Video-Cable Reviews

I had recently purchased a Samsung LTN 325W flat panel television. As you may/may not know, LCD televisions tend to receive analog signals poorly. That was no exception when I used the standard composite cable provided with the Gamecube and hooked it up directly to the Samsung. I decided to give Monster's S-Video cable a try, and I was fortunately not disappointed. Using an S-Video cable separates the color and brightness of the video signal, allowing it to be processed cleanly and more accurately. In addition, it allows you to utilize the Gamecube's progressive scan output. The result, a sharper, more vibrant picture. Give it a shot with Mario Golf and Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. There were definitely improvements.

Why suffer with RCA video cables anymore? There is a better way to hook your game system up and it's with S-Video. I don't know all the techno babble and why S-Video is better. All I can tell you though is it is. The picture looks a lot better throught S-video than it does through a coax link or RCA cables. There are a couple of different brands of the cables you can get out there, but I'm impressed with these. The long 10 feet cables are great and sturdy. It has gold connectors which are suppose to help give a better picture.

This is the best way to view your video game system. It's clear and crisper and provides a slightly better gaming experience. This brand of cables is kind of pricey, but is suppose to be one of the best. Just hook up on S-Video and enjoy.

I am mostly writing this to correct a comment made in the previous review. S-Video does not enable progressive scan output, only component video allows that. The Gamecube component video cable is only available through nintendo's website. Aside from that, this is the best way to hook up your gamecube!

I am very happy with these cables and the sound and video they deliver. I only have one complaint which is the cables are very tight when pushed onto the rca jacks for the audio. When you try to pull them off they are difficult to pull off because they grip the rca posts so tightly. This condition may get better as they are used more.

If you need to edit video tape or just copy it to a medium such as VHS tape, get this. It is not only easy to use, the quality of your finished product is fabulous. I love it.

the picture is crystal clear on a 36" screen. clarity and definition can't be beat.

if you have a
PS2 and you like to feel like yourr in the game this is something you have to have. It truely is the best thing you could ever have for the PS2!!!!

I got this thing about a year ago. At first, it ruled. After a few months, one of the speakers started to make a popping noise every once in a while. I emailed monstercable, and they sent me a new one, just like that. A few weeks ago, one of the ports on the subwoofer went. I emailed them back and they sent me a brand new one. Now my system rules again

words cannot dscrbe how goodthis is, its the bomb, dont wait to get it and get it!

Richard J Greene's comments (below) are a little misleading. Let's be clear, Monster's passive composite to S-Video converter does not improve the quality of one's VHS source material. Richard's DVD analogy is erroneous since DVD video is stored with separate chroma and luminance signals to begin with and benefits greatly from an S-Video link so that the two remain independent. Conversely, the composite output of a DVD player is a compromised combination of the two.

But what the CSVA-1 does do is allow receiver based systems (where sources are switched by the receiver) to use just one S-Video link from receiver to TV. As receivers don't usually have the ability to convert composite signals to S-Video, if a system includes composite components such as a VHS VCR, when they're selected video is not routed to the TV unless a second, composite, receiver to TV connection is in place.

For this reason alone the Monster converter is indispensable, it allows S-Video to be used throughout a system and greatly simplifies A/V switching and wiring schemes.

With the use of the S-Video Adapter I am now able to enjoy other video sources, like TV and VHS in great picture quality. I couldn't imagine watching VHS without it. Especially since I own a DVD player and saw the difference with it's S-Video connection. This is worth the buy.

Monster cable does provide superior sound quality, My stereo system would be a heap of junk without the cables, You can Trust Monster Cable.

I highly recommend getting this Optical Digital Cable if you own both a surround sound theater system and a dvd player that have slots for this type of fiber optic connection. But make sure they both do or else you will waste time and money.

I am admittedly a novice when it comes to audio equipment...but I know what my ears tell me. Before I bought this cable, I had the basic RCA cables that come in the DVD player box. I thought my surround sound system sounded good...after plugging this cable in, the good sound quality has improved leaps and bounds (and I am not kidding here).

Sounds now go precisely into the surround speaker it was meant to go to...the sound is much cleaner and definitely in the proper location. When I had the RCA cables, the "surround" effect also wasn't as good...now, it is no doubt perfect.

Buy this cable...it improves sound quality 10 fold...plus it is much cheaper than the bigger name.

The Acoustic Research HT181 Optical Digital Cable is a wonderful choice if you are looking to take your stereo system to the next level.

As I've come to notice, it seem that the only cables out there where the Monster cables. Not true. The great news is, for a cheaper price and without sacrificing quality, the Acoustic Research cable is the perfect match for those of us who are watching our money and want a good quality product.

If you have a DVD player (mines an RCA...) that has an optical audio plug and a stereo receiver that receives optical audio, don't wait any longer!! Stop using those RCA left and right plugs and buy an optical cable.

The AR HT181 cables will expand you're listening please due to the fact that every speaker in your system (front: left/right, back: left/right, Center & subwofer) will receive it's own independent audio signal creating incredible audio effect and enhance your listening pleasure to any DVD movie.

To try and be super technical about these cables and compare them to Monsters is overkill and every room has it's own unique acoustics. The point being . . . if you're looking for a digital optical cable and are looking for a good price these should be an excellent choice.

The construction of the cables are good. They are well packaged and protected with plastic caps on the tips (remove before using) and they fit snug and properly into the jack on my DVD and stereo receiver.

