Monster Cable 126130 iCable for iPod Reviews

• Common sense

  
  By A9X16DP3VUD6S on 2004-06-02
  Ok guys, personal disclosure: I'm an audio engineer and a classical musician. My life revolves around fussing over the most minute details of music, whether listening to it or making it.
  
  Now, these cables are STUPID. When I was a kid, I remember buying these from the sales-people at Hi-Fi Buys. They probably are giving you the same line, "You spend how much money on your system, and then you're going to have a weak link with $5 Radio Shack cables?" It's BS! Here's the line profesional musicians and engineers fall back on, "If it sounds good, it is good."
  
  Technical note: if you really wanted high quality cables, you'd have to use 3-pin balanced cables operating at +4dbu. And buy some Tannoy near-field, reference monitors. All consumer audio equipment is 2-pin (red wire, black wire), unbalanced and operates at -10. You can look this information up anywhere.
  
  So you can buy gold cables (hell, why not platinum, or - cables made of out DIAMOND!), dip them in expensive chocolate, and do a rain dance and it's going to sound just the same as the $5 radio shack ones.
  
  If you claim to be a music lover, then indulge your money in good music!
  
  --------
  Update: in fairness, I should say that monster makes decent quality cables. Good materials, sturdy construction. What really irks me is seeing them ridiculously overpriced, and seeing people buy them unwittingly. Radio Shack makes generally cheap crap, everybody knows, but for simple items like RCA cables, they *usually* get the job done.
  
  That being said, for the best quality (2-pin, remember) cables, I usually buy HOSA or a similar brand from music instrument stores. Search this in Amazon:
  HOSA STEREO 3.5mm (M) - TWO RCA, 10 ft.
  
  This company makes very high quality cables at a reasonable price. If you don't want to wait for the mail, you can get them at Guitar center, sam ash, etc etc. Hosa is a pro company that makes consumer equipment. I used them when I was throwing raves in my warehouse with linked stereo systems. Monster is a company built around the consumer market. Go look at their websites.
  
  Hosa = Toyota corolla
  Monster = Toyota corolla, w/ a bad tint job and loud muffler, (stock engine) and 5X the cost.
  
  So get out there, buy your hosa's and paint them white..
  
  

• ATTENTION: YOU CAN GET THE SAME CABLE FOR HALF THE PRICE

  
  By A4VJ32UBNFO3E on 2004-11-14
  Amazon.com also sells this exact same cable for less than half the price of the iCable. Some marketing genius at Monster Cables took their THX-certified RCA-to-mini 8 foot cable, gave it white connectors, called it an iCable to appeal to iPod users, and then doubled the cable's price.
  
  Do an Amazon search for THXIMINI8 and get that cable instead. It's the same high quality as this one, but doesn't have the stylish iPod white connectors though.
  
  I have two, one connected to my home stereo receiver, and one wired into my car's audio system. I am absolutely thrilled with the high quality audio the cable provides, especially for such a low price. I tried the El Cheapo cable from Radio Shack, and there is a noticeable difference on my (admittedly high end) home and car audio systems.
  
  

• Don't pay for style over substance!

  
  By ACQV949CEYVDS on 2004-07-11
  Monster makes good cables and often has products other people don't have, but this isn't the case here. This is a very common cable available in your choice of lengths from stereo and electronic stores. I have an iPod and a Bose home theater system and get perfect sound from the 6-foot, $6 version from Radio Shack. All you need is a stereo mini-plug on one end (plugs into the top of the iPod) and RCA red and white stereo jacks on the other (plug into the "input" jacks on your stereo).
  
  

• Same Cable by Same Company for Half Price

  
  By A1J3F72HEWJWHH on 2004-04-14
  This cable is a complete ripoff thats just trying to take advantage of ipod buyers. Monster offers a top of the line cable in conjunction with THX that has all of the features of this model (shielding, balancing, gold connectors, etc.) for a RETAIL price of 14.99. Amazon offers it for 12.99. The model number is THXIMINI8. Don't waste your money.
  
  

• You Probably Already Have the Cable You Need

  
  By A1HQAUC2SGV3QV on 2005-02-09
  If you have a digital camera, it probably came with a cable for connecting the camera to your television. This "Y" cable can also be use to connect your iPod to your computer. The three-connector cable that came with your digital video camera will not work...
  
