Monster HDMI Cables vs No Name HDMI Cables

[John]

I am torn, you hear so many different sides to the cable story. I just bought a new LG Scarlet 42" LCD TV and a PS3/5.1 System as well. Not super high end on the sound system.

I grabbed two monster hdmi cables and two monster audio cables and am now getting massive amounts of flack from my buddies who say I wasted a few hundred bucks.

Now on Ebay it seems I can pretty much get the same cables for 1/4 of the price but i'm wondering if it will affect quality or if it's all the same.

Any input is appreciated.

[jeffc]

your buddies are right...Monster = overpriced, overhyped, overeverything.

No need to spend a fortune on those cables, any good quality cables will do.

[Weazl]

Overpriced.

www.monoprice.com for all your cable needs. I use them all the time.

[McG]

Monster is overhyped and overpriced.

Take them back and get some from monoprice. I ordered a DVI and 3 hdmi cables awhile back and paid less to have it all shipped to Canada them I would of for one of the cheapest brand HDMI at Walmart.

[spackler]

From what I've read, on short run cables an HDMI cable either works or it doesn't. There's no difference in quality between a $100 6' cable and a $10 one. There can be problems when you exceed a certain cable length, I don't know what that is, but I'm not sure if that goes to quality or just a max length for the technology.

As for audio cables (digital more than optical), there can be a big difference in quality. But monoprice has good stuff there as well.

[314314]

The other day, they had it on tv.. they compare a bunch of high end cables vs low cost and they performed the same...

Here is the link to the tv show:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2008/0...king_the_deal/

[John]

Jesus there's so many of em on monoprice. I need two hdmi cables one from my hdpvr to the tube and one for the playstation. Do I get the 1.3 or the 1.3A? I don't even know what the hell that means!

[John]

Something like 2 of these for the HDMI? Instead of the Monster ones.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/SILVER-6FT-1-8m-H...QQcmdZViewItem

[spackler]

Those would be fine, but if you have the time to get there, go to FactoryDirect.ca on Merivale next to Lebaron's. They have 6' cables for $10 and they work fine. I bought one just to compare it to the Monoprice ones I have and it's the exact same in terms of picture and audio quality. The caveats are that I'm not running a super high end audio system (JVC with cerwin-vegas) and I have a 2yo Hitachi plasma which is 1080i, not a 1080p LCD like yours.

[rancherJ]

The other day, they had it on tv.. they compare a bunch of high end cables vs low cost and they performed the same...

Here is the link to the tv show:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2008/0...king_the_deal/

If you have not watched this video it pretty well sums it all up!!

[hoolio]

Hey big-man, if you want to test the theory, i've got a spare monoprice.com HDMI cable at my place you can take to compare. You can drop off my driver at the same time.

Just be warned, if it doesn't come back you'll likely run into a masked man in a dark alley some day with a tire-iron.

[jvincent]

Any input is appreciated.

You were fleeced more than you can imagine.

As others have already pointed out there is nothing about Mon$ter that makes them worth the price.

Return them and pick up something cheaper. Monoprice or equivalent is just fine.

[John]

Returning everything tonight cable wise and going through monoprice. I just can't figure out the best audio cables to go with through them for the 5.1 that I got.

[hoolio]

Returning everything tonight cable wise and going through monoprice. I just can't figure out the best audio cables to go with through them for the 5.1 that I got.

If you were to post the model of the 5.1 system you got, maybe you'd get some advice.

[John]

I do believe it's this one...

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...99&catid=20311

[hoolio]

Has two HDMI in... Just run the PS3 and HDPVR into it and run the HDMI out into the TV. It should pass the video through and output the audio to the speakers.

You weren't talking about replacing the speaker wire, were you?

[big mac]

Hey guys---this sounds just like my brake story. I had the same delimma a couple of years ago---went with less exspensive ones and they worked just fine.

Maybe we should start "an advice thread" here. Everyone here seems to know more than the retailers

[rancherJ]

Wanna get into POOL CHEMICALS

[big mac]

WAIT---have to go out and buy a pool!

[John]

Returned everything went with monoprice for the two 1.3a hdmi cables and premium Toslink Optical audio cables. Came out to about 1/4 the price.

[Weazl]

You will not be dissapointed. No name qualities but good quality.

[hoolio]

Returned everything went with monoprice for the two 1.3a hdmi cables and premium Toslink Optical audio cables. Came out to about 1/4 the price.

Do the HDMI cables not pass the audio directly to the reciever?

[Weazl]

I am assuming the Toslink cable is for a device not supported by HDMI?

[hoolio]

I am assuming the Toslink cable is for a device not supported by HDMI?

He didn't mention any devices aside from the PS3 and the HD-PVR, so that's probably what threw me.

[Weazl]

I'm guessing otherwise the cable is not needed.

[Strangebrew]

I bought a no name hdmi cable from the Canada Computers and it was crap. Initially had me thinking there was something wrong with my PS3 or TV, poor colour, crapped out occasionally, didn't look right. Then grabbed a name brand on ebay and huge difference. Buy cheap, but not too cheap would be my advice.

I once had a kid trying to convince me I needed shielded Toslink optical audio cables. When I told him if there was enough electro-magnetic energy to disrupt light the least of my worries would be my audio quality he just stood there and stared.....

[hoolio]

On many board that I peruse, Monoprice is generally regarded as the place to go to get cables. I've never had an issue with anything purchased there, so its usually the place I recommend to people when they're looking. Considering the price, I usually grab a couple spares just because it brings down the per unit cost due to the shipping. But it's also nice to have an extra incase you do get a dud for some reason. Doesn't really phase you paying for two when they cost 25% of a single one from FS or Best Buy.

[John]

Hmmmm I grabbed two hdmi cables one for the PS3 and one for the HDPV and then two Toslink optical audio cables for the 5.1 receiver. Did I not need em. I'm a tech noooooob.

[Weazl]

HDMI carries video & audio at once, toslinks carry only audio, but there is no need for those as the HDMI will serve that purpose.

return them, cancel them, or sell them for a profit.

[Michael]

Hmmmm I grabbed two hdmi cables one for the PS3 and one for the HDPV and then two Toslink optical audio cables for the 5.1 receiver. Did I not need em. I'm a tech noooooob.

HDMI cables carry both audio and video. Don't think you need the toslink audio cables.