Monster Cable : still monstrously overpriced

Pauly (New user):

Nice hack reporting, what did you just cut and paste 90% of your January "article"
Next time perhaps someone with some journalistic integrity (this is not an editorial column) could cover Monster Cable as you obviously have your mind made up before you even start to listen.
Oh and memo to Angus: you just report on computers, standard, non life-saving computers

Tin (Regular user):

I see someone either owns shares or got duped by Moster Cables.

OK, some of their cable probably are good, but 99% of their stuff is overpriced nonsense. They claimed their HDMI cables increase the quality of the image/sound... Pure bullcrap! HDMI is a purely digital signal, which when used within spec, will not degrade in a way that changes the image/sound quality. Long cable runs may see reduced signal corruption when using higher quality cables, but since Monster Cables mostly product short cables, they're simply out to rip people off.

In short, don't bag out the author who sees through the marketing bullcrap just because you don't.

Pauly (New user):

Quoting Tin:
HDMI is a purely digital signal, which when used within spec, will not degrade in a way that changes the image/sound quality. Long cable runs may see reduced signal corruption when using higher quality cables

Tin you have just shot yourself in the foot. If digital cannot degrade and change the image/ sound quality, then distance would not make a difference. Im not defending $10,000 cables, just pointing out this blatant flaw in yours and many other peoples arguement.

Raindog (User):

Quoting Pauly:
Tin you have just shot yourself in the foot.

Someone has, and it isn't Tin.


Quoting Pauly:
If digital cannot degrade and change the image/ sound quality, then distance would not make a difference.

Rubbish. The digital signal is never degraded its either there or it's not. The analogue voltage that is switched to compose a digital signal can (and does) degrade, ultimately to a point that the digital information cannot be framed. It's either on or off, no degradation whatsoever. Put simply, before the signal undergoes it's D-A conversion degradation is not possible. The frames of data are error checked and they either pass or fail. Even on marginal connections where errors are frequent, the information packets either pass or fail.


Quoting Pauly:
Im not defending $10,000 cables,

There is no defense, the stuff is simply snake, Mr Monster shows his colours with any claim that his cables (digital or analogue) improve
or enhance the content. No cable can ever do that, the best any cable can hope to achieve is limit degradation. Anyone making claims above this is a shonk. Simple.


Quoting Pauly:
just pointing out this blatant flaw in yours and many other peoples argument.


What flaws? Tin's statement may have been phrased into a more readable form, but put simply there is nothing incorrect in what was stated.

Having a shot at the author from the cheap seats isn't good form, If Angus's article is similar to one he wrote 12 months ago, you could pause for a second to consider the frequency of annual events or exhibitions. Once a year perhaps?

Tin (Regular user):

Way to quote out of context, Pauly... Nice work.

I did say when within spec at one stage, and also commented that Moster Cables do not make the long cables that require higher quality.

Pauly (New user):

Quoting Tin:
Long cable runs may see reduced signal corruption when using higher quality cables

So raindog, how is this possible?

P.S i thought that you had a lifetime membership to the cheap seats?

Raindog (User):

Quoting Tin:
Long cable runs may see reduced signal corruption when using higher quality cables

Quoting Pauly:
So raindog, how is this possible?

I had already tried to explain this for you, but clearly not enough for you to be able to grasp the concept. So let's try again and I try to keep it simple.

No A/V interconnects are made from super-conductuctors (although I wouldn't be surprised if some had claimed they were) and in A/V cables just like every other conductor Ohms law will apply.

Longer the cable, greater the end to end resistance of that cable, simple physics. Thus for any given cable the longer it is the greater the voltage drop will be across it.
I think you partially grasped this bit so what follow is important, so put on your concentration cap.
With an analogue signal the signal voltage directly represents the audio (or video) content so any volt drop will have have some degradation effect on the signal.
But with HDMI etc. we have a digital signal lots of tiny bursts of on or off. Even whole volts of volt drop across interconnects will not degrade the digital signal one bit(sic).
Following me thus far sparky?

That's the advantage of digital transmissions Sparky, they don't degrade.

OK that's the theory and we all know that digital interconnects cannot go on forever without issues, and this is easily explained too.

That same noise, resistance, capacitance still attacks the voltage of digital signal but it has no affect on those digital packets of information until those affects are sufficient to destroy those digital ones and zeros, hence zero degradation. A digital input optimised for a five volt signal swing may well be able to still frame correctly with swings of less than a volt.
To summarise digital signals do not degrade but they can be partially or totally destroyed.
You digital TV signal in a marginal signal area is either their or its not. Picture or no picture at all, any picture degradation is an inability of the set not a degradation of the signal.

Simple really, and no amount of bunkum by Monster cable will change these simple facts.

Even for analogue signal much of what Mr Monster claims is garbage, and junk science that even politicians haven't stopped to.

Sure a ridiculously overpriced Monster cable can demonstrate tiny reductions of resistance etc. but what effect does that have on micro-amp signal content? In physics terms it's the equivalent of standing on a chair to be closer to the moon. Yes theoretically you are closer, but the practical advantage still has whole strings of zero
in front of any practically immeasurable improvement.

