Monster Cables
- Thread starter hamermill
- Start date
Available data indicate that Monster HDMI is better, but unjustified at 1080p. As a rational agent, you should buy a cheap cable first and see if you're satisfied.
HDMI cables are not necessary, use the component cables between box & tv... its just another ripoff by Big Box Stores after you have spent $1,000's on a Hi Def TV, why spend another $100!!! I have tried both & cannot tell the difference ( for the record I have a 42" Hi Def TV, may be different with a bigger screen)
I was at FS and Best Buy yesterday, and I noticed.. none of the Display TV's or the TV's in the High end room were wired using HDMI cables (monster or otherwise) ... they were hooked up with the Compoment cables.. mostly the "mid-end" ones..
I'm pretty sure I have seen HDMI cables at wal-mart for around $20.00 bucks but didn't grab one . Currently at home I have swaped between a s-video and a component cable, and I can't honestly say I see a big difference (37" LCD T.V, 1080p)
But If was to pay 125.00 plus for a hdmi Cable... I'd dangle it in front of the TV so I could see it..
I'm pretty sure I have seen HDMI cables at wal-mart for around $20.00 bucks but didn't grab one . Currently at home I have swaped between a s-video and a component cable, and I can't honestly say I see a big difference (37" LCD T.V, 1080p)
But If was to pay 125.00 plus for a hdmi Cable... I'd dangle it in front of the TV so I could see it..
Myth.... I had a lightning strike nearby and it blew up all kinds of electronics gear. I had used all $$$ "surge protected" power bars, none of which protected anything. All of the power bars still worked afterwards, about 40% of the electronics equipment connected to them didn't.hamermill said:Power bar and HDMI - myth and hype or are they worth it?
Buy the cheapest HDMI cables - $5 for 6ft from Factory Direct or XSCargo. Tiger Direct is good if you need longer cables.
There's a lot of older Monster Cable products selling at "end of line" discount stores for like less than 10% of original retail. That should give you some idea of the markup.
If you cannot see a difference between s-video and component I would check your source or your TV settings.Neverenuff$ said:
Monster does charge a lot, but people who say they are the same as cheap cables are generally idiots. Good cables of any make cost a lot (teflon insulation, proper shield/ground, quality connectors or nylon braid). For HDMI cables, not all cables are created equal as if you want to pass 1080p or have 1.3 support, there are easily demonstrated differences.
As for their power bars, some are incredible bargains. Their $100 bar was praised by The Absolute Sound and is a no brainer for low or mid-fi setups. In addition, I have yet to see a video installation that has not benefitted from good power and cable filtering (whether Monster or PS Audio). It is also easy to verify... just plug it in and look at the picture across all sources.
I will say Monster tends to be very overpriced in Canada. However, there are some good US sources and the used market is good. Most of the people who rag on Monster are generally aganst the company for their aggressive trademark protection (a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation) or generally have pretty shitty setups anyway. As for people who say cables do not matter, there are generally agreed measurements that do matter though you do not need to spend crazy dollars to get them (but on the other hand, they are not dirt cheap).
Two good well priced cable vendors are Signal Cable (well made audio/video-phile cables for a good price) and monoprice (very heavy cable discounter with very cheap prices). There is also www.mycableshop.ca in Whitby. I would only buy cables from Future Shop or Best Buy as a last resort or if I needed the convenience.
Well the source is a rogers HD box.. but maybe its the 'ol eyes getting old as well ....Garrett said:
I don't think anyone debates the fact that Monster makes good power bars - if you can find a good price on one it would be worth it. Their claims that the "clean" power delivered will enhance audio/video are debatable.
DVI/HDMI/Optical "premium" cables won't deliver better picture/sound when compared to any other decently built cable from places like Monoprice.com. The only difference is the hugely inflated price.
DVI/HDMI/Optical "premium" cables won't deliver better picture/sound when compared to any other decently built cable from places like Monoprice.com. The only difference is the hugely inflated price.
