Monster Cable THX-Certified Fiber Optic Digital Interconnect Cable (4 Feet) Reviews

• Best value for Fiber Optic Audio

  
  By A3I1BJIFFM4S21 on 2004-10-17
  I've bought several of these cables and have been very happy with my purchase. I've used them for hooking up my Gaming Systems, TV, Cable Box, and Receiver/DVD Player. (Note: I had to buy a small 3 in 1 Fiber Optic Switch Box to handle all these cables -my Receiver and TV only had one digital audio connection each.)
  
  I believe that these cables are the best name brand VALUES currently around for Fiber Optic Audio.
  
  What do you REALLY get for a "high end" fiber optic cable that is triple the cost of this cable? I don't know. I purchased one (which was "top of the line") and obscenely expensive, and of course it sounds great, but these cables sound great too. Plus, these cables ARE Monster cables, AND they are THX certified!
  
  What does THX certification mean? Below is a blurb taken directly from the THX website describing it:
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  "THX is on the forefront of entertainment technology, offering products and services of unparalleled quality for post-production, distribution and playback of audio and visual content. THX Certification is considered a mark of excellence in the presentation technology industry, offering consumers a promise that the cinemas they visit and the products they purchase have been evaluated and tested to meet the highest standards for picture and sound performance."
  
  ---
  A digital signal is a digital signal. This is fiber optic cable -it uses light to transmit the digital data -it doesn't degrade like analog based on the quality of the cable. So these cables are NOT likely to give you a worse audio signal than more expensive cables, they just are going be a little less durable, and probably use slightly less high quality materials. Are they fragile? Not at all, but the top of the line cable that I purchased was so thick that I probably could have stepped on it on cement and it would have been fine. This THX cable is thinner and I could imagine it breaking more easily. If you work somewhere (like a studio) where there is a good chance of rolling things over the cables from time to time on a hard floor then you might have a good reason for a more durable cable. (Same goes for cables that are going to be manhandled regularly -i.e. a lot of plugging/unplugging and bending of the ends).
  
  Overall, I'm very happy with these cables and can I afford to buy a bunch for all the fiber optic audio connections I am now using (i.e. Receiver, TV, Cable Box, Xbox/Playstation/Gamecube)
  
  (P.S. for first time users, don't forget to pull off the tiny plastic coverings on each end of the fiber optic cables. These are there to protect the cable during transit/storage and will prevent the light from passing unless removed. Throw these tips away; you'll never need them again.)
  
  

• Monster Standard... Why them???

  
  By A3709GTC1SSZTS on 2006-01-01
  What exactly is a fiber optic cable? It transports sound using a digital signal. In fiber optics, light is used to transport this digital data. The digital signal is made up of 1 and 0. 1 being light, 0 being no light.
  
  I recommend using the Monster Standard Cables and always will. I actually did try different cables unlike most people who talk about the cables all being the same.
  
  So how should I decide between buying a "high end" fiber optic cable and an ok one. Well, the fact that it is triple the cost of this cable kind of gets me. I purchased a top of the line, Monster Cable THX Ultra 1000, that was really expensive. The Ultra 1000 is more durable, and uses higher quality materials that transport the light more efficently. Yea it did sound slightly better. But if you plan on using it for a CD player or a cheaper surround sound system, you won't need the really expensive stuff. This does perfectly well. But even for me, I ended up returing the Ultra 1000. Why you ask? The quality didn't meet the price. Its not worth it unless you plan on building a top of the line home theater that you plan to use every day. For most people, this cable will be more than enough of an improvement that they'll notice the difference and be happy enough.
  
  You should keep in mind that when you use surround sound, that in order to actually achieve the full 5.1 surround sound that you should use digital fiber optic cables for all the sound inputs that you can use it for. (CD players and video cassettes don't have 5.1, most only have 2.0/1.0 respectively)
  
  Overall, I gave this Monster Standard cable a 5 because there is no 4.90.
  
  Notes for new users of these cables:
  
  - Make sure your DVD player or Cable/Satallite reciever has the fiber optic output, as a lot of the cheaper ones don't.
  
  - Pull off the plastic protective coverings on each end of the fiber optic cables. These are there to protect the cable during transit/storage.
  
  - Be careful not to bend the cables around too much or strtch them to meet the distance you want them to reach. Buy a longer one if you need to.
  
  - If the black coating on the cable gets striped a bit, consider buying a new cable, as the damage allows light to seep out, thus, distoring the quiality.
  
  © 2005 - David Chen - All Right's Reserved
  
  

• DON'T BE FOOLED!!

  
  By A8D2ZWNT1PD99 on 2007-01-10
  Monster may make a quality cable, but don't waste your hard earned money on a name brand!
  
  There aren't different levels of quality when it comes to a digital signal (audio or video). It's either there, or it's not. There's no in between. Assuming both are in working order, a $5.00 cable will sound / look the same as a $100 cable. This is true for all digital cables, HDMI, included.
  
  Since it doesn't make a bit of difference, personally I would rather use a cheaper cable and spend the rest of the cash on something more worth wild.
  
