so if someone wants to buy into 'hype', and waste money on cables when they could get cables that sound just as good for a quarter of the cost,
what's wrong with that?
 

Brett

batsbrew
but what's wrong with monster cable?
 

The technical aspects: All cables have three qualities, resistance, capacitance and inductance. These can be easily measured and many cable manufactures will even specify them. In theory a cable can act as a low pass filter (ie high filter), but in practice the effect is so small it only affects frequencies so high they don't affect the sound, in fact filtering these is a good idea. And if you have active pickups the effect is even smaller.

Correct...but incomplete. Additional technical aspects include strain relief, wire gauge, connector plating depth, cable assembly, etc. The last thing you need is an internal break in the cable, typically at a connection point. Some Monster cables can be TOO stiff and heavy duty, putting strain on the mating connector assembly.
 
I'm willing to pay for a cable that won't break and won't kink. But paying for Monster executives bonuses and vacations is not something I want to do. I've bought Monster cables in the past. I'm been very happy with some of them, and felt like I'd wasted my money with others. Live and learn (hopefully!).

 

Brett
All cables have three qualities, resistance, capacitance and inductance.

TheMaartian

Brett

batsbrew
but what's wrong with monster cable?
 

The technical aspects: All cables have three qualities, resistance, capacitance and inductance. These can be easily measured and many cable manufactures will even specify them. In theory a cable can act as a low pass filter (ie high filter), but in practice the effect is so small it only affects frequencies so high they don't affect the sound, in fact filtering these is a good idea. And if you have active pickups the effect is even smaller.

Correct...but incomplete. Additional technical aspects include strain relief, wire gauge, connector plating depth, cable assembly, etc. The last thing you need is an internal break in the cable, typically at a connection point. Some Monster cables can be TOO stiff and heavy duty, putting strain on the mating connector assembly.

 
Not incomplete, you just didn't read properly 
 
"With guitar and mic cables, or any other signal cable, all that is needed is a minimum standard, the conductors are a certain size, it's  shielded correctly, and it's manufactured correctly (ie it will handle typical use). "

The point of this thread was not that Monster cables are overpriced (they are), but rather that the company's business practices are unethical.

Cool, the old 2007 thread that refuses to die...
 
My favorite cable story was the time when I owned the little music store. 
This bass player came in and wanted to look at new basses because he said his Mexican P Bass sounded terrible. 
He asked if he could possibly trade it in.  So I took it out of the case and plugged it into a bass amp and it sounded like a P bass, just fine. He said wow!  that sounds great! What did you do? Is it the Bass amp? 
I looked down at the case and noticed a coily patch cord. I swapped it out for the cable I had used and, that's right, the bass sounded dull and muddy. He had been using that old coily cord since as long as he could remember and had been through a few new basses searching for a good tone. 
Cables most certainly can be capacitors. 

Brett
Not incomplete, you just didn't read properly 
 
"With guitar and mic cables, or any other signal cable, all that is needed is a minimum standard, the conductors are a certain size, it's  shielded correctly, and it's manufactured correctly (ie it will handle typical use). "

I stand corrected.

I LIKE LONG CURLY CORDS
 
i saw jimi play on one

And certainly don't get me wrong. My perception of Monster Products is that they are desperate for revenge and money. I'd put good money on the probability The Head Monster has contracted a law firm to patrol and act. That's a large list, I admit. Not a perception a company should ever want a customer to have. But it's there, and it's visible.  

brconflict
And certainly don't get me wrong. My perception of Monster Products is that they are desperate for revenge and money. I'd put good money on the probability The Head Monster has contracted a law firm to patrol and act. That's a large list, I admit. Not a perception a company should ever want a customer to have. But it's there, and it's visible.  

careful!  they have spies on all forums!  you will be tracked down and issued a summons now unless you pay Monster(c) a hefty fine for this libel!!!