Monoprice HDMI and Digt Opt

zingo
zingo Posts: 11,258
edited April 2008 in Electronics
I recently purchased a HDMI cable and Digital Optical cable from monoprice.com. Both the the cables purchased were of the "premium" type.

The Digital Optical cable (or Toslink) came in 3' length with metal connectors and a net jacket (think Techflex) for $5.55. The cable is as flexible as I expected for a optical cable. Upon testing it out, not only did it perform very well for both music and HT, but I found no performance difference between it and anything purchased in a large electronics store. The IC may not have a bit of warmness that some people say comes from using a Digital Coax, but it transfered the signal perfectly from component to component with out altering the sound. IMO, that's what ICs should do and that's good enough for me.
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The HDMI cable came in a 6' length with gold plated connectors and a net jacket for $12.52. It is a 1.3a Cat. 2, and CL2 rated in case you want to run it through walls. The wires are 24AWG, and the cable is well shielded, so it is not the most flexible, but stays were you put it so I don't have any complaints. The video performance with my Blu-Ray player is amazing and leaves me wanting nothing. The audio performance is also very good, but I didn't listen to critically as I couldn't take my eyes off the TV. :p As you can see with both these cables, the price is unrivaled, but so is the performance compared to ANY product offered in a electronics store. Monoprice products get two thumbs up IMO.
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Jake
Post edited by zingo on
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Comments

  • jwhitakr
    jwhitakr Posts: 568
    edited April 2008
    Nice writeup Jake! You're one of many on CP (including myself) that thinks Monoprice offers great budget cables. Glad you're enjoying the new ICs.
    My HT
    HDTV: Panasonic PT-61LCX65 61" Rear Proj. LCD
    AVR: Harman Kardon AVR 235
    Video: 80GB PS3, Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD
    Fronts: Polk Audio RTi8
    Center: Polk Audio CSi3
    Amp: Emotiva LPA-1
    Surrounds: Polk Audio R150
    Sub: HSU STF-3

    The only true barrier to knowledge is the assumption that you already have it. - C.H. Dodd
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2008
    The quality of their optical cables surprised me also. I'm also a fan of their HDMI cables.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • el_General
    el_General Posts: 9
    edited April 2008
    Indeed these cables are an awsome buy. I actually purchased 2 of the lower priced hdmi's, the ones w/out the net jackets. It was great to see the faces of my buddies who spent hundreds on ultrasonic-faster-than-light monster cables :p:p
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2008
    I completely agree. I about to make another purchase from them, and it's great to have a cart full of quality cables and what-not, and have it come to $20. They discontinued their Digital Coax for now, but when it comes back you know I'm jumping on it.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2008
    FYI: The price on the 6' version of their premium Digital Optical cable as reviewed above is on sale for $3.52!
    Jake
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  • Lost240
    Lost240 Posts: 176
    edited April 2008
    Monoprice is a great site for all your cable needs
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited April 2008
    Thanks for that, I just got 3 of 'em for my bedroom HT. Picked up some speaker wire too.

    If they are in wall rated are they shielded ok to just use normally?
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • MKZ
    MKZ Posts: 1,068
    edited April 2008
    I'm using the same optical cable and the build quality is surprising.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2008
    I just pick-up up a roll of their CL3 rated speaker wire as well and it's really good quality. (100ft of 12g for 27.50 can't be beat!) The shielding on the speaker wire will be fine Darla as it is single-twisted strand inside the jacket.

    I'm currently using this wire to build a custom SDA interconnect, but it might end-up on some of my speakers as well.
    Jake
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited April 2008
    zingo wrote: »
    I just pick-up up a roll of their CL3 rated speaker wire as well and it's really good quality. (100ft of 12g for 27.50 can't be beat!) The shielding on the speaker wire will be fine Darla as it is single-twisted strand inside the jacket.

    I'm currently using this wire to build a custom SDA interconnect, but it might end-up on some of my speakers as well.

    Thanks. That's what I got the 100ft 12ga.:)
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2008
    I guess I should have thought about it, but the 12ga wire is quiet large. I'm excited to see what it sounds like. Are you finishing the wire, or running it plain? I found that 1/4" Techflex over it with cable pants on each end looks very HIFI. :D
    Jake
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited April 2008
    Bare wire baby. I figured I would go 12 or go home. I know thw biggest difference in sound quality where wire is concerned is gauge. What gauge are you running now?
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • JDOGG
    JDOGG Posts: 433
    edited April 2008
    Just got my cables in from them, the optical cable as reviewed above, and 2 HDMI cables, along with 25' of CAT6 Ethernet cable, all for under $30 with 2 day shipping. Will definitely be doing business with them again!
    Panasonic VIERA 46" 1080p plasma
    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Klipsch RF-7(bi-amped)
    Klipsch RF-25
    Xbox 360 with HD DVD
    Playstation 3
    Cobalt Cable
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited April 2008
    I've been using my cables which I think is a pair of 14-16ga. The new stuff won't be for my 2 channel rig, but I'll probably use it on my computer rig and the SDA IC of course.

    I just ordered another 6' optical cable as well. I just can't seem to keep my credit card off of this site!
    Jake
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