Monster Cables...

Dante Waters · February 23rd, 2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boyd Ostroff

Of course we're happy when people buy from our sponsors, but in this case being able to touch and hold the actual cables might sway your decision one way or another. Have you looked at cables in any local stores?

It's only an hour away... What do you guys use? I need S-video, and I need a connector to my TV.

Vic Owen · February 23rd, 2006, 10:26 AM

I'm always amused when one of these strings pops-up. Even with an electronics engineering background, I've occasionally (stupidly) bought into the hype and tried a Monster cable. In more cases than not, I've screwed-up my connectors trying to get the dang things plugged-in! Some have been so tight that I pulled the connectors off when un-plugging! Pretty, but useless, IMHO.

While I agree with Spot about not completely buying into the statement that "copper is copper", it all comes down to the I-squared-R factor in the cable -- use an adequate size for the current capacity required that doesn't in turn wreck your connectors. For example, a flexible 12 guage stranded zip cord on a speaker will work just as well as any Monster type cable, regardless of the price. As someone mentioned, depending on the application, shielding and the connectors are much more important than all the gee-whiz factor of the cable. Spend your money where you can get more bang for the buck.

Boyd Ostroff · February 23rd, 2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Waters

It's only an hour away... What do you guys use? I need S-video, and I need a connector to my TV.

Well in that case, by all means just go to B&H in person! As far as "what do I use".... I get regular consumer grade cables from places like Best Buy and Circuit City. Really, this ain't rocket science :-)

Steve House · February 23rd, 2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Owen

....
While I agree with Spot about not completely buying into the statement that "copper is copper", it all comes down to the I-squared-R factor in the cable -- use an adequate size for the current capacity required that doesn't in turn wreck your connectors. ....

Oh yes, should have said "all things equal" Gotta compare apples to apples and all that and comparing Monster cable to thin little #24 "speaker cable" is not what I meant. But $5 a foot "boutique" #14 stranded copper and $0.15 a foot hardware store #14 stranded copper is going to be pretty much the same.

February 23rd, 2006, 10:26 AM	#17
Vic Owen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 540	I'm always amused when one of these strings pops-up. Even with an electronics engineering background, I've occasionally (stupidly) bought into the hype and tried a Monster cable. In more cases than not, I've screwed-up my connectors trying to get the dang things plugged-in! Some have been so tight that I pulled the connectors off when un-plugging! Pretty, but useless, IMHO. While I agree with Spot about not completely buying into the statement that "copper is copper", it all comes down to the I-squared-R factor in the cable -- use an adequate size for the current capacity required that doesn't in turn wreck your connectors. For example, a flexible 12 guage stranded zip cord on a speaker will work just as well as any Monster type cable, regardless of the price. As someone mentioned, depending on the application, shielding and the connectors are much more important than all the gee-whiz factor of the cable. Spend your money where you can get more bang for the buck. __________________ -- Vic Owen -- Last edited by Vic Owen; February 23rd, 2006 at 01:06 PM.

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