Monster speaker cable may be better than the cheap figure eight speaker cables from your local radio shack, but then plain old mains TPS is superior to that expensive monster cable. You'll get a 100m roll of TPS for less than a 3 foot monster cable.

Back to our digital signal a $6 special will work just as Mr Monsters wonder cable in any realistic usage situation. As long as those crappy HDMI connectors make the transfer of the signal, any cable will do. Anyone who claims to hear/see/sense a difference will soon be in the need of thick glasses and a towel.


Quoting Pauly:
P.S i thought

You may well have thought, but in coming to your conclusion you thought wrong. But after reading this you should now be equipped to know how come in future.

Tin (Regular user):

Quoting Raindog:
Monster speaker cable may be better than the cheap figure eight speaker cables from your local radio shack, but then plain old mains TPS is superior to that expensive monster cable. You'll get a 100m roll of TPS for less than a 3 foot monster cable.


Yep. And with companies like Sony, Panasonic, etc including crappy little cables with their big systems (like the Sony Mu Te Ki systems), it's no wonder Monster and the likes can get away with it... Any cable would be better than what came in the box. Even a chain of paperclips would handle the power better.

The Big Baboo (User):

I dunno,I bought some of these "overpriced" cables about 30 yrs ago and believe it or not "THEY'RE STILL WORKING" so I reckon I got me money's work. True,I only listen to my hi-fi through them but if i wanna listen to rubbish,I'll buy an I-pod :)

K (User):

One thing that rarely gets mentioned when people talk about Monster Cable in the hifi sound context is that the target market's hearing sensitivity is usually shot to pieces anyway. Most 35+ year olds have already buggered their high frequency cochlear hair cells from environmental / occupational noise or the ageing process. Using some 50c/metre electrical wire for their speakers would probably sound just as good.

Re: the HDMI debate - Gizmodo ran a test on various cables a while back, the only caveat being they used Monster's lab to perform it.

http://gizmodo.com/268788/the-truth-about-monster-cable-part-2-verdict-cheap-cables-keep-upusually

audiophile8 (New user):

noel lee, head of monster should be congratulated on the success of his business of 30yrs creating over 500 jobs. you can say that monster cables is expensive, but it's a type of product that is not going to be for everyone, like all other products in this world. monster cable puts a lot of money into the product and offer lifetime warranty as well! people need to understand that running a business is about making money and creating jobs, that's why noel is successful, and we should be inspired by people like this and not to try and put the company down!
jealousy is the word i hate using and that's what people are thinking about monster don't forget he has over 500 people that work for him and they need food on the table so think outside the square people!

Raindog (User):

Quoting audiophile8:
noel lee, head of monster should be congratulated on the success of his business of 30yrs

Perhaps, but mostly in the way you would congratulate say Ronald Biggs for being a really great train robber.

Quoting audiophile8:
creating over 500 jobs.

Large indeed, although some of the networks of Romanian child pick-pockets are of similar size and scope.

Quoting audiophile8:
you can say that monster cables is expensive

and you'd be right in saying it

Quoting audiophile8:
but it's a type of product that is not going to be for everyone

reserved for W@%kers who boast at parties and the gullible is it?


Quoting audiophile8:
like all other products in this world. monster cable puts a lot of money into the product and offer lifetime warranty as well!


All other products, eh? Ralph Nader and even the good folks at choice magazine may hod different opinions on that one.


Quoting audiophile8:
people need to understand that running a business is about making money

Sure a detail the likes of Peter Foster and his Bai-Lin tea did not miss.


Quoting audiophile8:
and creating jobs

Well not necessarily some crooks and shysters still manage enterprise on the own.


Quoting audiophile8:
that's why noel is successful

Because he likes money? I always though he was sucessful because he could hold a straight face while making those claims.


Quoting audiophile8:
and we should be inspired by people like this

Absolute inspiration! If I'd have thought of monster free string before the said gentleman came up with his cable gig, well I'd be selling zircon free monster string at a premium price through every post office and newsagent in the land.

Quoting audiophile8:
and not to try and put the company down!

Only reason that hasn't happened is the gaping holes in current consumer legislation.


Quoting audiophile8:
jealousy is the word i hate using and that's what people are thinking about monster

Well the solution is to substitute the word fumpkintosh in every sentence where you other wise need to say jealousfumpkintosh.


Quoting audiophile8:
don't forget he has over 500 people that work for him and they need food on the table

So feel happy paying way over the odds for your monster cable, coas when your ridiculed for paying way over the odds for some junk science you can pull the "I was helping feed 500 foreigners" line.


Quoting audiophile8:
so think outside the square people!

What like applying actual physics and ignoring junk science claims about overpriced whats-its?

Tin (Regular user):

Quoting audiophile8:
you can say that monster cables is expensive, but it's a type of product that is not going to be for everyone, like all other products in this world.

No, in this case, he's selling snake oil, which really is for no one. Suckers buy it, but it does nothing.



Quoting audiophile8:
we should be inspired by people like this and not to try and put the company down!

What? Be inspired by a con? Pretty sure that's not going to work out too well for the world.


Quoting audiophile8:
jealousy is the word i hate using and that's what people are thinking about monster

There's no jealousy from me - I'm just not stupid enough to think that buying a $2000 HDMI cable is going to work better than a $10 one.