Please Be Gentle!

limashaynut

I have read in several post that Monster Cable is not thought of very highly here on the Forum, what I have not read is why.

I remember when I was a teenager, and had been known to use lamp cord to hook up speakers :eek:, I saved up my money,and bought some Monster Cable speaker wire. Boy oh boy, I thought I was big time , the new speaker wire, along with my new Betamax VCR, put my system in a leauge of its own.:D

Well since then, I have used Monstor Cable conectors of one form or another on and off for a number of years, with no real complaints. Now I am NOT here to defend Moster Cable, but rather to ask why others have such a negative view of it.

Is most of Monster Cables products of poor quality, or is it a case of MC not being a very good value for what they charge for it. Another words, you can get more quality for less money elsewhere.

I have always thought that maybe the whole MC reputation being a bit of the oveblown hype (read a load of crap) of the type BOSE has invented for itself.

So how about, what are the reasons for the negative views of Monster Cables products.

Demiurge

It's overpriced in comparison to what else is out there. Much like Bose is overpriced for what you actually get.

limashaynut

Thanks for the link Zero, I had no idea!

Gezz, this is the kind of company that I make a point not to do business with, will keep this in mind in the future.

I have seen this type of crap before in one of my other hobbies, Model Trains.

Thre is a company called MTH (Mikes Train House) that has done this type of thing himself. Long story short, he has tried to patent OPEN technology that was used to create DCC (Digital Command Control). This technology is basically a digital signal that is sent through the track to a decoder (computer chip) that is installed in each locomtive so that they can be contolled independently, and even contorl onboard sound units. This system was built on a open set of standards so that it could be adopted by everyone, and become the industry standard. In other words Company A, Company B, etc. could all bring out their own products that would be compatiable with each other.

This 'standard' had been out for several years, when MTH came out with their own system, called it DCS, and applied for a patent. Next thing you know, MTH is filling lawsuits left and right. Most people in the hobby feel about MTH the same way that it seems many feel about Moster Cable.

Do you think Moster Cable will try and sue Bigfoot!

cmy330go

limashaynut wrote:

I have seen this type of crap before in one of my other hobbies, Model Trains.

What kind of layout do you have? When I was younger I had a nice sized (8x10) HO layout. Of course this was long before the control systems you are now used to.

Also my grandfather, who unfortunately passed away last week, was a huge train buff, and had two beautiful layouts. The smaller of the two was featured in Model Railroader not long ago. I think his other one was just recently finished. I'm really looking forward to seeing it when I go to the memorial service. I'm hoping both layouts end up in good hands.:(

Well anyway...don't mean to derail your thread (no pun intended):) , just curious what you have.

Take Care
Dave

schwarcw

Jerry.

If you are looking for new interconnect cables, try Blue Jeans Cable or Signal Cable. I've used both at one time or another. Good product reasonably priced. Both companies offer wire also.

I've used some Monster connectors. Not bad, but as others have said, just over priced. Their no solder banana and spade connectors for large gauge speaker wires are pretty decent. I've bought these in a pich from Radio Shack instead of waiting for an internet purchase.

danger boy

Jerry,

Let me turn the tables on you just for a minute.. not for arguements sake. but to make a point hopefully.

You asked people in here to give you reasons why Monster Cable isn't highly thought of.. and a few people did.

Now i ask you why do you THINK monster cable is good? .. sounds like you have used Monster cable products for a while now. Was it because you know for a fact that their cables are better built or sound better.. or was it because all your other friends are using Monster.. or was it what the sales guy said was the best?

Once again, i'm just trying to pick your brain on why you like using Monster cable products.

For the record.. i too began with monster products.. for about two years, every cable in my home theater was monster... including, optical, coax, and all video and audio cables. currently, none of my cables are monster any more. I've moved on.. and up to cables I tend to like.. after buying many different brands and finally finding the one i like over several years. It's all just been very recent too that I found what fits my budget and sounds better and is of better build quality.

(you can see in my sig what i currently use for cables/wires)

limashaynut

danger boy,

You will get no argument from me, I was asking about this to be enlightened with additional information, not to plead a case for using Monster Cable.

I started purchasing MC back when I was a teenager, and kind of fell into the old trap of, if it is not broke, then don't fix it mentality. MC was kind of the big gorilla (it would seem in more than one way) of the cable business, and it was what you would always see when you were shopping for electronics. I guess like a lot of folks, I kind of bought into all the hype.

I have had no doubts that there has been higher quality connections out there to be had, but at what price was my concern. I had kind of got the impression from some of the previous post about MC that it was not just that there were better products out there, but rather that MC in and of itself was a poor product.

Now that I have some additional information, it will make future purchases a bit more cut and dry. While I will not be in a hurry to replace the MC products I am now using, given what I have learned about their business practices, I do not see any more MC in my future.

Thanks to all for the responses, and the recomendations for other cable.

limashaynut

Dave,

Sorry to hear of the passing of your Grandfather. If you have any additional information about his layout that was in Model Railroader I would love it if you would pass it along to me. I have subscribed to Model Railroader for quite a few years, and would enjoy looking up his layout.

I model in HO scale as well, and at present have an around the wall shelf layout in my basement. I also belong to a modular railroad club, and we set up for several shows each year. When our entire modular layout is set up, it is about 50'X120'.

The hobby has come a long way in the past few years, the new DCC systems now let you operate your trains, and not your track. Locomotives now can be independently controlled, and this includes direction, lights and complete onboard sound systems.

Below is a picture of one of my brass steam locomotives that I painted, it includes DCC as well as a sound decoder with a 1" speaker in the tender.

limashaynut

Dave,

I know that this is off topic, but here is one more.

This is a HO scale Clinchfield SD40 that I built, detailed, and painted.

StopherJJ1980

Monster isnt BAD per se, in fact they are pretty good. They are just overpriced and their marketing strategies kinda eliminate competition. Its annoying going into a lot of stores and constantly being pushed to buy overpriced monster cables by the sales guy for anything you buy.

aaharvel

Monster and Bose: twin brothers from different mothers. :rolleyes:

cmy330go

limashaynut wrote:

Sorry to hear of the passing of your Grandfather. If you have any additional information about his layout that was in Model Railroader I would love it if you would pass it along to me. I have subscribed to Model Railroader for quite a few years, and would enjoy looking up his layout.

Thanks for the kind words Lima. I contacted MR and they told me it is in the December 2004 issue p. 62-67. I don't remember exactly what it was modeled after I just remember that it was all steam and much of it was narrow gauge. I'm not sure why but he was always intrigued by narrow gauge railroads. I remember riding with him and my dad on multiple scenic/historic railways when I was younger, a number of which were narrow gauge. Anyway I plan on ordering a few copies of that issue for safe keeping, so if you have it, could you confirm for me that it is in there? If it helps, his name is William (aka Bill, or Will) Darrow from near Honey Grove, PA. Thanks!

BTW...Those engines are beautifully done! I wish I still had the time and space for the hobby. Oh well can't do it all.:rolleyes:

Take Care
Dave

limashaynut

Dave,

I look forward to reading about your Grandfather's layout, I have no doubt that I have the issue, but I will have to take time to dig it out. I think all of the issues from 04 are packed away in a box in my basement. When I find it, I will let you know and confirm that it is the correct issue.

BTW While I have never modeled in narrow gauge, I have alway found it very interesting. 'Slim Rail' has always had kind of a 'cult' following in the hobby.