Monster HDMI-400 400 Series HDTV HDMI Cable (2 meters)
by Monster
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Monster HDMI-400 400 Series HDTV HDMI Cable (2 meters)
Customer Review: Yes, there *is* a difference in digital cables!
Summary: 5 Stars
Here we go again with the Monster vs. Cheap'o Cable debate. I love that this guy hasn't even tried the product, yet he slams it in not one but two "reviews". They aren't reviews, they are his personal opinion, which I (and many others believe to be incorrect). Instead he seems to be pushing another brand--interesting to me, wonder what his motives are?
Is Monster overpriced? Perhaps the quality Monster 800, 1000 and higher items are at full retail. Do you get the exact same quality from cheaper cables? No. I sell products online and currently have hundreds of different cables that I have personally tested. Is there a quailty difference in Monster? Yes, with digital it is harder to see but anyone who runs long cables, unplugs them regularly or runs a decent amount of digital connections normally WILL notice the difference in quailty vs cheap'o cables.
The biggest issue for many customers I talk with and many cheaper digital cables I test is the connections. Quality cables don't crimp/break/fall apart like the cheap ones. This is hugely important with digital signals because you either get a strong signal or you don't and once that cheap cable has crimpped or had issues on the connection, it is worthless. Some of these cheaper brands have lifetime warranties, but if you have to be without your cable for weeks at a time, while paying $10ish to ship it, it isn't worth it.
I personally stopped testing my high end cables like this Monster 400 because I haven't seen one fail yet. Now I do see issues with the cheaper Monster THX 100 cables, but that is another review...:)
Do I work for Monster? No. Does anyone I know work for Monster? No. Have I ever gotten any Monster Brand items for free? No, I do watch for sales or opened items, but I have paid for every Monster item I own.
Customer Review: Excellent quality cable built to last
Summary: 5 Stars
I would have to disagree with all those dissing Monster cables for digital use. There are many aspects to these cables that make them worth the money other than whether they improve your signal or not.
Here are some of the items that I was very impressed with:
They have a tight net encasement around the cable so the cable easily glides through and around tight spaces.
The cable feels like you would expect a cable to feel. There are no thin, weak, or sub-standard parts to the cable that wear or break after repeated usage.
The thumb-screws on the connectors are right-sized and easier to handle than most.
Plus, all the other stuff that the others claim doesn't matter such as the gas-injected extra RF shielding, the gold connectors, etc.
RF interference does affect a digital signal exactly the same way it affects an analog signal, but because it is digital, it doesn't matter as much how weak the signal so long as the message being sent hasn't been lost. A weaker digital signal is still read correctly whereas a weaker analog signal might not. However if a digital signal is distorted enough that the digital message has changed, it will result in distortions in the digital picture. Depending upon the amount of interference you have, that is unlikely to occur but is possible.
Bottom line is a cheaper cable will produce a just-as-good picture, but that has never been what Monster cables are about. They are about being able to get top quality cable, preventing most problems that can arise from using cheaper ones. That, and feeling good about having "more power, arrrh arrrh arrrh"!
Customer Review: Try a lower quality cable before you buy
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me start off by saying that like most guys I'm an A/V junkie. Over last five years I've probably purchased over $1000 in Monster Cableİ products. Recently, I picked up a HD cable box from my cable provider. I was so excited to hook-up my new HD-cable box to my high def plasma that went to the closest retailer, Radioshackİ. Now I normally don't shop at Radioshack because the products they sell are of such low quality, but since I was just going to pick up a non-Radioshack product I figured it didn't matter.
So I walk into Radioshack looking to buy the Monster Cable HDMI 400 High Resolution A/V Cable but, of course Radioshack didn't have any in stock. While looking around the store for a possible substitute I came across a $12.99 Radioshack HDMI-HDMI cable. I examined the package carefully looking for some type of official `HDMI(tm)" seal without any luck but, I figured for $12.99 if it doesn't work I only lost a few bucks (besides I could always return it). Suffice it to say the cable works great and I'm enjoying High def television at a fraction of the cost. Now results may vary, so I'm not suggesting that your results will be exactly the same but, I think you should at least try a cheaper cable first and if it doesn't work you can always return it and get a Monster Cable(tm).
One thing to note is that an HDMI signal is all digital so as long as the cable functions I don't think there will be any difference in picture quality. That being said I wouldn't recommend buying low quality cables for analog sources
Customer Review: HDMI is lossless. There is no "better cable".
Summary: 1 Stars
Look, I hope you're reading this before you pull the trigger on buying this overpriced piece of junk. HDMI is a lossless digital media interface; in other words, HDMI output either works or it doesn't. Paying more does NOTHING, as ALL HDMI cables perform the same. I have literally seen people in electronics stores considering a wall of HDMI cables, and when I tell them the $10 'knockoff' cable on the end works just as well as the MONSTER BRAND SUPER-DE-DUPER CABLE EXTREME PERFORMANCE one that costs $50, they look at me funny until I explain the actual technological jargon behind it. One person actually had me give them my email address, they bought both the whatever-brand version and the Monster version, and later sent me a message thanking me, and that they noticed no difference between the two and returned the Monster cable.
So the long story short is, don't pay extra when it comes to HDMI. As one of the other most recent reviewers said, people are starting to become more familiar with HDMI technology and know more about it, so the poor souls who waste money on this product are fewer and farther between, but if I can help one less person be swindled, I've done my job.
Customer Review: If you can get it out of the package then just plug it in, turn it on, and enjoy
Summary: 5 Stars
I needed something fast. This critter was on the shelf. The hardest part of the operation was getting this animal out of the packaging. That is no easy task. I imagined I would have to get lost in the sleazy part of town to find someone with the skill and a sharp enough blade to extract the cable without mutilating it or slicing up the warranty paper. The plastic casing (probably air tight) proved to be quite resilient and it took quite some time to slice little pieces of the welded edge before getting a handhold to jerk the case apart. I suggest you use leather gloves if you do not want to pay for an emergency hospital visit and clean up all the blood.
After the thrill of the opening is over so is the climax as in less then 30 seconds you can be plugged in and going. The only soles is that as with expensive haircuts you may be the only one that knows what you paid for it but you can be proud of the performance and sleep well at knight knowing you did all you could to insure a good connection.
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