monster cable, worth it?

John David · 12-09-2003, 06:53 PM

Am I really getting extra for my investment in Monster cable or can I get just as good a performance out of other cable as long as it is the same gauge? I am currently comparing monster vs acoustic research at best buy. Is there another brand that might be better? Where is the best place to get this kind of thing?

Roger Q · 12-09-2003, 07:04 PM

Broadly there are two camps:

Camp 1: Don't waste your money on cable.

Camp 2: Cables make a difference so invest in some good cables.

I'm not qualified to tell you which camp you should be in. However, I'm in the camp 2.

If you fall into that category, which it sounds like you are until someone tells you otherwise, then I've got some comments/suggestions for you.

Monster Cables does not sell several of their upper end lines of cables at BB or CC. You can find them at places like Tweeters or other higher end hi-fi shops.

But, before you spend too much check out Better Cables (online only). After buying several expensive Monster Cables I've switched to Better Cables. The mark ups up on Monster Cables sold in retail outlets are crazy. So, without doing A/B comparisons I'd suggest the Better Cables are a better value.

Todd Thurman · 12-09-2003, 07:36 PM

I have not used Better Cables so I can't really say other than I have heard good things about them. I recently finshed remodeling our home theater room and was looking for something I was comfortable running under the crawl space for the rears. I found what I thought was a great deal on Monster in wall rated 12 AWG OFC. This stuff is covered with a large white outer jacket but remains fairly flexible like other monster products. I have nothing bad to say about it. I have bought it two times now from Summit Source on ebay, search for their name and be sure to select in titles and descriptions then look for "NEW MONSTER 12GA DIGITAL INWALL SPEAKER CABLE". I would post the link but don't know if that is permitted. This usually sells for 1.95 per foot but they are selling it for 5.95 for every ten feet. If they don't show enough in stock call them. Shipping was very reasonable as well, $12.00 for 200 feet that was pretty heavy. Monster has pulled this inventory and replaced it with an orange outer jacket. I actually preferred white since it doesn't show as bad against our white base boards up near the mains. I agree that Monster is over priced but this seemed like a fair price.

Jesse Sharrow · 12-09-2003, 08:12 PM

I work at soundtrack and I sell monster cables. I acctually can tell a difference between a "good" monster cable and a "best" monster cable. I have done comparisons. At the price I get it for I see no reason not to. But I do agree, I think the price we sell it at is pretty crazy. But I wont tell a customer that, cuz it makes me $$$$$$. :-D But I do think it is worth it.

Now the comparison I did was on a $300 yamaha bookshelf system. I just bought my boston VR-950's and Yamaha Receiver so I am going to do another test with that equipment. I think if I could tell a diff with the cheap system I should be able to tell on the better system.

Sean_P_O'Brien · 12-09-2003, 08:19 PM

I can see going high end for the fronts. Is it necessary to do the same for the surrounds? I'm looking at a 5.1 setup.

With 5-way binding posts the speakers is there a preferred or recommended cable termination?

**HTF Ads**

Chuck Schilling · 12-09-2003, 09:38 PM

I'm one of the Philistines who cannot hear, and will not pay for, the difference between "premium" cables and standard 12 ga. stranded electrical wire.

I use plain old 12 ga. stranded copper wire available at Home Depot/Radio Shack/wherever, and am entirely unable to detect any sonic difference in my application between this contractor grade wire and the premium wires (other than price, of course). And lest you think that's only because I (as Philistines must, of course) am listening through crapola gear, I assure you that is not the case.

Bottom line - let your ears be the judge. Mine say that my money's better spent on other things. Perhaps yours will say different - but you'll never know until you experiment.

John Garcia · 12-10-2003, 02:21 AM

I would not recommend Monster for interconnects. I have compared them to a few other companies, and I felt they were the worst of the bunch. My favorites so far have been Audioquest (which I am using various models of in both of my systems) and MIT.

For speaker wire, Monster is just fine, but pretty much any OFHC will work as well.

The real question is, what is the rest of your gear? I wouldn't spend more than 10-15% of the system cost on cables and wire.

Chu Gai · 12-10-2003, 05:43 AM

Well I'm in the camp that says investing in depeciating assests isn't a very good investment

ChrisLazarko · 12-10-2003, 08:39 PM

I like to spend a little extra and I use 14Ga. monster cable. It was like $25 for a 50 foot strand. Kind of a rip off I thought, but since I already had a ton of monster wire and just needed some extra I went for it. I would probably stick with Monster but BetterCables also offers some great stuff from what I have heard. If I was doing a new project I would probably try to do it with BetterCables.

David Judah · 12-10-2003, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Well I'm in the camp that says investing in depeciating assests isn't a very good investment

Then you must have borrowed someones computer to post that.

FWIW, I think cables can make a difference, but I'm not a freak about it. After A/B'ing the free OFC 12 g. I got from my dealer and some Monster Z2 wire, I felt the free stuff anttenuated the treble a bit--not huge, but noticeable.

Monster does make good quality cables; I doubt many will dispute that, but how good of a value they are because of their price is more debatable.

DJ