Article (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/feature/the-truth-about-monster-cable-part-2-verdict-cheap-cables-keep-upusually-268788.php) - looks like the overpriced Monster stuff actually has a benefit at longer runs...

I am planning on running about 30' of HDMI and audio cable in my walls for my HT and ordered some long stuff from Monoprice then I read this article.

Who knows if their pockets are lined with Monster cash but the tests seem accurate. Anyone have any experience with long runs of < $40 HDMI cable?

Er, did you even read the article? Monster failed at their longest distance too, and monster didn't even have a cable of comparable length to the longest one from Monoprice. Monoprice cables are great and you are getting some of the best. People will also recommend Blue Jeans Cable - they have up to 50' length.

Did you read the article? The 10 meter Monster cable passed for current 1080p throughput but the 35" Monoprice cable failed at 1080p.

Basically anything over 6' from Monoprice failed the real world 1080p test.

Since I am running cables this concerned me.

Did you read the article? The 10 meter Monster cable passed for current 1080p throughput but the 35" Monoprice cable failed at 1080p.

Basically anything over 6' from Monoprice failed the real world 1080p test.

Since I am running cables this concerned me.

Do you beleive everything you read? Their test is crap if I'm sitting here watching 2 different 1080p sources on 15 foot monoprice cables.

Here's what I suggest you do, invest in top of the line cabling and convince your friends how smart you are.

Do you beleive everything you read? Their test is crap if I'm sitting here watching 2 different 1080p sources on 15 foot monoprice cables.

Here's what I suggest you do, invest in top of the line cabling and convince your friends how smart you are.

Man you guys sure are snippy.

Of course I don't believe everything I read, that is why I am here asking people's opinion.

They didn't test your 15' cable. I am using a 30' cable which DID fail. Hence the reason I am asking.

I use 35 foot hdmi and component cables from monoprice to my front projectore and I canonly say 1080i images look crisp and clear. No sparkey images or anything :)

They didn't test your 15' cable. I am using a 30' cable which DID fail. Hence the reason I am asking.

I think you are right to be concerned about these cables working, you read a review which stated they did not work. That being said, the nice thing about the monoprice cables are they are so cheap you can buy one and test it. With HDMI cables they either work or they don't, either the 1s and 0s get through and you have a picture or they don't. So If I were you I would find the cheapest HDMI cable I could find and buy it, if it works then great and if not then call up the company and return it.

Judging from how much a 8 foot hdmi monster cable is at best buy..I am guessing you will pay over $300 for a 30 foot cable. It cant look that much better!

I think there is also some debate on some other forums as to how the testing was conducted.

Looking at the prices you can see what most types of Monoprice cables were chosen for in each test (i.e. what gauge used, 22, 24, 26, or 28). I'm wondering if a higher guage of monoprice were used for some of those future tests, and future-future tests, if Monoprice would have faired better.

Also wondering how something like a Bluejeans cable, which is in between pricewise but still far cheaper than monster, would have faired.

Of course if your not concerned about super-future proofing all your technology goods (kinda like making sure your 486 computer has USB ports on the motherboard), and just spending what you need for today, Monoprice looks pretty good. How far out is 1440p technology from implementation? And is it so far out that the spec could still change? I'd rather spend the $20 today for 720, and another $40 tomorrow for 1440 to have the right cable at the right time than $200 today and being done with it. It's just to easy to swap out cables.

They didn't test your 15' cable. I am using a 30' cable which DID fail. Hence the reason I am asking.


I'm sorry, but to clarify:
1. Are you saying that you have a 30ft cable and you are having trouble with it (failed)?
or
2. You noticed that you own/use one of the cables tested in the article? If so, are you using it at a resolution that failed in the testing?




And if you want to see snippy....
BOSE is the best, especially when it is hooked up with Monster Cables. :p

general rule of thumb when looking for any type of cable(digital and analog) - is shielding from interference amongst components and the right gauge/size wire with the least amount of loss. the longer the cable run the more important the above items will become. the connectors and construction is also important too. there are plenty of mfg's other than monster that makes high quality cables. i'm under the assumption that monoprice and bluejeans cables are excellent since everyone says it is. but I have not seen, used, or touched one. i try to keep my cable runs as short as possible to eliminate any sort of interference and noise. therefore, i use the really cheap $20 hdmi cables and run power cables seperate from speaker/analog cables. if i run anything over the 20-30 ft mark, i would look into higher-end cables that's "reasonable" for the price. i'd look and compare with monster but i definitely won't buy at their suggested retail price. shop smart!