  
• Ever heard the story of the Emperor's new clothes?
  By on 2003-11-21
  It's an f-ing stereo-1/8"-to-2-RCA-jacks cable, for gosh sakes! Just like the ones you get for free along with the purchase of any portable CD or minidisc player, except this one costs $30! Wow, what a great deal! Now everyone will know that I'm a serious audiophile because I can justify spending $30 on a $5 cable!

  Monster Cables are good, but not *that* good. They've proved the theory that if you charge an outrageous price for a product, people will automatically assume that it's worth it. Don't believe the hype. Save your money. If you've got a need to spend, do something worthwile like sponsoring a starving African child.
  
  

• It DOES make a difference
  By on 2004-04-04
  Regarding all the reviews that state you can buy the same thing for $5.99, yes.. you can buy an RCA to mini adaptor for that price, but you WILL NOT get the same sound. If you need this sort of adaptor purely to make your portable device play throught your stereo, and don't care about a bit of degraded sound quality, then do look around for the cheaper cables. You can get them just about anywhere. But...

  I was skeptical about whether the Monster cables really made a difference, so I made sure to buy this somewhere where I could return it once the package was already open. I already had a cheap cable, so I tested the two with the same song on my iPod. It made a very distinct difference: less hiss and buzz, bigger bass, cripser, clearer high notes. I kept the cable. There was no question about it.

  It all depends on if better sound is worth the money to you. I wouldn't bother if you haven't invested in higher quality speakers and stereos, but if this is for your mid to high end stereo, you should have these cables.

  Monster also offers other cables in their "Interlink" line that serve the same purpose-- two grades. I haven't heard them, so I really can't say, but I imagine the sound quality is just as good if not better. You can get a 10' for about five bucks less than this cable, and a 20' for about 10 bucks more. I believe this is for the lower grade cable of the two. But the iCable is more attractive, and is only 7' -- these others were too long for me.
  
  

• If you can find a better cable, let me know. This is tops.
  By A1C650OI05M6HR on 2004-01-29
  OK, so some people are OK with a 3.99 cable from RadioShack. But I had one of those and the signal it sent to my stereo was awful: it was noisy and weak. I looked all over the web for high-quality cables and this Monster iCable was the best I could find. It's 7 feet long, which is nice -- one more feet than most of the competitors' 6 foot cables. It's got 24k gold ends, always a plus. The 1/8" minijack end is nice and small (it's a straight plug, not a 90 degree angle), fitting well into the tight space of my Macintosh Powerbook. A RadioShack cable I had was so fat and chunky I could barely fit in my headphone next to it. Finally, the cable itself on this thing is perfectly round, like a guitar cord, which is a nicer form than the usual flattish RCA cables. It's also covered in a really cool black mesh material, and when you take it out of the package, it unrolls nice and straight -- no weird kinks like most packaged cables. All in all, this is a great product for those of us picky about our audio quality and our aesthetics.
  
  
• ripoff
  By A2VB5FTJ8X50DV on 2004-02-02
  The signal quality delivered by the iPod is not audibly diminished by a six dollar Radio Shack cable; this "monster cable" is availble merely to fleece consumers who have purchased genuinely high quality products like the iPod and the Powerbook, and can be tricked into thinking they also need a fancy cable which is basically no different from the generic product.
  
  
• icable Vs THX cable
  By A3IFKHK07WG7PZ on 2004-05-10
  I highly recommend the THX cable that is 14.99+ tax. I own a AVR520(harman cardon receiver) I played ipod at about -35 decibels my entire house shook but not a hiss or distortion in the output, I am very particular about the quality of music output and THX won it hands down.
  
  
• Helped me save a dying shelf system
  By A303OEVBACA9ZV on 2002-11-26
  I have an old shelf system that would have already been in the trash heap if not for this little accessory. The CD player and tape deck went, but the stereo inputs still work and I have Dolby surround sound with a subwoofer hooked up to it...a must with my DVD player. So, for a while I had only been using the stereo for the TV/DVD, but now using my iPod I can have music again as well. In fact, it's preferable -- I've gone from having only a three-disc changer to having over 1,000 songs at my disposal -- all with CD quality sound and customized playlists.
  
