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
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? 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
Long Beach, CA
clubs: | Monoprice or Newegg have very good cables for around $10~$15.
NO need to waste your money on Monster cables.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| The only difference between a 12 dollar bargain cable and a $100 monster: $88!
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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
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ
·Cox HSI
| 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: | 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
Somerset, NJ
| 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
Somerset, NJ
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? 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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| | asjamias
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | 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
Long Beach, CA
clubs: | Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? The bluejeans cable site has a good explanation of these 'testing' methods as used by Monster and others.
The gist is you're right!
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. | |
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Doctor Four
My other vehicle is a TARDIS
Premium
join:2000-09-05
Dallas, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| said by Alcohol :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. That sounds an awful lot like upselling to me. Push the more expensive audio/video cables just to earn a higher commission.
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"The trouble with computers, of course, is that they are very sophisticated idiots." - Doctor Who (from Robot)
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Da Geek Kid
join:2003-10-11
Mclean, VA
| 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
Control4 Certified Installer
join:2007-07-18
LHV, PA
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? 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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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? LOL!
I'm SO there dude!
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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
| 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!"
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"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
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? 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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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? said by mab631 :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? ROFL! picture isn't going to be any better than it will be on a $30 strip.
monster * = overpriced.
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs:
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? said by cowboyro :said by mab631 :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. It will make your picture better - but only if you really want to believe itMost devices use switching power supplies these days, so you filter the supply current but then you CHOP IT... What you could get is a regular UPS, that protects your equipment by preventing overvoltages and brownouts. I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE!!!!! | |
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Cody
Bob Vance, VR
Premium
join:2002-05-28
Mukilteo, WA
clubs:
| In case you haven't already ordered, there's a local (to me) company called bluejeanscables.com that is also great. I've hooked one up to a Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH and Panasonic Viera (and to all components) with great results. Though we went with a thick gauge and they're a little difficult to use because they don't want to bend, but that could be solved by going with a thinner gauge. Either way, you save a lot of money and get a great product!
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Cake or Death | |
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bassjunky
join:2005-05-12
Aubrey, TX | LOL, Those reviews for the Denon link cable are great. What is that, just a regular cat5 or cat6 cable? | |
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY | said by mab631 :... Are the $100 monster cables worth it ? No | |
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Siko
Premium
join:2006-11-27
Mechanicsburg, PA
clubs: | Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? I got the $1.06 Hdmi cable off amazon with $3.99 shipping and that wire is the same as the $49.99 one I got at circuit city. | |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs: | Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? Okay the only time I buy monster cables is when they are on closeout and are for 3 dollars or so. Or on par with other no name brands. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? said by Warzau :Okay the only time I buy monster cables is when they are on closeout and are for 3 dollars or so. Or on par with other no name brands. in other words you don't buy them
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
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smackfreek
join:2000-11-24
Rutland, MA
·Charter Pipeline
| I got the same one,three actually for under $15 . I returned the 2 from walmart and the one to target and save like 75 bucks turns out I only really needed 1 because when I got my HD box from charter they gave me one with it.
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~gone are the days we stopped to decide~ | |
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| asjamias
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | said by Mchart :If monster does sell longer length HDMI cables, they may in fact be worth it. (As cheaper cables of that length may not deliver the desired bandwidth, or work at all) For most people though, if it's to be used in digital applications - Buy the cheapest thing you can get. can you explain these? HDMI cables are all the same whether short or long...so how does Monster 15 ft. cable differ with a Monoprice 15 ft. long cable also? Considering both are 1.3 certified to standards... | |
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tigrzeye
Control4 Certified Installer
join:2007-07-18
LHV, PA
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? Difference is .. Monster cables cost more.
There are however differences when you get to longer run cables as compared to short length cables. Not necessarily related to the brand name.
