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General discussion

Monster cables worth the extra cash?

Dec 11, 2004 11:20AM PST

Ive been spending lots of money on my stereo over the past year or so, and was lookin into "high quality" RCA cables, and everyone talks about "monster calbes -- theyre the best!" I'm skeptical that 10x priced monster cables are really even more than 1.5 times as good sound quality as my gold plated Radio Shack RCA's. I'm getting into the SACD stage, but still don't think my ears are able to tell a big diff. I think its one of those things with pride, you know like putting cloth seats in a Ferarri. Anyone know if they are really that good? I'm on a tight budget, but if it really stands up to all the hype, I might inverst in a pair from my SACD player to my ADCOM amp, since thats all I'd be able to afford. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Re: Monster cables worth the extra cash?
Dec 11, 2004 1:52PM PST

I can't hear the difference. But these seem well made and attention to cosmetic detail is great.

Bob

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Re: Monster cables worth the extra cash?
Dec 11, 2004 4:27PM PST

Yeah, thats pretty much what it seems like to me . I honestly think that its just like the whole Bose thing, just great marketing and a "good name" sell their items at a cost that's out of the standard consumer's price range. Thanks for your input, Bob. I shall stick with Radio Shack.

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Re: Monster cables worth the extra cash?
Dec 13, 2004 2:30AM PST

OK... I agree with you about listening to a stereo with $100 cables vs. $50 cables... if you can't hear the difference then why spend the extra money. As far as BOSE goes... I've been a BOSE owner for 10 years and that is the exact reason I bought my original LIFESTYLE system. I could not see spending hundreds or thousands of dollars each on speakers, amps, tuners, cables, cd players, sub woofers etc. when for half the cost I could get a solid system that today still sounds like new.

A audiophile friend of mine once told me in regards to sterea equipment: " If after listening to a $50,000 dollar stereo system, you have to ask whats the difference is between that and a $3,000 system... then you shoulden't get the $50,000 system."

Bottom line.. if YOU can't hear the difference stay with the cheaper equipment, cables, etc. save your money until you can appreciate and / or hear the difference. You'll be happier... I couldn't hear it...and not every one can hear the difference.

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Re: Monster cables worth the extra cash?
Dec 13, 2004 11:47AM PST

I have used Monster cables in my system; however, I've never really been able to tell a huge difference between Monster and other brands. I have found that Acoustic Research cables are very good and cost much, much less.

I had 5 devices with component video outputs to connect to my home theater and I just couldn't rationalize buying 5 sets of Monster cables. I went with AR and have been very happy with them.

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Maybe my hearing is wack, but
Dec 14, 2004 11:20AM PST

I gave up on cheap, RadioShack, Wal-Mart, or whatever cables a long time ago. I used to use $10 cables I could get anywhere until I got my first set of Monster cables as a gift. I will never look back. I can hear a dramatic difference. I even heard a difference between two different sets of Monster cable. On my Polk CSi5 center channel speaker I had regular Monster XP speaker wire and I switched to Monster M series center channel specific speaker wire - tremendous difference. Maybe it's my system/speakers or maybe it's my ears, but if you're spending a lot of money on high quality audio and video, why get the cheap stuff? You can obviously afford the high quality audio/video equipment.

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RE: Monster cables worth the extra cash?
Dec 15, 2004 2:27AM PST

I've never noticed a difference in audio or video quality, but their durability is priceless.

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I wouldn't
Dec 15, 2004 3:52AM PST

Monster Cables are fairly well constructed, but I wouldn't spend a bunch on them - you likely aren't going to hear the difference, and the money would be better spent on music.

Other reasonably-priced cables I've used are Acoustic Research HT-130 (not sure if they're still available) and Ultralink Discovery (I like their upper end products too). I can't find much to admire about the corporate Monster anyway - they have a history of litigousness when dealing with any company that dares use the word "monster."