Monster cable food for thought

[elwood127]

A friend informed me that his companies audio supplier( I can't remember who) ran a test of monster cable and compared it with a coat hanger and saw no difference. I know nothing about them so I can't comment. Are they full of it or what?:blink:

[Allanvh5150]

Yup!:)

[BMWCCA]

A friend informed me that his companies audio supplier( I can't remember who) ran a test of monster cable and compared it with a coat hanger and saw no difference. I know nothing about them so I can't comment. Are they full of it or what?:blink:

To quote Benjamin Braddock, "Wood, or wire?"

http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060531/060531_graduate_vmed_12p.widec.jpg

[Rolf]

A friend informed me that his companies audio supplier( I can't remember who) ran a test of monster cable and compared it with a coat hanger and saw no difference. I know nothing about them so I can't comment. Are they full of it or what?:blink:

Hi.:) What is a "coat hanger"? As you can see English is not my first language.:o:

In general it is so that most of the members don't believe in sound difference regarding cables.:banghead:

[hjames]

A friend informed me that his company's audio supplier( I can't remember who) ... :blink:

Ah, the generic "a friend of a friend says..." - the internet is FULL of that stuff!

What do YOU think??

[Fred Sanford]

This has been discussed a few times here, one of the recent threads is here:

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=22658

je

[BMWCCA]

What is a "coat hanger"? As you can see English is not my first language.:o:
http://touchingharmstheart.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/layman_hang.jpg

In general it is so that most of the members don't believe in sound difference regarding cables.:banghead:Is that a question? :dont-know

[Titanium Dome]

The metal coat hanger itself is made of some kind of metallic substance (usually low grade steel wire between 12 to 18 gauge) that has been painted black or white, or coated in a clear lacquer.

When the ends are cut from the original wire ribbon, the raw ends usually are left bare.

[jcrobso]

For a short distance (coat hanger is about 24~30" stretched out) you could not tell the difference between copper and steel wire. Now at 30' well maybe you could or not. But sure the coat hanger wire is a lot cheaper than Mon$tor cable. The subject has been beaten to death on many forums, www.audioholics.com has a lot of test on speaker wire over the years. In general the low cost wire works just as good as the arm and leg variety.;) John

[Rolf]

OK, I got it. Most of ours is made of wood, but that is probably due to the age, when they was made with love.

And to your ? ... ... no, just an observation. Most members believe that cables don't matter.


http://touchingharmstheart.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/layman_hang.jpg
Is that a question? :dont-know

[Doctor_Electron]

Prior to using a coat hangar for conducting audio signals, you have to wrap it with aluminum foil.
Just like it is done on the homemade radio antennas I'm sure you have all seen. :D

[BMWCCA]

OK, I got it. Most of ours is made of wood . . .Our's, too. But if you take your clothing to a commercial cleaners, they'll come back on lots of the wire monsters. The big problem is always what to do with them once they build up to an unmanageable quantity. Some drop them off at laundromats. Others:
http://mystarbucks.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/gorilla3.jpg
(http://mystarbucks.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/gorilla3.jpg)

[Fred Sanford]

The subject has been beaten to death on many forums, www.audioholics.com (http://www.audioholics.com/) has a lot of test on speaker wire over the years. In general the low cost wire works just as good as the arm and leg variety.;) John

It's dangerous to make generalizations like this, they are part of the reason why this debate continues on endlessly - define "low cost wire". There are absolutely some low-cost wire options that suck, and some that sound/test OK at first and then start to suck rapidly once their conductors or teminations corrode & add resistance. As with just about anything in this world, cheap things are cheap for a reason, it could be poor performance or could be good performance with limited lifespan. I'd be curious to see if the tests on the site you reference are all as-new wire, or if they're re-tested again as they age.

Find your own comfortable balance between investment & return, and go for it. Or, take a look at installations that can't tolerate failure - military, marine, emergency broadcast - they don't use what I'd define as "low cost wire", but they don't generally use "arm and leg" cable either.

je

[SEAWOLF97]

Or, take a look at installations that can't tolerate failure - military, marine, emergency broadcast - they don't use what I'd define as "low cost wire", but they don't generally use "arm and leg" cable either.
je

MILSPEC ?? man, that stuff makes "arm and leg" look cheap

[BMWCCA]

I sure don't want to start another thread, and this one's about played out, so . . . I'm looking for some good quality 18"-or-so RCA-to-RCA interconnect (patch) cables in stereo pairs. Anybody know a good source, remembering that, among other things, I am a bottom feeder? :)

Seriously, there aren't too many sources out there and 18' seems to cost the same as 18". Even some 12" would be fine but those seem to be even more difficult to find. Most places charge more for shipping than the parts, or don't have them short enough.

