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[wohjai]

I have a new 240hz LCD TV. I'm trying to see which hdmi cable from Monster to buy. I bought the Monster 960HDBR-2M and it's rated at ultra high speed of 13.8gpbs and 120hz.

There's also the Monster ULTV1000HD-2M and it's rated at ultimate high speed of 15.8gpbs and 120/240hz.

I'm wondering if the 960 will suffice as the 1000 cable costs over double the price (boxing day price). I spoke with one of the futureshop guys in-store and he says you might experience slight studdering. But I'm thinking, the 960 is already pretty close to the 1000 and if it doesn't make a world's difference, would it better to keep the 960 and save me some money? Is it actually worth over double the price? Right now, I'm thinking that it's not worth it, as I hear out there that 70% of Monster's pricing is marketing.

[hb · Accepted solution]

First... you need to understand what it is that you really need, which is not what Monster and Future Shop's sales people are telling you. Even though you have a "240Hz LCD TV" - at maximum resolution the cable connecting the AV source to this TV is transmitting a new frame 60 times per second (ie 60Hz). Your TV internally refreshes the picture it displays at four times that rate. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to have a cable rated at 120 or 240 Hz since currently there are no AV sources which transmit above 60Hz. That being said...

You can use any HDMI cable rated as being for "high speed" use (or alternatively, for 1080p use). You don't need an "ultra high speed" cable. If you want to buy a Monster brand cable, the Monster MC550HD (costs $86) will work perfectly fine. As for the Future Shop sales person's comment that you might see some "stuttering" with these cables - I'll be charitable by simply saying that they are not well informed.

As you already realize, Monster cables (though well constructed) cost far more than you need to spend to get a quality high speed HDMI cable. There are some well known online retailers selling high quality well constructed high speed HDMI cables that (for a 6 foot length) will cost you less $20 and function every bit as well as Monster's cables. They might not come with a "future proofing" guarantee like the one offered by Monster but at that price you can just buy a new "latest and greatest" non-Monstear cable, throw away the old one, and still realize a hugh saving.

If you want to read more about the hype surrounding HDMI cables, take a look at the frequently asked questions list for this forum found here

Message Edited by hb on 01-04-2010 11:04 AM

[wohjai]

Thanks HB!

STickin' with the 960. I actually got it for less than the 550.

[hb]

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wohjai wrote:

STickin' with the 960. I actually got it for less than the 550.

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Then it will do just fine - and it sounds like you got your Monster cable at a reasonable price as well!

Message Edited by hb on 01-04-2010 04:56 PM

[Snapshot]

I bought some pretty expensive Monster cables and yes I regret it, I have one 6ft that cost me $180...ridiculous! The other was about $85 if I remember correctly. I also have a Rocketfish which seems to have no difference in picture quality than the Monster and it costs $50. Any future cables bought will not be Monster, why pay $100 when I can half that for the same thing that gives the same results.

[Alamento]

I got a no-name 6' HDMI cable from a computer store for $29. I get the same picture as I would if I had bought a $200 Monster cable, or a $5000 cable that is made by fairies and shielded with the wings of extinct hummingbirds.

I decided that I would follow science rather than hype. Since it's a digital signal, the signal is either there, or it isn't. Monster cables are more expensive because there is a cost associated with the hype they have to build to sell them. FS carries them because they can make more on a $200 cable than a $29 cable, especially when they only carry the $200 cables.

Do you believe the herbal "male enhancement" commercials too? Same kinda people are getting suckered there too.

[death292]

Monster cable are pretty for sure, and people who by into there marketing gimmick, will get suckerd into buying there ridicuous priced cables. People should learn to do there research before buying. Digital is digital made of 1's and 0's if it fails it fails and if it works it works. The only thing sperating a Quality HDMI cable VS crap one is Shielding. Proper shielding is neccessary for travelling signals. Anyway there is alot of comparisons out there VS monster cable. Do the research.

[Snapshot]

I'm still kicking myself for that $180 cable...if I knew then what I know now...

The last cable I bought was a $50 Rocketfish and its doing fine. As for Monster, I like the surge protectors, but again they are not the end all and be all. Some of the Dynex protectors will be just as good.