  
• Perfect for iPod or any portable
  By A2PK5OYQ3F5J8U on 2003-01-04
  The other cables of this type from Monster have a huge connector which is square and bulky on the minijack end. They put alot of strain on the headphone port of the iPod. So I've always went with a lighter, cheaper cable. Until I found this 'iCable' as Monster calls it. This cable is a much better design and all the connections fit very snug. The black nylon "snakeskin" covering is very resistant to wear and tear, and very flexible and relaxed. I prefer it over the traditional poly/rubber coverings of the other models. A black nylon pouch with a velcro enclosure is also included. I can even fit my iPod (with case) in that pouch along with the cable, which comes in handy for bringing all your music over to a friends place. And the 7 foot length is more than enough, and quite a value for a cable of this quality and design, considering the relatively low price. Monster also makes a car charger (iCharger) for the iPod now, which is very well-designed and also highly recommended.

  EDIT: After a few weeks, I'll add some comments. Mainly, these connectors are TIGHT. And the small size makes them sometimes difficult to remove. In several cases I've had to pull on the cable itself. Monster Cable does have a lifetime warranty, so you can go into any store that carries it and swap it out. Something to keep in mind, nevertheless.
  
  

• Best Cable Available
  By on 2003-05-02
  Normally, I find Monster Cables to be extremely overpriced and believe they're products that sell because of hype more than performance. In fact, I actually didn't purchase these cables but received them as a gift. After using them for about a year, I can happily say that these cables proved me wrong. I use these cable to connect my iPod to a stereo in my fitness room and they do their job admirably. Then again, it doesn't take much to make a decent audio cable. The connections are a little too tight initially, but after extended use, they manage to loosen up while still maintaining a good fit.

  There is, however, one feature that many may overlook and that's the one aspect of this cable that makes it so great. The cable is sheathed in a plastic mesh that helps prevent knots and tangles. Since I often travel, I have a bag where I place all the cables I use for my laptop and other electronics that I use on trips. The sheath allows me to simply throw it in my bag and not worry about finding a tangled mess of cables when I later want to use them.

  So to sum it all up, if you need cables and hate how easily they tangle, this is what you've been waiting for. A little pricey, but worth it in the long run. Also, check out the Monster iTV Link cables. Same design, but it includes an s-video connection along with the audio. Perfect for connecting a laptop to a TV or projector.
  
  

• Worth it if you do the comparison.
  By A2J05IORPZ88FC on 2006-03-31
  I've read a number of "reviews" by outraged people who claim this cable is overpriced. They argue that "theoretically" a cable is just a cable, and that anyone who pays more than $6 to get the job done is naive or ignorant. However, this is not logical, and it also contradicts experience. Like a few other reviewers, I did a side by side comparison of the Monster cable to a $6 cable, to see if I could hear a difference. And there was no question that the Monster cable sounded substantially better. Not slightly better, but substantially better. So that settled it for me. If you are thinking of buying this, beware of those who have not done a comparison, but are sure that there is no difference. They are not the first people to have their theories contradicted by reality.
  
  
• Uncoils easily .... get THXIMINI8 instead
  By A376WI1718TL3A on 2005-03-21
  I bought this last year at the apple store in soho nyc for about $33 w/NY tax. I don't know what I was thinking but I had money to splurge then.
  
  I WAS THRILLED though when I heard the sound it produced through my subwoofer/stereo system. It sounds better than the other non monster cables connected to my subwoofer from my dvd system.
  
  BUT
  
  the coiling around the wire and underneath the contact is hanging loose on one. I should be angry! In less than 3 months this happened, and I DID NOT yank the cord out ever.
  
  Do as previous reviewer said, get the original Monster THX Mini to RCA Interconnect Cable. Search under THXIMINI8. It's about $12 right now on amazon, doesn't come with a free pouch but is way cheaper. It's also smaller and less clunky than this one. I hate the way the contacts are so chunky It's not appealing to the eye. Trust me, they didn't figure the ergonomics on this one either because it's not flattened for your fingers like the THXIMINI8.
  
  The only thing I liked really with this was the sound and the "free" little pouch. It's really like I paid $15 extra bucks for the "free" pouch anyway since it's all a marketing ploy. NICE JOB Apple & Monster!
  
