mab631
Premium
join:2003-08-22
Mastic Beach, NY
 ·Optimum Online
 ·Optimum Voice
| Monster HDMI cables worth it?
Hey guys im looking to upgrade to an HDTV. My cable box will have hdmi out and im looking at getting a PS3 for blueray but i have to buy the cables. Are the $100 monster cables worth it or are they just a ripe off? What cables do you buy? Thanks guys |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| Should you buy monster cables? Nope and nope. You can use the search function in this forum, perform a search on "monster" and find a dozen more threads showing that monster cable is nothing more than audio visual jewelry/snake oil. |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs: | reply to mab631
Monoprice or Newegg have very good cables for around $10~$15.
NO need to waste your money on Monster cables.
--
One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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Straphanger
Express is Back
Premium,Mod
join:2001-12-08
Jackson Heights, NY
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
Host:
TV over IP
New York
Audio/Video Chat
| reply to mab631
Just go to Monoprice to get HDMI cables and save yourself a boatload of money. Digital signals are digital signals. Those crazy "high quality" Monster cables don't transmit any better than a $15 cable.
--
Please use all available doors...you have 33 to choose from. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to mab631
The only difference between a 12 dollar bargain cable and a $100 monster: $88!
-
they prey on the fact you dropped a ton of cash on your home theatre system and want the best possible quality but when it comes to HDMI, ones are ones and zeroes are zeroes. save some cash and go with the sites listed.
»www.monoprice.com
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| reply to mab631
With Digital signals, there is no "bad" signal.
The cable will either work or not work - there is no in-between.
Monoprice HDMI cables are as good at delivering signal as any other HDMI cable known. Period.
Save the extra $$ and get a couple new Blu-ray discs! 
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ
·Cox HSI
| reply to mab631
frys electronics also sells 10 foot HDMI for about $6 and just like the others have said no difference between a $6 and $100 when it comes to a digital signal through HDMI,analog is a different story but if you go to monoprice they sell wires that are the same but you not paying for the name |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs: | reply to mab631
Can't add more to what the others said. Either the Digital Signal passes or it doesn't. It's either yes or no. No grey area. |
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Alcohol
Premium
join:2003-05-26
Neshanic Station, NJ
| reply to mab631
I had best buy geek squad come to my house for a consultation as i'm getting my tv mounted on the fireplace. They convinced me to buy the expensive monster HDMI cables but after reading this thread i'll be going to return them today.
I should have done my research and not trusted best buy employees.
The guy also told me i shouldn't get a ps3 and should buy the Sony blu ray player which is also $399 because it delivers better bluray quality. I went and switched to the ps3 the next day. |
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Alcohol
Premium
join:2003-05-26
Neshanic Station, NJ
| I read some articles. Most say monster cables aren't worth it but then i saw a graph showing that ps3 is best utilized with 6.68gbps hdmi cables (which i have). Are there other cables that provide such speeds? The $10 ones i see on sites are less than 5Gbps.
Don't get me wrong, i'm itching to get the $300 back in my pocket but i don't want to compromise on quality as this is a permanent set up. Have spent too much money on TV and home theater to not get the best output cause of a $100 cable.
Any suggestions? |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs:
1 edit | Go get your money back. I don't trust most of those sites.
While this guy's cables aren't exactly cheap, he has other info on his site that explains things really well.
»www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/···tion.htm
Regarding data rates and "certified" cables:
»www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/···hdmiinfo
--
One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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asjamias
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | reply to Alcohol
said by Alcohol  :I read some articles. Most say monster cables aren't worth it but then i saw a graph showing that ps3 is best utilized with 6.68gbps hdmi cables (which i have). Are there other cables that provide such speeds? The $10 ones i see on sites are less than 5Gbps. Don't get me wrong, i'm itching to get the $300 back in my pocket but i don't want to compromise on quality as this is a permanent set up. Have spent too much money on TV and home theater to not get the best output cause of a $100 cable. Any suggestions? read this...
»forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=1122778
post # 364:
"I also hate to tell you but the standard for being a Category 2 HDMI 1.3 cable is:
Maximum signal bandwidth (MHz) 340
Maximum TMDS bandwidth (Gbit/s) 10.2
Maximum video bandwidth (Gbit/s) 8.16
which supports up to 1600p (what size display would you need to notice the difference between 1080p and 1600p?).
So Monster's high-speed link (6.68 Gbps-certified capable) sounds like it may be below Category 2 HDMI 1.3 specification.
Edit: Sorry if I seem to be raving a little.......I just don't like it when statements are made that are not substantially backed up by fact, and companies like Monster and Bose are great at coming out with these types of sales pitches meant to confuse the average consumer into believing that their product is somehow better than others and that is why consumers should pay more.
If you want an funny link, there was a study done with some audiophiles and they couldn't tell the difference between some monster cables and a coat hanger when testing stereo wire:
»consumerist.com/362926/do-coa...···-cables"
the buy this...
»www.monoprice.com/products/produ···format=2 |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs: | The bluejeans cable site has a good explanation of these 'testing' methods as used by Monster and others.
The gist is you're right!
--
One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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Da Geek Kid
join:2003-10-11
Mclean, VA
| reply to mab631
since HDMI is all digital data, i.e. 0s and 1s no cable quality would make the a 0 a 1 or vice versa. Also, just cause you got a cheap cable doesnot mean that your 1s are going to be .5s 
on the note of Monster. Personally, I have seen visual improvements over the "El Cheapo" S-video cables as well as Modem cables. But as far as HDMI is concerned if you got one spend your money on beer.... |
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tigrzeye
Lonesome HD Rider in Lost Valley Pa.
join:2007-07-18
LHV, PA
| Beer's a good thing !!! Better for sure to spend your money on beer than on an expensive HDMI cable, whether Monster or any others who tout their superiority.
With you on this one ..  |
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wings10
I Am Legend
Premium
join:2004-06-09
South Elgin, IL
 ·Dish Network
 ·AT&T DSL Service
·Comcast
| reply to mab631
said by mab631 :Hey guys im looking to upgrade to an HDTV. My cable box will have hdmi out and im looking at getting a PS3 for blueray but i have to buy the cables. Are the $100 monster cables worth it or are they just a ripe off? What cables do you buy? Thanks guys $100 for an HDMI Cable!!!!!
Buy an HDMI cable at Wal-Mart for $10.
--
"The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration." |
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cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·Comcast
·Optimum Voice
1 edit | reply to mab631
off-topic..
Amazon has a dedicated Denon link cable for audiophiles, it's 40% off
»www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-Dedic···_pr_pb_t |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | LOL!
I'm SO there dude!
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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wings10
I Am Legend
Premium
join:2004-06-09
South Elgin, IL
·Dish Network
·AT&T DSL Service
·Comcast
| reply to cowboyro
I love this review:
By Patrick Carroll (Atlanta, GA USA)
"I installed one of these cables between my gigabit ethernet switch and my Canon Pixma 6700 color printer. I know it's not a sanctioned use, but I was looking for the ultimate in speed and color fidelity. I'm freaky that way.
The first time I downloaded a picture to the printer over this cable, the bits moved so fast the printer collapsed into a naked singularity, right there in my office.
Since then, I can't find the cat, and my entire set of VAX/VMS 4.7 documentation (DEC Will Rise Again!) (Mmmmm, orangey!) has gone missing.
Please, for the love of God, please, do not use these cables! The very existence of Earth may depend on your decision!"
--
"The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration." |
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mab631
Premium
join:2003-08-22
Mastic Beach, NY
·Optimum Online
·Optimum Voice
| ok this is all great info and im going to buy the cable from monoprice in fact going to get the one asjamias posted but not in yellow lol. Anyway the guy also wanted to sell me a Monster Power - Home Theater PowerCenter Surge Protector »www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp···06198854 for $229.99 saying it will clean the line and make the picture look better. BS or not from the bestbuy guy? |
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