Price Paid:  $40.00 from Harveys

Summary:
Before burn in the cable was bloated in the low end and grainy in the high end. After about 60hrs of burn in the bloat was toned down and the highs were much much smoother. Ultimatly I replaced it with the M1000d, for an extra $20 it was worth it, the bass tightened up pretty dramatically, instruments became more outlined (seperated).

Strengths:
After burn in its a fine cable in most respects, imaging, soundstaging, slam.

Weaknesses:
detail was somewhat lacking, slightly bloated low end

Similar Products Used:
AQ Optilink 1 and 3, Monster m1000d

Price Paid:  $39.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
Absolute Crap. You can get Best Buy AR digital coaxial and get the same sound. I decided to go with Monster Cable for all my speakers and interconnects. I was seriously dissappointed when the datalink 100 didn't sound any better then the Cheap AR from Best Buy. Having said that, I returned these. Still looking for a good cable, i went with Radio Shack Fusion AV line. Now.. for $15.00 cheaper, you just get superior perfomance. Sorry monster, most of your stuff is good, but after a while I am really questioning your prices

Strengths:
looks durable.. has a name to impress people.. oooh.. "monster cable".

Weaknesses:
the important "P"s, Price and Performance. Yes it will work as a great digital coaxial, but Fusion AV by RS works better at a lower price

Similar Products Used:
Radio Shack Fusion AV, Acoustic Research digital coaxial (the cheap blue ones).

Price Paid:  $40.00 from www.800.com

Summary:
Well, I just got a pretty good stereo system, and bought this cable, and can''t tell a bit of difference. Nothing sounds changed to me. u

Strengths:
Well built, gold tipped, thick, lifetime warranty, etc.i

Weaknesses:
No difference in sound whatsoever--let''s not lie now people--I think most people are just imagining a huge sound improvement because they don''t want to feel ripped off.

Similar Products Used:
Can''t rememberz

Price Paid:  $80.00 from Bay Bloor

Summary:
Was using a Monster optical cable, but due to a system reconfig I needed a longer cable. The Monster rep was in the store and recommended coax over optical, stating that optical is prone to failure and that the connectors fall out (maybe he was talking about Monsters specific cable I'm not sure). Anyway I purchased the 2M coax.

No question about it, both my wife and I noticed a definite improvement in the sound, mostly in the high end frequencies, cymbals just started to sound like they should, and overall I think the entire system sounded better.

We listend to music and watched a movie and we both agreed this cable made a difference. Now is it because I moved from optical to coax? I'm not sure but I will tell you that I will never use optical if I have a choice.

Strengths:
Sound

Weaknesses:
Price

Similar Products Used:
Toslink (optical)

Price Paid:  $35.00 from Cambridge SoundWorks

Summary:
This was the first coaxial cable I have purchased for my system. I am very pleased with it, though like everyone else I am not fond of Monster's pricing. Overall this cable delivers all that I expected of it. As does all the other Monster products I own.

Strengths:
Music repoduction. Delivers a crisp clear signal.

Weaknesses:
None noticed

Similar Products Used:
Radio Shack