  
• Use a digital video camera cable!
  By A2HIO7E4Z7L5TZ on 2005-07-31
  Use the cable that comes with your digital video camera. One reviewer says this doesn't work but it DOES! On the 3 prong cable all you have to do is plug the white and yellow connecters into the left and right analog plugs in your receiver and it gives great sound. I am listening to it right now. Save your money, don't by this product!
  
  
• If you have IPOD speaker/docking station, it's easy to connect to your stereo
  By A13HTUNDQLTTZ3 on 2005-08-31
  I am an electrical engineer and a huge music fan. Yeah, maybe these are high priced, but I was having a horrible problem with static/crackle with my old setup and these cables fixed it.
  
  I have one of those Altec/Lansing iPod docks (which sounds pretty good, but can't get the volume/coverage of my stereo). I connected one end of the cable to the headphone jack on this box and the other end to inputs on my receiver. I'm totally happening now. As I mentioned earlier, I was having a lot of problem with static/crackle. Replacing the cables fixed this.
  
  Sure there are many other ways of getting your iTunes/iPod to play through your stereo, but this worked well for me.
  
  One final note. If you are one of those people that just enjoy a quality-made product and don't mind paying a few extra dollars for it, go for it. Ignore anyone who wants to talk to you about function/dollar. That's a perfectly acceptable way to make an evaluation, but that's not my scene. I think this is a great product.
  
  
• 30 dollars for a cable are you taking crazy pills?
  By on 2003-12-30
  I just bought the same thing at radio shack for 5.99. Waste your money if you want...but it's just a frickin' cable.
  
  
• The shielding makes a difference
  By A1PW2WAWX3EMXD on 2004-02-04
  I am using this cable between my Delphi XM Radio home adapter and a high end stereo system. The out-of-the box cable that came with the adapter was the usual cheap, unshielded thin cable that comes with most electronics today. This cable caused a loud hum in my system. The shielded Monster cable removed the hum completely and worked very well with my high end system. Having a high end system, I know that cables can also make an audible difference in sound quality; however they only make a difference if the system is revealing enough to let these nuances flow all the way to the speakers. Typically such systems cost several thousand dollars. Let your ears be the judge.
  
  
• Monster Cable: it's Sexy! It's the Same Color as your IPOD! it's OVERPRICED!
  By A9SZARXOAPOZR on 2006-08-12
  Apple isn't the one profiting from their iPod. It's companies like Monster Cable and other 3rd party manufacturers and peddlers--unfortunately, all they do is repackage things we could already pick up for tens of dollars less at Radio Shack. Sony has an RCA-to-1/8" converter for less than four bucks right here on Amazon. Buy that instead.
  
  
• this a ripoff for two reasons
  By A1XGFRWQDK91PA on 2007-07-27
  the first is that analog audio quality is not going to diminish over 7 feet of cable so there's no reason to buy premium quality cable. the second and more frustrating reason is that using the headphone line out to connect to a home stereo will result in terrible sound no matter what freakin cable you use. that is high level audio (amplified to drive headphone speakers) that then gets amplified again by your stereo. the result is clipped high-end and muddy bass. the reviewers that clain "pristine sound" and the like are either half deaf or monster employees. get an ipod dock connector to rca. it will send low level audio to your receiver and give much better sound.Cables To Go 35507 - iPod Dock Connector To 2 RCA Cable
  
  
• Perfection.
  By A231WM2Z2JL0U3 on 2003-07-13
  Monster Cables have always been a bit more costly, and while I'm not sure I'm enough of an audiophile to recognize subtle differences in audio, I am certain the quality of these cables and plugs is so high that they will never need replacing. Then again, if they do, they carry a lifetime warranty!
  
  
• Not too good a value but a quality product
  By A1F9Z42CFF9IAY on 2003-12-02
  Monster Cable does make generally high quality cables although this one is over-priced. You could do better with some other high quality cable with the same connectors for probably half the price of this cable.
  
  I have a cable with the same connectors made by another manufacture that cost less than half as much as this Monster Cable one cost and there is zero difference in sound quality.
  
  The Monster Cable iCable does not really represent a good value for the money sorry to say.
  