I.E. I have a 35' HDMI cable going to one of my TV's. The gauge of the wire used is heavier, to help prevent signal loss over long runs, than in shorter 6' and 10' HDMI cables. And if you are planning to run the cables through the wall you should use a cable with an in wall rating. | |
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Mchart
Super Joe
join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by asjamias :said by Mchart :If monster does sell longer length HDMI cables, they may in fact be worth it. (As cheaper cables of that length may not deliver the desired bandwidth, or work at all) For most people though, if it's to be used in digital applications - Buy the cheapest thing you can get. can you explain these? HDMI cables are all the same whether short or long...so how does Monster 15 ft. cable differ with a Monoprice 15 ft. long cable also? Considering both are 1.3 certified to standards... Because the more distance, and crappier quality wiring means the more of a chance the receiving device will be unable to remain on clock. Obviously, if the wire is made out of higher quality metals, has higher quality shielding, and lower resistance connectors - The farther the signalling will travel over the wire.
This is of course why I said that short monster cables have no benefit, but why ultra-long monster cables may indeed -work- when compared to equivelant length crap cables. | |
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| | | asjamias
join:2003-11-20
Memphis, TN
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? whether monoprice or monster, at long cable runs, both may or may not need a repeater of some sort even when both comply to the current 1.3 standards...they are the same cable...
And simply because I have tried a 15' Monster cable and a 15' Monoprice cable both certified to 1.3 and both doesn't have a difference in quality. The only thing different from them is the price. I purchased all my 15' run HDMI, Component and S-video Cables from monoprice and they work fine for a fraction of the cost. | |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
4 edits | I own RCA, ge ultra (target) monster, Philips (wal-mart), some radio shack knock off. Then you can buy monster at any Odd-Lot Stores now in the discounted electronic section dirt cheap. There are some brands that seems to work as most. Amazon has some really check HDMI going on, still I never had problems with the Philips 24K Gold Plated ones sold at Wal-Mart.
Phillips HDMI
# 24k gold-plated corrosion resistant connectors
# Conductor Copper
# Insulation Aluminum braided shielding
Cost $18, some store have it double in price, shame on Wal-mart to let that go on..
Higher End Philips HDMI
* Copper reinforced aluminum braided shielding
* 24k gold-plated corrosion resistant connectors for optimum performance
Find this on Amazon for $27 with free shipping but still is it worth the extra $10 for it? Does the basic one for $18 will it be enough. I say yeah! I use that since 2006 no problems!
Heck even Staples, Office Depot and Office Max carries HDTV and sells the cheap HDMI for them too.
They all have 24K gold plated, EMI/EMF/PVC jacket cover to protect the wires, bla, bla, bla.
Monster cost more as they're marketed as high end cables, and should you spend $80 on HDMI 6" 2m. I say that's crazy! | |
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a101
@cox.net
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? At first glance, that may seem to be true, but if you make sure that you're comparing equivalent products, you may find that monoprice really is less expensive. A 6ft 28AWG HDMI cable runs $5.46 at monoprice, while the equivalent cable at Firefold runs $6.99. If you don't pay close attention, you might be comparing a monoprice 24AWG cable against a 28AWG Firefold cable. The monoprice 6ft CL2 (in wall rated) 24AWG cable comes in at $9.52. Similarly, a 15ft 28AWG (not recommended) Firefold HDMI cable costs $9.99, while the equivalent Monoprice cable (not recommended) goes for $6.00. I wouldn't recommend either of those, but if you insist on 28AWG, those are the prices. At 15ft length, it is quite difficult to build a cable with 28AWG wire, as maintaining performance becomes difficult using 28AWG at longer lengths. Even at longer lengths where both companies have switched to 24AWG, we see a 25ft Firefold HDMI cable at $26.99 up against a 25ft CL2 rated Monoprice cable at $25.24. The Firefold 25ft cable doesn't say if it's CL2 rated or not.
Perhaps Firefold has cheaper shipping?
O.O.
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trparky
Bite My Shiny Metal Ass
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
clubs:
·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: Monster HDMI cables worth it? I have a Monster PowerCenter myself for my system but then again, the power in my house is horrible.
Why do I think my power in my house is horrible? Simple, my APC UPS systems that I have on my computers say so. Every so often they whine about the voltage being too low or too high. I've been trying to get my power company to come out here and look at the transformer on the poll out back.
And before you think about wiring, my father rewired all of the wire in the house and brought it up to code, probably better than code specifies and still, voltage jumps all over the place. Especially when the air conditioner or the furnace fan is on.
So for me, since my electrical power is horrible... I think having the Monster PowerCenter is a good idea. But if you have good, clean power... you may not need it.
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Tom | |
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