  Just my $0.02
  
  
  

• I'm sure its fine...but...

  
  By A2T0JI9QPGXWJF on 2005-06-29
  This is a digital signal. The quality WILL NOT CHANGE based on the cable. Coax, optical, coat hangers, doesn't matter. If it gets a signal it will work. Optical is nice for a lot of reasons, but it will not vary the quality of the sound.
  
  

• defective product

  
  By A2GJ1J1OG3RT9B on 2007-06-26
  This THX cable was sold as a brand new item...it came in a zip lock plastic bag and it did not work. I asked the merchant to send me a new one right away and pay for the shipping this one back and they refused...
  This is not a reliable merchant and they sell stock "B" products or most likely cheap imitations made in third world countries...I will not buy from them again...
  
  
• Great Cable
  By ARNC8S59XW6OV on 2005-07-04
  It may be true that optical cables all provide the same quality but not everyone that buys Monster optical cables will try refuting this. I buy Monster in general because of the durability as well as the quality, but in optical's case I bought this cable knowing that it should last as long as my equipment will. And for $20, that's not a bad investment. I have to admit though that I bought an Arista Fiber Optic cable which is just as good, four times the length and cheaper, but how long it will hold up against all the foot-traffic, I don't know. For the price I think either are fair.
  
  
• Piece of junk!
  By A1R5PSCXQNX11J on 2006-12-12
  Bought one of these cables on Amazon. After 1 week of use, it stopped working. Actually called a tv repair service and they diagnosed the monster cable as being bad. Unable to get refund! Junk I say!
  
  
• Monster makes good stuff
  By A1901GJ41CTXBU on 2005-03-17
  Optic cable will often give good results in a good quality system. Most often, a dedicated digital coax cable will yield better results in terms of sound. However, everyone hears a little differently, and sound equipment can sound very different between models, brands, and types.
  It's worth it to pick up both a coax cable, and a Optic cable and listen between the two. To me, optic cable sounds better on older source material (CD's), and the coax sounds better on newer more advanced recordings.
  I'd pick up both and kick back, do some listening.
  
  
• Exactly as advertised
  By A2OPXI5AK3M8U6 on 2004-04-14
  Going fiber-optic is really easy!

  Benefits: 1) cleaner install -- fewer cables dangling behind the components, 2) improved sound quality, though it's tough to quantify the difference

  Cons: 1) Cost vs. the free analog cables that typically come with a CD player.
  
  

• Excellent quality cable!
  By A16GK1OJX135MR on 2006-02-03
  I looked at several brands and finally ended up buying these since the quality is guaranteed. A bit more expensive than others but you are assured your money won't be wasted. Amazon's price was very competitive and much lower than Best Buy or Circuit City stores.
  
  Note that Fiber Optic Digital Interconnect and Coaxial Digital Interconnect are two separate types. Many of the new cables have started to come out in "digital" and "fiber optic" versions so make sure you read your DVD Player/Receiver's manual carefully for the type of inputs/outputs before you buy the cables.
  
  
• Monster Cable THX-Cetified Fiber Optic Digital Interconnect Cable (4 Feet)
  By A3KV2XBKQLTUM5 on 2006-02-27
  Monster Cables are the top of the line. We had our new home entertainment center installed by a certified sound technician. He was thrilled to find that we had purchased all Monster Cables for our system. You just do not get them any better than this. They deliver all the features they promise. Well worth their price!
  
  
• Works exactly as expected, with that satisfying click when inserted
  By AVBLGXSWRN666 on 2008-03-07
  While I don't buy into the marketing hype that is associated with high-end cables, I do believe in buying decent cables that have decent connectors. On the flip-side, I also don't believe in buying the lowest-priced stuff, thinking that "digital is digital" and nothing can impact the quality of a digital signal.
  
  There are differences in cables in their construction and in the connectors used. I've pulled RCA audio cables right out of their cheap connectors simply because the gauge of wire and the strain relief on the connector used wasn't strong enough to handle the strain of inserting and removing the cable more than a few times.
  
  Monster has become the whipping-boy of those who would rail against over-priced cables, so some would dismiss this cable just because of that. Admittedly, I find no reason to pay $100 for a 2M cable of any variety, so Monster must assume some responsibility for how it markets such high priced products.
  
  However, Monster also makes decently-constructed and decently-priced products that don't cost a lot of money, but perform the way you expect a decent cable to perform. The key is to find these products and stay away from the hypo-allergenic, oxygen-free, temperature-compensated high end stuff that does more to separate you from your money than to deliver real-world performance.
  
  That's where cables like these fall. It's a basic, short optical cable that just needs to stay in the connector on each end and deliver the digital signal from one end to the other reliably.
  
  When you insert the connector, it provides that satisfying click that tells you it's inserted, and it won't fall out on its own. While I don't have the equipment to judge the quality of the digital audio signal going in vs. coming out, I have confidence in Monster not to use materials that would cause such problems (yes, optical fiber can and does leak light into its surrounding material, which can diminish the amount of signal that makes it to the other end, and can diffuse the light, which can cause errors in the data), and I've never experienced any problems with the lower-end Monster cables I've purchased over the years.
  