Very interesting read about HDMI cables:
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/12/31/lifestyles/life/22725785.txt
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/12/31/lifestyles/life/22725785.txt
Wanna see a big difference in picture quality for HD? Use your ATSC tuner if you have one built in to pick up the HD signal off air via a UHF antenna. Since cable etc. compress the signal you get less quality than the over air HD signal. Compression has an effect you will see in your picture quality.
One note regarding HDMI cable is for upconverting DVD players they only up convert via HDMI not component.
One note regarding HDMI cable is for upconverting DVD players they only up convert via HDMI not component.
Monstor Cables is PURELY marketing, just like BOSE.
If you are looking for good quality and cheap ($$ wise) cables, try http://www.monoprice.com/home/
These guys are from the USA, but they do ship to Canada for a reasonable price.
If you are looking for good quality and cheap ($$ wise) cables, try http://www.monoprice.com/home/
These guys are from the USA, but they do ship to Canada for a reasonable price.
Tiger Direct stocks HDMI cables up to 16' length. I bought one last week for a 1080p projector and it worked fine.
For longer lengths I ordered from Monoprice.com....should be arriving today.
Be wary of vendors that do not specify the HDMI standard of the cables..you want HDMI 1.3, especially if using longer lengths.
Quality cables will be flexible, have superior shielding and will be rated for HDMI 1.3. Since HDMI cables have 19 tiny wires in them, they are vunerable to faults if you exceed their bend radius, or mishandle them...pull too hard, strain etc. In these situations, the extra $$ for a quality cable may be worth it. MonsterCable $$$ worth it?...not for me, but maybe for some.
For example...the RocketFish HDMI cable from FS...this is their "cheap" cable, compared to the Monsters...still overpriced. This cable is quite "stiff". So if you have to make a tight bend to connect it someplace, you might strain the wires and cause a fault in the wire or the shielding. This is quite common, since due to the price most opt for the shorter lengths and end up straining the wire when it is not quite long enough.
For longer lengths I ordered from Monoprice.com....should be arriving today.
Be wary of vendors that do not specify the HDMI standard of the cables..you want HDMI 1.3, especially if using longer lengths.
Quality cables will be flexible, have superior shielding and will be rated for HDMI 1.3. Since HDMI cables have 19 tiny wires in them, they are vunerable to faults if you exceed their bend radius, or mishandle them...pull too hard, strain etc. In these situations, the extra $$ for a quality cable may be worth it. MonsterCable $$$ worth it?...not for me, but maybe for some.
For example...the RocketFish HDMI cable from FS...this is their "cheap" cable, compared to the Monsters...still overpriced. This cable is quite "stiff". So if you have to make a tight bend to connect it someplace, you might strain the wires and cause a fault in the wire or the shielding. This is quite common, since due to the price most opt for the shorter lengths and end up straining the wire when it is not quite long enough.
Okay , for kicks I bought a phillips HDMI cable , and I will say the picture and sound are better than the component cable.
However it seems slow , flip channels , and its black screen for seconds then the channel kicks in, makes surfing a pain.
Now I did set the rogers box for 1080i, 1080p, 720, 480 etc, and to "upconvert -1"
not to mention reprogramming the remote...
However it seems slow , flip channels , and its black screen for seconds then the channel kicks in, makes surfing a pain.
Now I did set the rogers box for 1080i, 1080p, 720, 480 etc, and to "upconvert -1"
not to mention reprogramming the remote...
No way HDMI cable are better then component
you can get lower cost HDMI cable now usualy around $50 for a 10ft (less then a tank of gas)
I do not see the differnce in a cheap brand HDMI or a high end HDMI though
you should see the differnce on HD tv any size possible the output signal source to your tv is not that good or a bad channel .
I even notice when a studio switches to a better camera on the HD channel
gdog said:
you can get lower cost HDMI cable now usualy around $50 for a 10ft (less then a tank of gas)
I do not see the differnce in a cheap brand HDMI or a high end HDMI though
you should see the differnce on HD tv any size possible the output signal source to your tv is not that good or a bad channel .
I even notice when a studio switches to a better camera on the HD channel