My current plan is to buy the monoprice cable, then go to best buy or futureshop and buy the monstercable and do the side by side comparison myself... if I can see the difference I'll consider the money spent on the monocables lesson learned and if I can't I return the best buy ones... as long as I get a full refund on an opened packaged this is the plan.

I have had luck with 35 foot monoprice cables...

i bought 3 different HDMI cables...cheap to expensive and all failed, so im hoping it was my source (new ps3 will be here soon) but i returned the expensive ones to BB...no problems with the return

I'm sorry, but to clarify:
1. Are you saying that you have a 30ft cable and you are having trouble with it (failed)?
or
2. You noticed that you own/use one of the cables tested in the article? If so, are you using it at a resolution that failed in the testing?




And if you want to see snippy....
BOSE is the best, especially when it is hooked up with Monster Cables. :p

1. No, I am running cables in my walls for my new home theater and had ordered the Monoprice cables based on experience and these forums. Two days later that article came out and gave me pause. I have never run an HDMI cable more than 4 feet so it concerned me. I am going to stick with my Monoprice cable for now and hope for the best.

2. Yes, I own one of the 30' Monoprice HDMI cables and will be using it with a 1080p source. I tested it briefly with a friend's 720p plasma and it worked fine. I will probably take it down to BB to test it on a 1080p set before I patch up the walls.

Oh and Bose ain't bad for small speakers if you like low dynamic range and bass which Joe American usually does :)

1) As shown in the pictures, they did the tests with the cables coiled on the table, which is a no-no when testing cables due to potential crosstalk. So really, all this proved is that Monster uses more insulation than Monoprice.

2) Modern display devices use error correction when processing signals, so really the slightly 'off' eye patterns aren't going to mean much of anything once your projector does its error correction.

3) For any runs greater than 10m or so you should really be using an amp/repeater, anyway.

Monster preys on individuals who don't understand the basics of physics and electrical circuits or are too impatient to order their cables online, which definitely explains why they hold almost 100% of the market at brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy. Do yourself a favor and buy the cables and a repeater from Monoprice and save yourself a few hundred dollars.

I have a 50' HDMI to M1-DA Monoprice cable that works fine - it is not failing to pass 1080 in my install.

I have 35' Blue Jeans 24 AWG ($69 if memory serves) that feeds a Sharp LCD from a Sony AVR. It does 1080p with no problems. (Sources are a HD TiVo, a PS/3 and a Mac with DVI).

Funny how the test was done at Monster HQ. :rolleyes:

Yea, they probably did the Monser tests before they had lunch,a nd the Monoprice tests after the cable was touched and handled by greasy, grubby, filthy hands covered in ketchup, BBQ sauce, or nacho cheese.

Also, if they did use teh thinner 20-24 gauge mono price cables, then the test was skewed. That's like comparing a Ferrari to a Schwinn.

I'd like to see Monoprice do the same tests themselves AT THEIR HQ and see who wins....

I have a 50' HDMI to M1-DA Monoprice cable that works fine - it is not failing to pass 1080 in my install.


I've got no problems with my 50' HDMI cable as well......I'm only passing 1080i though... :o

I also have a buddy passing 1080p @ 24fps to his pj from his computer with a 50' monoprice HDMI cable.....no problems for him either.

Don't believe everything you read! :rolleyes:

Also, if they did use teh thinner 20-24 gauge mono price cables, then the test was skewed. That's like comparing a Ferrari to a Schwinn.


You have it backwards....the smaller the gauge the heavier the wire.......but I think we all got your point. ;)

Also, if they did use teh thinner 20-24 gauge mono price cables, then the test was skewed. That's like comparing a Ferrari to a Schwinn.

I'd like to see Monoprice do the same tests themselves AT THEIR HQ and see who wins....

Yea, I remember reading someplace where Monster had setup a display in Circuit City and was trying to show how much better their speaker cable was by comparing 50' of their 12awg with a no-name 18awg.