  
• you probably already have one and dont realize it
  By on 2004-03-07
  if you've bought a portable cd player recently (like last couple of years), it probably came with one of these. if you lost it/dont have one, get one somewhere else because they're not worth 30 bucks. its crazy that apple tries to sell this to you on their site bundled w/ a dock, ac adapter, another firewire cable for 80 BUCKS.
  
  
• distorted sound
  By A59WZ7Q9L9E4C on 2005-04-03
  I just purchased these cables but the sound is so distorted I'm unable to use them?? Any other options to hook up my Ipod to my stereo??
  
  
• Works great!!!
  By A5OM60PXX8HVU on 2005-10-10
  connected the ipod to my Bose home theater system and can enjoy the thousands of songs stored from my CDs at any time.
  
  
• better then the $10 cable
  By A3SBNLN9W2P2W4 on 2006-02-08
  Last week I purchase an average $10 cable to hook up my ipod to my stereo. It work and sound fine. But I wasnt satified. So I purchase the Monster Cable and I notice two things right away. First the sound of the music that came out of my speakers was very crisp. Second the bass was much more powerful then my $10 cable. Now I'm happy. I gave it a rating of 3 b/c of the price for it. Could have cost less.
  
  
• Might not be your best option, but works very well
  By A3GYC9IKABYEVQ on 2006-02-19
  I tested this thing against 4 other different mini to RCA cables, and despite what some reviewers say, the difference is phenomenal. I can turn my stereo as loud as it goes with no "hiss" sound at all, getting rid of all the frequencies that my wireless internet, microwave, chordless phones and other electronics make. Then when I play my music the sound is outstanding. I've always liked using CDs so I dont deal with the hissing sound and bad audio quality of connecting my ipod, but this cable completely changed my opinion. Now I find every excuse i can make to hook up my ipod to my stereo. If it's easy to get the THX cable that everybody is talking about, then go for it. But I personally like the straight mini plug of this one compared to the bent one on the THX cable, and I think it produces better sound. Also the weaved casing to the wires and the white tips make it look really nice. I highly recommend this cable to anyone, or the THX cable for that matter, but at only 5 bucks difference right now, I personally would pick this one every time.
  
  
• Satisfied Customer...
  By A1YPVSP71F69L5 on 2006-03-25
  I hooked this up to my entertainment system downstairs so I can access my ipod through it. the length was more than adequate. the plugs have a super tight fit onto your reciever, not sure how this would work if you plan on disconnecting it and taking it elsewhere. i litterally had to hold the reciever for leverage while i tugged on the cords. the plug out of the headphones into the icable was normal. i am not planning on moving the cord around though.
  
  i used a radio shack version upstairs in my room to hook up my computer to my entertainment system and compared it with the icable and i didn't notice a difference. although the cable was short from my computer to the reciever (i had to buy an extension). i didn't mind my icable purchase even if it was a couple bucks more because i got a good price and i didn't want to take a chance w/the sound quality downstairs.
  
  
• fell in love after aprox. 3 minutes
  By AWCSI5BCNZ8IS on 2003-11-08
  30 seconds after I opened the box, my brother made himself busy with the task of destroying all the packaging material, and I had just read on one of the fragments of the box, that I must keep all of the packaging material to return the cable. I began get worried. If this little cable didnt work the way I wanted it to, i just got screwed for 30 bucks.
  However, when I plugged my 20Gb iPod into the iCable, then into my stereo, I was suprised. I must admit, I did not have much faith in a little black cable that looked like a piece of rope with three plugs on the ends. However, what I got was possibly the greatest sound that has ever come out of that little ipod. I was very suprised; I had expected the same quality as the CDs I previously had to burn to get my music to the stereo. What I got was the most wonderful sound I imagined that could possibly come out of those big, blue speakers of my stereo.
  The iCable is also very convienient. I can hook up my iPod, make an 'On the Go' playlist, and listen to whatever mucic I want without having to wear those little painful Apple Earbuds.
  The one thing that anyone could possibly object about the iCable is the price. $30 plus about $5 for shipping is a bit heafty for a little black cable however nice it may be.
  However, the conveniece and the sound more than make up for the price. In my humble opinion, it a great thing to have, and is and probably will continue to be usefull, as I use it more and more.
  
  

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