| User Review | | Sound Quality | | 4 | | Ease of use | | 5 | | Features | | 4 | | Bang for buck | | 4 |
Overall:  4.25 |  Monster Standard 100 Instrument Cable 21 ft
Published by asdfdsa
22nd January 2012
| | Monster Standard 100 Instrument Cable 21 ft
Monster is a cable company mainly known for its great ''no questions asked'' lifetime warranty on their products. I thoroughly believe that is the main reason anyone buys a Monster cable, and is the only reason I buy Monster cables.
There is nothing fancy about this particular cable, and is probably as stripped-down construction wise as anyone should go. One neat little trick this cable has is an interchangeable ''o-ring'' on the outer jacket that can be used for color identification purposes, and may very well come in handy for multiple instrument situations. The jacket is alright as far as durability goes, it'd be much nicer if it were thicker, as it's a bit on the thin side but it is adequate. I'm not a fan of the all-plastic ends as I prefer the metal ends that you can unscrew and do any wire-work if necessary, but it doesn't really matter except for look or feel since you have a lifetime exchange for a new cord if anything ever goes wrong.
Monster boasts such features as IsoTec® vibration techonlogy to further redude handling noise and a carbon-infused dielectric to reduce microphonic pops and cracks for a noise-free cable design. In my experience, in which I have worn several of these cables out, and it usually only takes a year or so of use, their vibration, noise handling, and microphonic pops and cracks reduction technology is first to fail. I'm usually left with a somewhat-shorted cord after I start hearing pops and noise when I move the cable around or it hits the ground or gets stepped on or handled. For that, I'd rate it as being poorly-reliable and a not-so-durable cable, and if it weren't for the warranty, I'd be really disappointed in its quality - but I guess that's how they're able to provide a lifetime-exchange policy, so I give it a good rating for 'Bang for Buck'.
Monster also claims 90% coverage copper-braided shield rejects RFI and EMI for a lower noise floor and increased resolution, which is a decent number, but really, most nice cables have better than 95% coverage - still, pretty much everything about this cable proves it to be ample. The only thing I can practically guarantee is that you'll have to use that warranty some time down the road that you already paid for in advance, but it lasts a lifetime so you really can't complain. | | | | | | | Sound Quality | | 5 | | Ease of use | | 5 | | Features | | 5 | | Bang for buck | | 4 |
Overall:  4.75 | | Reliability
This cable is fantastic. You get a high quality signal with low noise. They are pricier than your average cable, and I was a little put of by the design around the 1/4" jacks as well. I am used to fixing my own cables when they crap out, and its pretty much impossible to do this with the all in one plastic design on the end. That being said when you take into account the fact that these cables have a lifetime warranty, it pretty much makes that point obsolete. This also addresses the price issue. While you can get lifetime warranty cables for a cheaper price, they do not carry the same standard in sound. Monster cables simply can't be beat. | | | | | | Sound Quality | | 4 | | Ease of use | | 4 | | Features | | 4 | | Bang for buck | | 2 |
Overall:  3.5 | | I don't see why so many people rave about Monster cables.
First, the warranty is sort of a joke. Sure, they'll replace your cable for life, big deal. I don't want someone to replace this cable - I want my money back.
If you did a blind test between this and a Mogami, you would feel like you've been listening with cotton in your ears. I build all my cables with Mogami wire and Amphenol ends - which, building your own cables is MUCH cheaper than buying Mogami and still cheaper than buying Monster. The sound quality in Mogami wire is FAR superior to Monster.
Another negative thing is that this cable has molded ends! You can't replace them! You can keep your warranty. Give me a cable that I can check the quality of the connection, that I can fix, that will last me forever so I don't have to replace it, and that SOUNDS GOOD. I'll pass on the Monster.
Gave it a 7 because it sure as heck sounds better than Hosa...but nowhere near Mogami. | | | | | | Sound Quality | | 1 | | Ease of use | | 1 | | Features | | 1 | | Bang for buck | | 1 |
Overall:  1 | |  Despicable
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcrowley  From the thread Monster Cable Monster Rock Instrument Cable on 1st Feb 2012
The business practices of this company are despicable at best. Add to that the inflated prices and you have a winning combination of something to be avoided at almost any cost. I would rather use rusty barbed-wire than any product from Monster.
You could buy TWO decent cables from a legitimate vendor for the price you pay for Monster and have a spare in your road case. | | | | | | | Sound Quality | | 1 | | Ease of use | | 1 | | Features | | 1 | | Bang for buck | | 1 | |
Overall: 1 | | I concur with the previous reviewer that you will get better sound quality and better build quality from soldering your own cables, and that it's significantly less expensive. Seriously, if you have access to a soldering iron, there's no reason not to build your own cables, and if you don't have access to a soldering iron, buy one. You can get a cheap one for $10 or $15, and that's less than what you'll save on two 20' cables.
That said, these cables sound thin and crappy, and they're quite unreliable. I have three 21-footers and a 12-footer, and I'd very much like my money back on all of them. I also have a 21-foot Performer 500 cable, which is miles better when it comes to sound quality, but no better when it comes to reliability. I have a fun memory of a couple years ago; I had been using the S-100 cables for my electric guitar rig, when, just for the hell of it, I stuck the P-500 cable in, turned on my amp, played two chords, and shouted, "THERE's my bass!" The S-100s had been sucking all the meat and low end out of my tone. I no longer even use the P-500, as it, along with the S-100s, likes to cut out and make nasty, crackly noises when moved. All my Monster cables sit in a box, as they've been replaced by Canare cables with Neutrik connectors that I built myself, and I couldn't be happier with them. They don't really sound any nicer than the P-500 (the P-500s sound nice enough), but they're one hell of a lot more reliable. No more tone suck, and no more crackle running through my amp. Stay away from prebuilt cables in general. Build your own. You'll be much happier and a little bit wealthier. | | | |
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