Coat Hangers = Monster Cables
If you're in the market for a new HDTV, audio receiver system, speaker system, or anything else that requires cables, heed my advice: NEVER buy Monster Cables. In fact, never buy any of those "premium" cables retailers love to sell their customers with claims that they block xyz radiation and provide better signals and sound.
They're ripping you off.
Just log on to your favourite discount cable store (I use Meritline) and buy yourself some cables on the cheap. They'll work just as well, trust me.
But don't just take my word for it - some audiophiles at the Audioholics Home Theater forum conducted a very interesting test: they blindfolded a group of 12 audiophiles and had them listen to a CD on the same speakers but with two different types of wiring - premium Monster Cables, and coat hangers.
Yeah, coat hangers (the tester soldered on some speaker connections on the ends of wire from coat hangers.)
The results? The audiophiles couldn't tell the difference.
So next time a salesperson tries to shove some premium cables in your face, think of the coat hangers in your closet and give them a firm "no."
(I do have one side note on cable choices for speaker systems: while the "premium" moniker means nothing in terms of real audio quality, thicker wire is better. Try to get your hands on the lowest number gauge [lower = thicker] wire you can use.)
Forum Post [Audioholics Home Theater Forums]
[via Engadget HD]
Den Den Boy
Posted to on 5 March 2008
· Comments (1)
Other stuff like this: audio, cables, coat hanger, Monster Cable, speaker wires
If it ain't broke... cease production. Right?
Actually the theory that thicker wire is always better isn't completely true.
Generally speaking, thicker wire will allow more current to flow without damaging the wire, however unless you are running an exceptionally powerful system and are cranking the volume, the difference in overall sound quality is almost impossible to notice.