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Monster Component Cables for X-Box

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chazdraves

Golden Member
Well, I was wandering through a place of great evil the other day (yes, Wal-Mart) when I stumbled upon Monster S-Video Cables for X-Box - $19.94! I said to myself... "Holy Crap!" and bought 'em. Foolish me, I thought I had gotten an incredibly good deal on those cables. Little did I realize - these were the lowest of low end cables Monster makes, and I can get 'em cheaper on Amazon (doh!). Anyhow, they did do a really nice job of spiffying up the picture on my Box. I have a Phillips 32" PT553S, as I recall... It's a 3-Line Digital Comb Filter with S-Video and Component (and, I may add, one of the nicest pictures I've seen on a non-HD). Anyhow, I started looking at the $60 component cables that Monster makes and decided, I need 'em. Well, they don't sell 'em in town, so I'd have to drive an hour to pick 'em up. After all that rambling (sorry), my question is this. Will I see any, ANY mind you, difference with those cables on a non-HD TV? I noticed these new S-Video cables I got really helped with the brights on-screen, made 'em shine a little better, along with some other touch ups... but will I see any difference between my current S-Video and those $60 component cables? Thanks for making it through all the above, and thanks even more so for your opinions!

To you all, a good day!

- Chaz
 
You should see some difference between s-video and component. Not nearly as much between s-video and composite though. Don't buy the monster cables. You can get quality component cables for much less.
 
So, not to attack but merely to ask ('cause I don't know), you don't think the Nitrogen gas-injected dielectric insulator, 24k Gold connectors, or the hook-up for Optical sound would make any improvement? (Okay, the optical thing is a gimme, obviously that's a step up).

- Chaz
 
Originally posted by: chazdraves
So, not to attack but merely to ask ('cause I don't know), you don't think the Nitrogen gas-injected dielectric insulator, 24k Gold connectors, or the hook-up for Optical sound would make any improvement? (Okay, the optical thing is a gimme, obviously that's a step up).

- Chaz
Click to expand...
An optical (digital) connection is definitely an upgrade from RCA for the audio. But the other stuff is just marketing hype.
 
Well, the optical is a shoe-in, I need my optical back, but what about the other features on these cables? Don't they make any difference? Understanding, of course, that they are expensive. Are they any better? If not, what else can you recommend? I've heard the Microsoft High Definition Bundle is kinda a waste because it works in two parts so you lose signal. Thanks for all the opinions, please keep 'em coming!

- Chaz
 
You can get component cables for $10-$15 at Walmart. Magnavox I believe they were. That's what I use for my XBOX on a 57" Sony widescreen and the picture is still brilliant. I also bought $25 Acoustic Research component cables and noticed ZERO difference. Returned them right away. Spend $60 for MAYBE a negligible difference ? Never.
 
FYI, an optical cable is an optical cable. As long as you don't get any errors, then there's no difference between a cheap-ass cable and a $100 optical cable. The cable won't matter as long as there are no data integrity errors since the data transmission is digital.
 
So then, if I may. My understanding is thus - component video = good, spending extra for cables that do no more = bad. I'm kinda suprised, I thought someone would stick up for Monster, but maybe they're all just a bunch of fanboys, heh, I don't know. So, if I can throw a quick second question at yah, on a TV such as mine (listed above, hopefully someone's familiar with it) would I see any, again ANY, difference between the S-Video picture and the Component video? Actually, does anyone know if that model supports progressive scan? I don't think it does... Thanks again for all the great info, may have saved me $60!

- Chaz
 
If you got component, you can get them for fairly cheap, go for it. Just dont buy into the hype machine of Monster or anyone else that advertises anything other than Gold for a connector.
 
I came across a set of Monster Cables for a PS2 once, w/ s-vid. Man those things were sh!tty! The connector didn't fit quite right on the PS2 side and the picture would go in and out.

One thing I learned long ago was always get OEM stuff for consoles, the exception being logitech peripherals.
 
Just get either the Microsoft Advanced pack or the High Definition pack. Both have S/PDIF audio out so you're set there. Only thing you need to decide is if you want to use S-Video or Component video.

http://www.xbox.com/en-us/hardware/highdefinitionavpack.htm
http://www.xbox.com/en-us/hardware/advancedavpack.htm

They are both $20 each. I have component ins on my TV and a receiver with component video switching, so I went with the HD pack.

I highly doubt you'd see ANY difference in video quality with the Monster versions of these cables...
 
Originally posted by: chazdraves
So then, if I may. My understanding is thus - component video = good, spending extra for cables that do no more = bad. I'm kinda suprised, I thought someone would stick up for Monster, but maybe they're all just a bunch of fanboys, heh, I don't know. So, if I can throw a quick second question at yah, on a TV such as mine (listed above, hopefully someone's familiar with it) would I see any, again ANY, difference between the S-Video picture and the Component video? Actually, does anyone know if that model supports progressive scan? I don't think it does... Thanks again for all the great info, may have saved me $60!

- Chaz
Click to expand...
It's hard to say whether or not you'll see a definite improvement over the s-video as I'm not familiar with your TV. You'll probably see some but it won't be huge. You might also check out that bluejeanscable link above. I've seen people mention it on avsforum before.
 
Logitech does, in fact, own all! Anyhow... can anyone speak in regards to the difference of image quality from S-Video and Component on the above mentioned TV model? I'd be interested in the HD Pack if I knew it would look any better on MY TV, especially for the optical sound. Mmmm... Optical... Thanks again for all the great feedback so far, a lot I've never heard of! And I checked out that bluejeanscables place, seems like some good stuff!

- Chaz
 
Why not do a test and report back to us the results? The component cables are only $10-15 at Walmart. Do a blind test so the person observing doesn't know how you're connecting it, and ask "this way or... this way" I'd bet that a lot of the Monster cable owners would claim that it makes a difference (over normal priced component cables) on their own tv's, but I doubt that 90% would be able to tell in a blind test.
 
Well, I tested and now I'm reporting back! Heh... I did pick up the monster cables. In terms of build quality, I am amazed. These things could take a nuke and not flinch, not to mention how nicely they fit on my component connectors. In terms of image quality... Well, it's not gonna make you stand up and scream, but it definitely cleared up the little bit of distortion remaining. Understanding, of course, that better cables won't buy you a better TV. My take? I'm pleased with them, I got 'em for $45 at Software Etc. which really ain't much more than the X-Box HDTV kit after you buy cables for it. If you're an absolute nit-picker about video, I'd say they're worth the extra $5, but that's just my take, and I can't speak on their performance with an HDTV as I don't have one, heh.

- Chaz
 
I got the Monster cables for my PS2 only because someone sold em on this board for an amazing price. They're nicely built and the fit is excellent. Excellent picture on my 51" HDTV.

I got my optical cable from Buy.com for $4.99 shipped. Works just fine.
 
Yes, in fact, why stop at $60 cables? Try finding the most expensive ones possible. Expensive must equal good, right? And, OMG, I can like totally notice the difference with my super VoodooMagicExtreme5000 cables I got for my Xbox which only cost me $200.

Ok, I'll stop being a sarcastic ass. Just get the cheapest component cables possible. There will be a negligible, if any difference between these and whatever overpriced crap Monster is trying to sell you. Its all marketing baby!
 
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