# How does Monster Cable manage to scam people into buying their cables? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632 "2010-01-04T16:57:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/21 "2010-01-04T19:16:18Z")
Never mind. Gag site. Dangit. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/22 "2010-01-04T19:22:10Z")
I was in a Best Buy one time. I over heard a sales guy trying to sell a couple a $75 HDMI cable. I felt so bad for them that I had to interupt the sales guy to inform the couple how a digital signal works and why you don’t have to spend that much freak’n money. The couple thanked me and left. The sales guy looked at me like I just shot the family dog. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/23 "2010-01-04T19:23:50Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Google fails me, but I remember not too long ago reading about a new sound quality enhancement gadget that was basically just a box you put near a speaker that was supposed to generate some sort of ‘field’ to ‘clear’ the audio signals/prevent interference/reverse the polarity of the neutron flow. I _think_ it was called something like simply ‘The Cube’ or ‘The Box’ or something like that, came in sleek, simple black design, and cost somewhere around a thousand bucks. > > Anybody got an idea what I’m talking about? Was it the [Tice Clock](http://www.stereophile.com/miscellaneous/784/index3.html#)? ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/24 "2010-01-04T19:30:46Z")
Since we’re on the subject, what is the word on headphones that are supposedly way more bad ass than your normal headphones for peons? Bose and other such insanely expensive brands. We’ve had a thread or two about them before, anyone got some linkage? ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/25 "2010-01-04T19:31:41Z")
I heard (but havent actually seen) of a test where they had some self proclaimed audiophiles testing headphones and cables, without being able to see what was being put on their heads. one set didnt even have cables, it was headphones connected via WIRE COAT HANGERS!!! and no nobody noticed a difference in sound. and after a single google search [Do Coat Hangers Sound As Good Monster Cables? – Consumerist](http://consumerist.com/2008/03/do-coat-hangers-sound-as-good-monster-cables.html#comments-content) ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/26 "2010-01-04T19:35:27Z")
> [@kathmandu](#): > > I’m one of the dumb people who bought an expensive cable. I wouldn’t feel too bad – the best bass player I’ve ever played with used Monster 1/4" TS cables. And he had multiple cables in his bag as well, as I had to borrow an extra once. Clearly they worked for him, and he wasn’t _that_ stupid (for a glorified [simplified?] guitar player :D). Not my thing, but there’s a _lot_ of extra stupid junk out there in audio-land even more deserving of contempt than some mid-priced cables. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/27 "2010-01-04T19:39:08Z")
The headphone thing we could really get in a fight over. There is a difference in quality and it does, somewhat, correlate with price. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/28 "2010-01-04T19:44:17Z")
The only reason we’d get into any fights over the subject would be if no one ever coughs up some cites. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/29 "2010-01-04T19:48:30Z")
Do my ears count as a cite? Cause they’re very adamant that these $100 headphones sound way better then the ones that came with my mp3 player.😃 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/30 "2010-01-04T19:49:21Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > I wouldn’t feel too bad – the best bass player I’ve ever played with used Monster 1/4" TS cables. And he had multiple cables in his bag as well, as I had to borrow an extra once. Clearly they worked for him, and he wasn’t _that_ stupid (for a glorified [simplified?] guitar player :D). That raises another question in my mind – is Monster one of those entities that made its name at a pro-grade line of product (back in the analog age when the wire’s characteristics woudl really influence the sound) and then for marketing carries over the cachet of the brand name into consumer-grade product, that may be good but not five-times-more-expensive good? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/31 "2010-01-04T19:51:54Z")