Thanks

[Fred Sanford]

MILSPEC ?? man, that stuff makes "arm and leg" look cheap

OK, I'll give you that. I guess that means we'd have to define "arm and leg" as well as "general use". I'm sure the military does pay silly prices for product in some cases, but that doesn't necessarily mean that a civilian can't get milspec cable for a price somewhere in between "low cost" and "arm and leg".

I took a quick look at the tests in the link, and in the first of their cable face-off articles they mention the deterioration of cable over time, and single out the most recent one I've had problems with- the "Original Monster Cable". For the record, Monster replaced my cables for free, but it looks like an off-the-shelf package from quite a few years ago- the label proudly announces that I'll finally be getting the most from the crystal clear audio that my LaserDisc player puts out. No visible corrosion, though, for now.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/cables/speaker-cable-face-off-1/

je

[Fred Sanford]

I sure don't want to start another thread, and this one's about played out, so . . . I'm looking for some good quality 18"-or-so RCA-to-RCA interconnect (patch) cables in stereo pairs. Anybody know a good source, remembering that, among other things, I am a bottom feeder? :)

Seriously, there aren't too many sources out there and 18' seems to cost the same as 18". Even some 12" would be fine but those seem to be even more difficult to find. Most places charge more for shipping than the parts, or don't have them short enough.

Thanks

I have a large collection of the cabling that comes new with Nakamichi/Denon/Onkyo/etc. components, most of them irritatingly short at about 18". Come & get 'em. Please.

Shortest of the better aftermarket cables I have is ~3', and not all of them are solder-friendly. I do have soldering irons & plenty of good-quality RG59 and RCA connectors, though- have at it. :applaud:

As you know, I prefer Sesame and Cinnamon Raisin.

je

[BMWCCA]

I do have soldering irons & plenty of good-quality RG59 and RCA connectors, though- have at it.LH Virginia Tech Session-II?


As you know, I prefer Sesame and Cinnamon Raisin.Peanut butter and jelly, too? ;)

[opimax]

Did someone say "LH audio meet II?" when, where, etc. I'll be there :applaud::applaud:

Mark

[hjames]

Did someone say "LH audio meet II?" when, where, etc. I'll be there :applaud::applaud:

Mark

And here I am stuck refoaming my recent L-26 purchase ...
haven't even played the Tempest test CD yet ...

[Fred Sanford]

Originally Posted by Fred Sanford http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=230778#post230778)
I do have soldering irons & plenty of good-quality RG59 and RCA connectors, though- have at it.



LH Virginia Tech Session-II?



Originally Posted by Fred Sanford
As you know, I prefer Sesame and Cinnamon Raisin.



Peanut butter and jelly, too? ;)

We can provide the PB&J...just did that Friday on a Sandwich-sized English Muffin, imported from NY (can't find 'em here). Followed that up with some Mallomars, also from NY.

Yesterday was a local Marble Rye bagel, with Rare Roast Beast & melted Jarlsberg cheese...yum.

Give me a call, we can work out whatever you prefer. I'll let you know when I'll be on your side of the mountains, you let me know when you'd head this way. You're welcome to peruse my stash of cables, or roll your own here or at home. I can also ship you some of the OEM cables if you're in a hurry, just give me quantity & length.

Another living-room listening session would take more notice, but if you want to, let me know...

je

[Fred Sanford]

Did someone say "LH audio meet II?" when, where, etc. I'll be there :applaud::applaud:

Mark

We'll let you know if/when another listening session is brewing...and we'll do dessert first this time. :applaud:

je

[opimax]

It would be an honor to have it here and on top of the litening I would appreciate a "how to tune Mark's Stuff " session. I am still working on lost bass, not the speakers at least...

And on topic could be the cables (XLR to RCA and hum issue too) since they aren't Monster :)

Mark