Why are audio,video and computer cables so pricey when it comes to brands?

RonMAIDEN

RonMAIDEN

Super Moderator
Is there a diff between a generic 4ft HDMI cable for $5.99 vs a Monster 4' HDMI for $99? Is it just a scam.

I'm running the cheap $5.99 HDMIs on all my equipment and I can't tell the diff between mine and my neighbor who spent several hundred on Monster brand cause he said there's less interference. It's just reading 0s and 1s and you are connnected or you aren't and I didn't think over air or electronic interference wasn't a factor with HDMI cables.

I also priced a 4ft LAN cable at BestBuy and while they aren't too expensive I got a 4ft one from newegg.com for $1.89 and was shipped to my house for $4.79. Best buy's cheapest was $8 so that's not too bad but they climb up from there.
 
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I use Monster cables. They're pretty much durable. I used to use the cheap Aristocrat stuff but they got torn and ripped in less than 3 yrs. Sucks to go out and find and buy one while your favorite show or game is on.
 
Much of the pricing is a throwback to the analog days when the quality of the cable made a huge difference in picture and/or sound. Now with digital signals, the cable either works or doesn't. Also remember that some of the companies named in this thread established their reputation as a premium brand that deserved a premium price -- if they cut their prices they undermine their reputation as a premium brand.

It's all simple marketing and brand management.
 
MikesToy said:
I use Monster cables. They're pretty much durable. I used to use the cheap Aristocrat stuff but they got torn and ripped in less than 3 yrs. Sucks to go out and find and buy one while your favorite show or game is on.
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What are you doing to your cables? :flamethrwoer2:
I got old analog cheapie cables that I use for my VCR and they still look new and work fine. If the cable simply resides behind the TV in room temperatures they should outlast the technology they are supporting. I've got a $10 HDMI cable that's over 4 years old and it shows no signs of any deteriorating of any part of it.
I still can't see how spending 10-15x the amount on cables is worth it.
 
RonMAIDEN said:
What are you doing to your cables? :flamethrwoer2:
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Nothing. There are times that i move things around. But they deteroirate themselves. It could be the room temp (from cold in the winter and hot in the summer) ..... i don't know. Now with Monster cables, i have no probs whatsoever. Heck, most of them came from military folks who come 'n go around this town. Either they're dirt cheap or freee.
 
:iagree: with jharris. The cable matters more for an analog signal, but digital, especially with error correction, the cable makes little difference. The only argument I hear for Monster HDMI cables is it has more throughput. I don't buy it because if it's rated for the HDMI specification 1.3, 1.3a, etc., it's good enough. For Monster cables, all you're really paying for are fancy packaging, fancy sheath and the plug ends.

Monoprice.com has cables with the equivalent performance for a fraction of the price. Even with a discount for Monster cables, Monoprice is still cheaper.
 
MikesToy said:
Nothing. There are times that i move things around. But they deteroirate themselves. It could be the room temp (from cold in the winter and hot in the summer) ..... i don't know. Now with Monster cables, i have no probs whatsoever. Heck, most of them came from military folks who come 'n go around this town. Either they're dirt cheap or freee.
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That's really wierd that they are deteriorating like that when we live in the same climate and I have cables older than you that work fine. I could see some of the older speaker wire but newer cables should last over 20 years.

I think you should buy a $5 cable and try it out since you could buy 5 of the $5 cables and even at the rate you wear them out you'd still spend much less than 1 Monster Cable in your life.
 
NO do not buy the monster cables. I worked with this stuff for a few years and talked to hundreds of pros on this stuff. The difference in audio is basically inaudible. If you want to listen to a great podcast on it, check out this one from How Stuff Works.com and the specific show is Tech Stuff.

Here it is: Are More Expensive Cables Really Worth It?
 
I second monoprice.com! I buy all my HDMI cables from there and they are great quality. They usually run between $4 - $6 for a 6 foot cable...sometimes you can get them even cheaper if they're running a special.
I hate Monstercable because of how much they rip people off. Anytime I'm in Best Buy or somewhere like that, if I see someone buying an expensive cable, I can't help but tell them that there are alternatives. They usually look at me like I'm crazy, but I'm used to it by now. :)
 
I bought a 6' HDMI cable off ebay for 99 cents shipped to my door. Works perfect with my Blu Ray and LED TV.
 
Wow. Great call with monoprice.com. This was the first I'd heard of it. Just moved into a new house and I need to do some serious cable running. Saved me a ton!
 
Agreed. Bought a 6 foot HDMI off the egg for $7 with free shipping. Monster cables claim that they have some nitrogen injected crap, something about makes the electrons travel better. What a scam. I think myth busters or somebody tested it against a wire coat hanger, the hanger did same/better than monster. At the end of the day, it's all just copper. My favorite are USB cables from best buy for $30! I get them off the boat from China for less than a dollar. Oh, and just walk into your neighborhood RadioShack for some rip offs. Last time I checked 100FT ethernet cable was $90. Are ya kidding me?
 
I got a new USB cable from the egg too and it cost me $7 but that was also with 3 day UPS shipping since I needed it pronto;Radio Shack wanted $20 for that too.
 
The sad thing is that most people are oblivious, and pay for it anyway. Some people are just arogant and don't wish to understand. They just want it to work. I however and the opposite. I always research, always study and always try and find the best deal with whatever I make purchases. I guess it is good we have a balance, but I will always go the cheapest route possible.
 
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