> [@El\_Nene](#): > > Do my ears count as a cite? Cause they’re very adamant that these $100 headphones sound way better then the ones that came with my mp3 player.😃 The headsets bundled with our mp3 players are mostly cheap gear barely a step above those we get for the inflight movie. OTOH are the $500 headphones better than the $100 ones? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/32 "2010-01-04T19:58:50Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > That raises another question in my mind – is Monster one of those entities that made its name at a pro-grade line of product (back in the analog age when the wire’s characteristics woudl really influence the sound) and then for marketing carries over the cachet of the brand name into consumer-grade product, that may be good but not five-times-more-expensive good? I think that’s it. I first saw Monster cables when I bought my Fender bass – more expensive but they were more ruggedly made and appeared more durable than a lot of other cables hanging on the wall. I’ve heard people say that they stand up to stress better – if you’re gigging a lot and dragging your gear all over creation you want stuff that will work when you take it out of the bag, gear you can depend on. Monster seems to hold up to that claim, at least on the instrument end of things. But instrument cables are being pulled around on the stage. and are sometimes subject to harsh conditions, etc. So this makes sense. When you go on to other kinds of cables I think spending that kind of money is pretty foolish – you don’t have the same sort of need for durability. Who would? I’m not convinced they’re worth the expense for anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/33 "2010-01-04T20:01:00Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The headsets bundled with our mp3 players are mostly cheap gear barely a step above those we get for the inflight movie. OTOH are the $500 headphones better than the $100 ones? And what about the 20 or 30 dollar headphones versus the $100+ varieties? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/34 "2010-01-04T20:09:38Z")
Seriously, between $30 and $100, yes; between $100 and $500 only for your dog. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/35 "2010-01-04T20:12:54Z")
**COUGHcite?COUGH** **SNEEZElink?SNEEZE** Excuse me, this cough and sneeze have just snuck up on me. I was healthy yesterday I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/36 "2010-01-04T20:23:15Z")
> [@El\_Nene](#): > > Do my ears count as a cite? Cause they’re very adamant that these $100 headphones sound way better then the ones that came with my mp3 player.😃 Did it occur to you that they are telling you this via a brain that is trying to justify why it approved the idea to spend $100 on headphones? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/37 "2010-01-04T20:24:31Z")
If your average Joe is at Best Buy and drops $1500 on a new giant TV, I tihnk it’s probably a pretty easy sale to get it to throw in $100 worth of cabling. Also, I remember that Circuit City literally didn’t carry any cables other than Monster, so it looked very much like you had no choice. It wasn’t like you were staring at $15 and $100. And this was before everyone had internet access on their phone, so it wasn’t a simple task to comparison shop cables. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/38 "2010-01-04T20:25:19Z")
Sorry CIB. Here you go. It says so right there in the link. > **[Giz Explains: Why You Can't Get Decent Earphones for Less Than $100](https://gizmodo.com/giz-explains-why-you-cant-get-decent-earphones-for-les-5371253)** > > Crappy earbuds are killing music. It's true. The problem is that good earbuds, like speakers, aren't cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/39 "2010-01-04T20:27:33Z")
There are definite differences in headphones, though I suppose there’s a point at which everything starts to level off and then it gets into a Monster Cable-style debate. However, there are definite innovations and improvements on higher end headphone brands. Sennheiser, Shure, Etymotic, and other high end brands do indeed make quality stuff. I know with Shure, while the difference between, say, the SE210s, 310s and 420s are primarily performance and range-related, the SE530s have two speakers per ear to separate lows and highs for clearer audio with less distortion and better dynamic range. But the quality of headpones is much easier to measure both mechanically and aurally; those with good ears can definitely tell the difference when one has tepid highs or another has muddy mids, or still another starts distorting above certain volume levels, etc. Even without expensive test equipment, these are easily discerned. Cables, not no much. Even if ridiculously expensive cables do have qualitatively better builds and contain better materials, the practical difference they make in the end product, if any, is often so small that anyone who claims they can tell is fooling themselves. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632/40 "2010-01-04T20:28:39Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > If your average Joe is at Best Buy and drops $1500 on a new giant TV, I tihnk it’s probably a pretty easy sale to get it to throw in $100 worth of cabling. Also, I remember that Circuit City literally didn’t carry any cables other than Monster, so it looked very much like you had no choice. It wasn’t like you were staring at $15 and $100. And this was before everyone had internet access on their phone, so it wasn’t a simple task to comparison shop cables. That’s not how I think. I would be more like “I’m plopping down 1500 for the TV AND I gotta skip another child support payment to make it actually look good!?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-monster-cable-manage-to-scam-people-into-buying-their-cables/523632.md?page=3)