These AR cables are very good. I use the interconnects in my second system consisting of Carver preamp/power amp, Nakamichi CD player, and MB Quart/KEF speakers. These are made almost the same as Monster Cables if you take a look inside the cables. Especially the connectors are first-rate quality, identical to Monster Interlink 300 MkII, if not better. The reason these are cheap is that they are made in Taiwan vs. USA. Best Buy now carries a full line of AR cables.

makes solid connection: neutral sound

bass may be too restrained

Not as good as my Straightwire interconnects, but not as expenseive either, the AR PRO series interconnects represent pretty good value and performance. I think they're probably the equal of the Monster products, at a lower price. I bought mine at Lowe's Home Center for $20.00/pair. The build quality is first rate.

Similar Products Used:

Monster series 100; straightwire LS-1 (10 years old)

Great price/performance ratio.

Will not impress your audiophile friends.

Very well constructed - especially the end connectors. Besides Lowes, check pricing at avconnect.com.

Similar Products Used:

Radio Shack Gold

Well built, neutral sounding

Not as bright as I like

Since there is no category for AR Pro Series Audio Interconnects, I thought I'd put up a review of them. I bought a 1 metre pair for $30 CDN. They got a better review in Home Theatre Magazine than the Wireworld Oasis I am using now.

Compared to the Wireworlds, the AR's are not as bright sounding. I was really amazed that I heard any differences at all. They are a more mellow, laid back sounding interconnect, great if you have overly bright sounding equipment.

I prefer the Wireworlds, but these AR's are a hell of a bargain and probably sound as good as many high-end audiophile cables.

Cheap, Robust

none that i know of

I know people says that there isnt any difference in sound quality with Toslink (Bits are Bits).

Let's make it clear; I was using Radioshack toslink for both my DVD & CD player. It was OK, but i wanted more robust cables. But with those AR , the music seemed more natural & detailed , sounstage suddenly got more stable...

I know some will think that its impossible, that a Toslink either works, or dont. Have you ever heard of JItter & Loss informations ? Anyway perhaps those special polished lens does help the decoder to do less correction . Who knows: They SounD GREAT !

Similar Products Used:

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Acoustic Research (of loudspeaker fame) has brought out a line of Pro Series audio, video, digital, coaxial & speaker cables, 2GHz splitters, etc...i have some of the Audio/Video cables and a Toslink cable from them...
well, physical examination of these cables side-by-side with the equivalent models from Monster Cable yielded interesting results: they look exactly the same, and boast the same features on the packaging...i highly suspect that Monster OEMs these for AR...

in use, they performed fine...i did sound and picture tests, and they two brands were the same: very good.

so, if you want good cables and dont want the high prices some dealers charge for Monster products, look for the AR stuff.

my rating is based upon products in the same price range as the AR models

I've a seperate (transport&dac)and have many digital cable (roll it in my drawer)I think we have been had,I recently bought a $8/-(singapore dollars)digital cable "ED ACCOUSTIC"know what?it outclassed my audio quest,kimber illuminati,moonglo(sold this) and many others,suddenly everything becomes more focus,music more natural,tonaly accurate and more detail,for heaven sake!I think we audiophile are an arrogant lot,out of this we succumb to audio cable manufacturers greed &b.s. if not how do you explain a $8/-cable outclassed those that cost hundreds of dollars.If any of you out there had the same experienced don't hesitate to post it here,it's for our own good.

I'm using Acoustic Research Pro Series for all my interconnecting cables and also for my speaker cables and terminals. Everything sounds very clean and cost half as much as the Monster Cables.

I'm using AR cables for my cd changer and my video, they are great cables, very very similar to the Monster but cheaper, lot cheaper. Great deal.

First, when someone posts a review I like to know what equipment they are using to test the components with (i.e. cables here). For example, those who bitch about others spending loads of $$$ on expensive cables usually have a $300 home theater with a 32" tv in the middle -- hardly home theater! Of course, to those people, a $5 cable will sound/look just as good as a $50 or $150 cable.
I understand this, and in this case, they shouldn't buy expensive cables -- it's a waste. However, for those who have expensive systems where a $50 cable isn't much overhead or where situations require heavy-duty cables (such as EMI bleeding into cheap wires, or extra-long cable runs) I recommend that they look into higher quality cables. A $50 interconnect is nothing to someone with a $2500 DVD player and a $2000 CD player hooked to a $5000 receiver. -- Usually those who bitch are the poor bastards that are jealous that they can't afford the higher quality cables.

Besides, we're talking AR cables here. They're low-end compared. I spent the $3/foot for the 12 gauge speaker wire because I wanted the quality for the long haul to the rear speakers with enough insulation to handle the heat along the bottom of the wall (by heater).

My humble home theater:

Toshiba TPH6195 hdtv-ready RPTV 61"
Toshiba 2109 dvd using digital out
Yamaha RX-V995 receiver
Philips cd player (forget model #) using digital out
Sony TCW635S dual tape deck (I think that's the full # - w/dolby-S)
PSB Stratus Silver-i front speakers (high gloss black)
PSB Stratus Minis rear speakers (high gloss black)
PSB Stratus C6 Center speaker (high gloss black)
ART Nightbass SE (preamp/DSP for guitar/bass but considered part of the HT)
ART Ultrafoot MIDI interface
APC Smart-UPS 700

DVD to TV via AR component video cables
DVD to receiver via AR digital audio cable
CD to receiver via AR digital audio cable
speakers to receiver via 12 gauge Apature (long runs)
tape deck to receiver via cheapo RCA cable $5 Radio Shack

I also bought one of the AR Toslink 3 foot cables for $15 but haven't had a use for it yet.

Now, my system isn't top of the line by any means. However, it is good enough to detect the differences between high quality and low quality cables. If you want to use 24 gauge telephone wire to do your whole system, then go for it. But don't b**ch and moan, please.

Besides, why are some complaining anyway? We're talking Acoustic Research HERE! $15 for a 3 foot cable, what's to complain about that!?

I give 4 stars because these cables could be much much better. I didn't give them 3 stars because they deserve better for their price. For $15, they deserve 4 stars as a cheap alternative to expensive cable.