bi-wired early eighties Polk's, with some (at the time) VERY expensive, esoteric, stiff, ugly green/blue, braided cables. They are short runs, however. I might have to try the HD stuff if I ever need a longer run. You know, just to see... :8: |
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