Overhyped and overpriced audio/video cables (1 Viewer)

[gregw74]

Hello everyone, I have to take issue with something that has been bothering me for quite some time now.... please hear me out...

For a while now it seems that the marketing of home theater cables has gone overboard. I've always found it hard to believe that an $80 monster cable can seriously outperform a similar cable priced at 10 to 20 bucks. I understand cables must be shielded from interference, especially cables with a copper core carrying an analog signal, but with regards to digital coaxial, HDMI, and most especially optical; it doesn't seem that $80 cables are worth it. I believe it's mostly psychological and in blind tests a difference would be undetectable to the naked eye and/or ear. I suppose durability is another factor, but if you're not using these cables to tie down camping equipment to the top of your car, how likely are they to fail? If the cables are made from a respectable company and reasonably priced, isn't that enough?

With everything going digital these days I thought I would see less and less overpriced and overhyped cables but they are certainly still available. When I saw a 6.6 foot optical digital cable at ....... for 75 bucks I thought, ok--what's the story here. They also have a 13 foot optical cable for $175 and a 6 foot HDMI cable for $130, I mean come-on, is this necessary?

Please tell your story without commercial links!

One last thing, given the necessity to preserve data over ethernet networks, and given the minimal amount of shielding and quality of cable required, why should audio/video cables be much different in quality than those of network cables?

Any thoughts, or am I out of my mind suggesting that pricey cables aren't worth it?

 

[Ed Moxley]

Most people at HT forums will agree with you. That's why you don't see us recommend Monster cables. In fact, most of us will tell others to stay away from them. They make a decent product, but charge 100 times too much for it. Most will recommend Monoprice.com or BluejeansCables.com for good cables, at a reasonable price.

 

[Scooter]

This is an issue for me. I have bought many AV cables at...the dollar store!!! The analog outs on my Panny BluRay are going into my Denon with cables bought for a buck!

The grade of cable..i.e. 16 vs 14 gauge...can make a big difference for the speakers as well as some coaxial grades for video/cable/internet. But as far as brands are concerned, Monster Cable, etc., it is over hyped.

 

[sgreene123]

I agree completely - there are a limited number of OFC wire manufacturers on the planet making "speaker" cable with a large number of very fine gauge strands. I am convinced, based on my own anecdotal experience and the few opinion makers whom I know personally, that you could take any panel of golden ears, the most sensitive equipment to measure frequency, transient, voltage, and current specs, and you would not find any measurable or discernable differences. That is, measuring identical gauge and strand count, identical terminations and equally corrosion-free interface points. But, as they say, "sex sells!"

 

[Micah Cohen]

AH! GREAT! I always find myself studying the stuff in that aisle.

I just bought some online -- TosLink and HDMI cables I needed -- for under $2 each. Shipping costs more than the cable! I have done this before and have never had a problem or a drop in picture/sound quality because of it. I regularly buy my thick low-gauge speaker wire in bulk off the rollers at my big-box hardware store for pennies.

Working for a manufacturer (as I have) makes you jaded against the claims of cable makers. But, to each his own, right? (I know people who don't think it sounds good if you don't spend $$$/foot on it.)

MC

 

[gregw74]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one, especially among AV enthusiasts. I was taking a look at monoprice.com to see what they had to offer and their prices are incredible! I'll be placing an order with them very soon. This is exactly the kind of company I've been looking for, thank you Ed Moxley.

The mark-up on cables and adapters at retail stores is almost criminal. I had worked for one leading PC store, competitive with other national chains and their mark-up was about 1000%, (yes... that's three zeros). That's as bad as jewelry.

Anyway, it seems that if the big national retail stores refused to carry these overpriced cables, there'd be less demand and the companies would hopefully die, or at least start selling their cables for a realistic price. I guess as long as people are willing to "think" overpriced cables are better, there will always be a demand for them. It seems that when you combine the ignorance of consumers with the immoral dishonesty and marketing of big cable manufacturers, profits will certainly grow beyond belief--for the stores that sell the cables and the companies who make them. I guess it's no wonder stores are so willing to sell them.

I just wish consumerreports or another consumer advocate group would put out some concrete data to prove these companies are truly making false claims. It's essentially false advertising.

 

[Micah Cohen]

I have two words for you: electric car.

It's out there. Can be done. Would really help. But super duper top secret black helicopter agencies within agencies are aligned with world [cable-manufacturing] powers against us and would never allow this technology to get in the way of money! [manicial bad-guy laugh: BAWHAHAHA!]

To get the best performance, you have to spend more! Yes! You do! Here, drink this koolaid.



MC

 

[Ed Moxley]

Some people will swear they can hear a difference. I can't.
Some people will buy anything. Afterall, look how many Bose systems are sold. There are some cables that have a AA or AAA battery attached to them, and they charge about $2000-$3000 for a 1m cable. One meter is what.....3'3"? Stuff like that is for people with more money than sense..........

 

[BryanZ]

I will say this much. I noticed a big difference in the picture on my tv going from a generic cable to one from BetterCables.com. The colors were clearer, sharper, and more vibrant. The only change was the cable.

I also will say this much. Don't preach either way. Generics are fine and have their place, as do much more expensive cables.

The main thing that matters is the customer getting what they paid for. Sometimes that quality by far exceeds what it should. Other times it is sorely lacking. The question is: Are you happy? I, for one, am.

 

[gene c]

Along with what Bryan said, matching the cables to the equipment also makes sense. I wouldn't spend $100 for BlueJeans wires/cables for a $200 htib, nor would I spend $20 for the in-expensive (but decent quality) one's from Monoprice to use with a bunch of Meridian stuff. Use your head, buy what's appropriate, hook them up and forget about them.

This discussion will never end

.

 

[Ed Moxley]

You may notice a difference between $30 cables and $5 cables, just because of the better and thicker insulation, and better interconnects on the ends. They may even have a little cleaner and thicker wire inside the insulation. But I doubt seriously you'll notice a difference between the $200 cable and the $30 cable...........

 

[gregw74]

I guess my main point is that certainly some cheap ($5/$10) cables may be made poorly and likewise perform poorly; not all cheap cables are created equal. That being said, a $30 cable could easily out-perform a sub-standard cheap cable but so too could a well built affordable cable. Since higher cost does not always equal better performance I'm inclined to say that even $30 is too much, especially when you consider the profit margins on such cables. The technology and materials that go into these cables just aren't that costly, but I'm sure the advertising and packaging is

Anyway, I'm just glad to see there are companies around (like monoprice.com) who aren't looking to rip people off.