  While it may be tempting to go for the $1.49 optical cable instead of something like this, I don't think that $20 is too much to pay for something that is going to work, and something that will last without trouble down the line. Don't overpay, but don't be cheap, either.
  
  
• What you expect from Monster Cable
  By AW4CNUXRXRM1G on 2006-08-22
  Delivers crisp and clear audio without distortion. Optical is significantly better than the standard RCA connection. Great quality for a cheap price. A must have if you're into quality audio listening.
  
  
• Good Stuff
  By A3010ZQRDVWIJ2 on 2007-01-03
  Everything you could/would expect from a TOS-Link. FYI: make sure you have everything well measured, as four feet can be a lot shorter than you think.
  
  
• Overpriced
  By A2FOHYGGY02198 on 2007-02-20
  This product performs like it advertises but there are dozens of other optical cable brands out there that perform just as well at a fraction of the price.
  
  
• Price was right for me and now I can't believe the sound
  By A1L9EVLKRETFPQ on 2008-01-08
  First i am not an audiophile, but i can tell the difference. the cable works great, my only mistake was that i did not but the 6ft. The extra length would help when i pull the component out.
  
  
  
  
• makes a great difference
  By A26JHKBGZGXDV2 on 2005-08-21
  bass is much deeper compared to coaxial cable.overall sound quality improved in the HK/Bose hometheater system.
  
  
• Quick Delivery
  By A3C8SYZEN8KGB7 on 2007-01-16
  Very quick delivery even with me being in a foreign country. Thank you.
  
  Sincerely, Rodney
  
  
• Good audio quality
  By A2OKRUPHNJSDTZ on 2007-01-26
  Transmits audio signals from Sony upconverting DVD Player to my Onkyo reciever quite well. But, I don't detect any quality improvement over the digital co-axial cable that I was using before.
  
  
• optic cable review
  By A2R6DKKSJSJ2E2 on 2007-03-24
  This is a good product with a price much less than in an electronics store. I would recommend a 6 ft length for most set ups. I found the connections would loose contact if any strain was put on the cable. Otherwise the quality of the sound is great,
  
  
• Monster Optic cable
  By A1KZJ2CPJEM10Y on 2007-06-18
  I bought a surround system that actually came with an OPTIC CABLE which is almost unheard of today. I never really believed in better cable = better sound, i always thought they were all the same but believe me... THE MONSTER ones had a noticeable difference, its much clearer, crisper than the ones that came with my system. For this price this cable can't be beat. I rather use another couple bucks to get a quality cable over radioshacks or any other generic cable
  
  This monster certified thx cable is worth the money...
  
  Buyers beware of your setup though as 4 feet can be pretty short, i had to rearrange my setup due to this
  
  
• Poor build quality
  By A3733N3H8IA3B2 on 2007-08-04
  I ordered two of these recently and would dearly love to return them. One of them does not function properly and cuts out every 20 - 30 seconds, and the build quality is very poor. They don't snap into place like the toslink QED cables I have.
  
  
• Works great
  By ABZS6LTJXX5Z6 on 2007-10-04
  As usual, you can always rely on Monster Cable to provide top-notch quality. This cable has worked perfectly from day one.
  
  
• yeah for THX
  By AZAT1Z160HF0I on 2008-02-02
  i'm a big "techno-goober" as one of my friends says. i love Fiber Optic Digital cables. to me it has the cleanest audio there is.
  i have this cable going from my Digital Cable Box to my Surround Sound system.
  in the past i had cables go out after a few weeks. so far so good. this one is tough. well built.
  and with Monster Cable, you always get what you pay for. so it might be a little expensive, but in the long run, you won't have to replace this ever week.
  
  
• Awesome optical cable
  By A1GTXAR6HE4L0D on 2008-02-22
  This deliver clear sound, especially if you have the logitech z5500 5.1 surround sound :D. They should go hand in hand!
  
  
• Had no problems with this order
  By A2DRVZ7O04PHBC on 2008-03-10
  The product arrived quickly and I have had no problems. Price was good too.
  
  
• Great cables
  By A1ZTMGOHHCC39B on 2008-03-26
  Great quality and does a great job. Some people may say a cable is a cable, but for at price it's very competitive as compared to other generic brands. Would I recomend this cable? Absolutely!!!
  
  
• great price for great sound
  By A92YQW9D0I5GH on 2008-07-13
  I purchased three of these cables to replace the digital optical cheap cables I bought at Walmart years ago. I noticed a very big improvement in the sound quality compared to what I had been using. I'm very satisfied.
  
  
• Good, but oerpriced
  By A2XDCYA8763WSY on 2008-08-21
  I own about 5 sets of these and these are no better then any of the others. In fact Monster are superior.
  
  
• excellent
  By A2689JJ13I0JJF on 2008-10-03
  this product is excellent, the sound is the best. even thought I have only had in for about a month, so far I have had no problems with it.
  
  

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