This cable has served me well for 2 years now, and with a silver core, O2 free copper, double shielding, machined ends, 24K gold plated ends, silver soldered, etc., what more could you want in a component video cable in this price range?

It's a far better value than M _ _ $ _ _ R.

I was pretty happy with these cables until one day after about 6 months of using the cables I was watching a dvd and noticed the color was messed up--the blue and red were flickering out. I replugged the component cables and it was fine again, but I have a feeling these cables aren't going to last very long.

These carry the signal as well as Big Name Brand cables costing ten times as much. Save your money for buying more movies!

Better than the gold plated RCA cables from Radio Shack. What more can you ask for? I see no reason not to recommend them highly.

I dont like monster cable,forgive me in saying if you just have a
vcr, or dvd connecting to your tv and go with monsters highest
grade cable thats ok.another thing with monster cables i dont like is, you push your monster cable on the back of your dvd player,and it is locked on you some times just about have to use
channel lock plyers to get them off.now monster might say that this is a locking cable nothing do it. but any ways if you have
bought monster and dont like the locking on the cable,you can take a 30 carbine shell that has been fired (meaning no bullet)
and spread the interconnects on both sides then you can get them
cables off with out messing up your dvd.now someone was talking
about (TRIBUTARIES CABLE) you can buy tributaries cheaper than
monster,you buy stright from factory and it can be costly.
find dealer that buys cable from tributaries and makes the cable
any size you want.look on the auction sites.i also like (D H LABS) and you can buy the cable off them, and build yourself.

At first, I hesitated buying these monster s-vid cables because I thought those who pay a lot for their cables were suckers. After hearing all the hype, I got this. To my surprise, this cable did make a difference to the picture quality. There is definitely a visible difference in pic.quality. In my observation, I notice more vibrant colors, more defined edges and most obvious of all, the details in the black had improved tremendously. There is another high-grade s-video cable on the market by "tributaries." But it costs alot s for 1m cable. Ouch. Get these monster cables. You will better enjoy your dvd player.

The secret of utilizing the full potential of your DVD player is in the power transference from unit to television. Don't trust your power to anything other than Monster Cables. Straight out of the box, toss the factory cables...don't even plug them in. Using these cheap cables is a waste of time. I recently purchased a Toshiba SD1600 (you can read my review here at Amazon) and thought nothing of paying the extra money based solely on the reviews I read. I also purchased the RCA's from Monster cable, which comes with a video cable. Just a tip, you can save money by buying the Monster Cable S-Video DVD player Just Hook It Up kit. That way you aren't bothered by the superfluous video composite cable.

This is one of the best keyboards on the market for a reasonable price. the good thing is it size. It's small enough to fit in your lap as you send messages to your friends with the control in your hand. It works great with online titles such as socom2 and resident evil outbreak. I highly recommend this product if you play on-line a lot.

This keyboard is basically the same kind you use for school. If you like that then by all means purchase the keyboard. I use a different one for computer but this one is still pretty nice.

The only problem is that this keyboard can't be used in that many games. RPG Maker is the big one. Maybe some online games will utilize it though.

This keyboard is perfect for any online PS2 game. I bought it for Final Fantasy XI and have been very happy with it. If you can afford it, though, I would recommend the Logitech Netplay thing that has the keyboard and controller in one unit so you don't have to switch between the keyboard and the controller.

You can see it on the photo, but I want to reiterate that the pods use staggered cable ends. These are designed for situations where the cable turns as it leaves the connection.

That is a nice feature when that happens (typically, where your cables turn either up or down at the connection, and the connections are in a vertical row).

However, there are some situations where this is a problem. For example, the 3 connectors are not in a row. Or you are making the turn in such a way that the colors do not match.

This design would be improved by interchangeable colors where the shortest radius turn matches your component scheme. One other improvement (in case you're reading, Monster) would be to imprint the cable number on the pod to make it easier to reorder. (Fortunately, Amazon lets you easily view all of your past product orders.)

Other than that, typically good Monster Cable fit and finish.

There are two reasons to buy this cable - high quality and convenience. Monster cables are extraordinary. I'm usually incapable of telling the difference between minor variations in sound and video quality, but after replacing cheap component cables with this, the picture seemed so much better.

This design for the cable (where all conductors pass through the same sheath, instead of glued-together parallel wires) makes cable organization very easy. When you've got a home-theater system, there are so many players that need their own cables; the compactness of the cable helps keep the clutter down.

I picked up this system selector about two years ago, and it has been very effective. I haven't had any problems with it and video and audio is clear. However, I recommend getting a thicker A/V cable for the output since the one that comes with it is rather small. Still, this is quite a deal.

Of course, if you have S-video or component connections on your TV (which are both better respectively), you may consider getting a selector that supports those. I know there's S-video selectors, but I'm not sure about component ones.

I have 3 systems now...PSX, N64, Dreamcast, and sometimes when I'm pushing the button to switch systems, they don't fully depress. This happens the most with the second one, but I'm persistent and usually after pushing really hard and holding, it will finally stick. I think when I get more systems (PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube), I will buy the sony version which is a small round one.

I've had mine for over 2 years. I bought mine at Target thought. It's been a real back saver. No more disconnecting and reconnecting. Also, when I got myself a new VCR, DVD Player, and Stereo System I use this allot. Mine's setup to allow the dvd player to show up as button one and the vcr's sound to show up on the stereo as button two. I can even combine buttons if I was both sound from the stereo and the TV. This may sound confusing to you but I like it ;-). The kid just probably got a bad one.