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: You're paying for more than a cable
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a little disheartening to hear all this Monster bashing. While the point has been made that digital signals don't suffer from interference, people seem to be forgetting that the overall performance of a product, any product, must be linked to its durability. Ford Motors is close to going out of business because Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, and a few other foreign car makers have taken over the market. Just like any consumer that purchases the cheapest audio/video cables they can find, american auto-makers argue that the quality of their cars is formidable or superior in terms of performance (acceleration, gas mileage, extra features). The fact remains, however, that durability plays a very large part in the success of these foreign cars. You can still spot 14, 15, or even 20 year old toyotas on the road in large numbers. The same can't be said for Fords or Chevys. The endurance of the foreign brands has earned them the right to dominate the market; they make products that last.
With that said, I own the Monster HDMI 400 2 meter cable and I have absolutely no complaints. As has been already stated, the digital signal significantly reduces the risk of distortion through any brand of HDMI cable, so Monster's enhanced features don't serve to dramatically improve the picture or sound quality you're experiencing. However, the fact that these cables are built to last a lifetime and come with a Lifetime Replacement Warranty go a long way to assure me I'm investing in the best. The extra features, while dispensable, let me know that I'm getting a top notch product. And in my experience with Monster's pro audio products, their craftsmanship is unrivaled. When you have to run wires in tight spaces, frequently plug and unplug your connectors, or leave the cables bent to maintain a connection, Monster cables never fail. So yes, while wal-mart and radio shack can offer you a cable that does the job, it's not uncommon to have the cable start to short after a period of time. But when I buy Monster, I'm not just buying a cable, I'm making an investment in my media system that can last as long as the HDMI format will. And if it doens't, Monster replaces the cable for free.
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: 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.
Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player
Customer Review: Ensures that the 1's remain 1's and the 0's remain 0's
Summary: 5 Stars
Without getting too technical, it is important that when you have a high def TV, and the bits leave your cable box, what got sent as a 1 is received as a 1 and what got sent as a 0 is received as a 0. If a 1 becomes a 0 or a 0 becomes a 1, then you have trouble -- the quality of the signal is compromised, though there are various error detection mechanisms to correct the flipped ones and zeros if there aren't too many of them.
Now what this cable does really well is to ensure just that. But so does most every other HDMI cable. Heck, Amazon sells cables that cost $10 and under. So -- why spend so much money on this? Well its because the average buyer knows no better. So -- save your money for something else, and buy an HDMI cable for $10 or under. And, if you insist on spending ungodly amounts of money for glorified copper wire, I do have a bridge that's a great deal for you.