I purchased the MonsterCable Interlink 400 (Series II's) after feeling the "bite" of purchasing good quality seperates (B&K). "No need to spend so much money on calbes," I said. Boy was I wrong.
I guess for the money, these cables aren't bad. But jumping up to $100-meter-pair cables makes a 10-fold difference! I can't believe all of the sound I was missing with these Monster cables. The bass is cleaner, the soundstage finally appeared, and the mids and highs don't sound like they're comign from another room.

I give the Monster's 2 stars, and only because they probably do OK in their price range.

If you're looking for cables, don't sell yourself (or your audio system) short. Spend the bucks. Step up to something in the $75 to $100-meter-pair range. You'll thank yourself.

Aesthetics

Cost

Cables are cables.

If you guys honestly think that a copper innerconnect of sufficient gauge and impedance can "compress dynamics" or "flatten bass" while running a 1 watt line-level signal 1 meter from source to processor---you're fooling yourself. Monster interlinks are costly relative to the free throw-away cables that come with your tape deck/vcr/dvd/cdp, NOT for performance reasons (though Monster may claim so). No, with Monster cable you're paying more money for better contact pressure, longer lasting cable (lifetime guarantee), improved shielding, and better looks as opposed to throw-away cables.

There is no grounds to rate these cables badly for the way they sound, as if copper had a distinct sound to it. The only reason you'd have to rate any cable badly is if you felt you paid too much for them--in which case, you are the fool not Monster.

Similar Products Used:

Audioquest, MIT, Kimber, throw-aways

ability to conceal itself

too many to list

I chanced upoon this section of reviews on the Monster 400 the other day. I was reading through various cable reviews to get some ideas about cables to try. I had decided that a modest upgrade was in order - from my Audioquest interconnect. I couldn't quite remeber what the Audioquest cable was called so that night I checked and inmagine my astonishment to find a Monster 400 lurking behind the system! I have no memeory of having bought htis cable - I disticnly recall reading all the reviews of the tiem and choosing something that was highly recommended for my budget. Compared wwith the cost of the CD it was a minal outlay so I (stupidly) simpy went ahead and bought it. But -I could have sworn I had bought an Audioquest. This raises some interesting questions - first, how did it get there? I suspect from reading these reviews that soemone deeply dienchanted with their Monster cable broke into my house and swapped it - but that seems unlikely. As does the notion of a sinister plot by Monster to ruin everyone's hi-fi by secretly installing crappy interconnects or administer mind altering drugs to erstwhile audiophile shoppers. I must just have forgotten. Not like me. I was truly shocked. Especially after laughing my arse off at all you people whio had been ripped off. So - the urgency for a change of cable suddenly became very great - I had to experiment to see if what you had said about the monstrous Monster was true. Relax. It is. The cable SUCKS. I have since taken it out to use as a rip cord to start my lawn mower - at which it does quite a good job. So - take note anyone laughing out there at us Monster victims. Go check your hi fi - you may be in for a surprise. By the way - what were all those mags doing recommending this cable??? Maybe it's drugs after all.... Oh yes, and for those who say that cables make no difference - you're wrong. (period)(and probably deaf).

Similar Products Used:

cambridge reference, van den hul

I was shocked to find that these cables are on the Hall of Shame page...After reading a couple of the reviews though, I feel a little better...as with any reasonably high quality cable there are going to be certain er, peccadillos. In the case of the ENTIRE line of Monster cables (400 and up) The RCA ends have to be twisted on and off...a great way to insure a tight connection on a wiide range of RCA jacks, and a tricky way of scraping off some oxidatino on the way! I've owned three sets of these for years, and have never been dissapointed with their build quality, performance, or design...In short, I'd say these are one of the better cables out there for $40...beats the pants out of the "solid core" Audioquest hype, and the truly awfully constructed stuff from Straightwire.

whew...I feel better now...Happy Listening,!

Thanks to some posts I read here, I A/B'd my 400s with some Radio Shack cheapies. Sadly, the 400s got stomped all over. Yep, they delivered more bass, but it was as if someone had draped a towel over the midrange--very dark and muddled. No airiness and very restricted highs. I've sold all my 400s and have replaced them with XLO Pro-150s. If you're considering these wires, either [a] save your money for something just a few bucks more (like the XLOs) -or- [b] treat yourself to a nice, cheap pair of Radio Shack cables. Either way, you'll be better off.
Related equipment:
Paradigm Reference Studio 60s
CC-450 center channel
Paradigm ADP-350 dipole surrounds
M&K MX-125 subwoofer
Parasound HCA-1205A 5x140w amplifier
Harman Kardon AVR-80 receiver (used as a preamp)
Harman Kardon ADP-303 DD decoder
Panasonic A-110 DVD player
Sony CD
XLO-Pro 150 interconnects
MIT Terminator 5 speaker cables
Panamax MAX1000+ surge suppressor/conditioner

I am disappointed with the overal rating of this interlink, because people mention the poor quality of the wire ! Do we speak about the same ?!
The main quality is the bass section, which is very generous and for the price, please do not associate it with stuff like sonic frontiers...(Spend about 10% of the total amout of your system in an interconnect).

However, take care when connecting, that's the bad point because there are very strong.

Enjoy your listening

Have these cables for a long time now, and have not had any problems.They sound great, and that is all that's matter. I connected them
and disconnected them too many times, and I am yet to break a single
one of them.

I got a great deal on some speakers a guy was selling out of his van on the corner of 1-10 and Indian school road. Since I saved so much money I splurged and bought a pair of IL 400's. Hooked them up to my Oinko receiver - nice tight fit, like my wife on our honeymoon, or that cute little lamb, back on the farm, that learned me about the bird's and bee's. The sound of my Hank Williams greatest hits CD is AWESOME. Ass kicking bass, 357 magnum like precision of the mid range and highs like a good Old Milwaukie buzz and clairity like the exhaust off my Dodge ram-charger pick up. This old boy gives 5 stars!

Easy to find at virtually all mass-market electronics
stores.

Weak, muddy bass; poor presence; rolled-off treble.

Much like Kevin - whose review is posted below - I listened
to these interconnects for several years; unaware of how
much detail and dynamics I was missing from my music.
Unfortunately, back in the winter of 1995-96 when I
moved up to higher quality audio equipment; I bought at
least four pairs of this interconnect - assuming they were
a decent quality cable. Well I was seriously WRONG ABOUT
MONSTER CABLE.
In the last two years I've learned a few things about
interconnects and speaker cables; and now realize what a
VERY POOR VALUE MONSTER PRODUCTS REALLY ARE! These are by
no means the worst cables available; but at their price
point there are NUMEROUS OTHER INTERCONNECTS WHICH ARE
MUCH BETTER!
I am currently REMOVING ALL MONSTER PRODUCTS from both
of my audio systems; and the improvements with other brands
of interconnects has to be heard to be believed. I am
currently using XLO ER-5s and MITerminator 4s with very
good results. And plan to look into higher end cables
from XLO, MIT, and Transparent in the future.
I think it should mentioned that THIS PRODUCT IS IN THE
"HALL OF SHAME" ON THIS WEBSITE. I find it absolutely
amazing that there are people who give this interconnect
a good review. Of course, I've also noticed that they
rarely ever mention what sort of equipment they are listening to. Probably the sort of mass market shlock that
you get at Best Buy or Circuit City. The shmuck who has a
post before mine - even bought his Monster 400s at a building supply store. Probably gets his "dress up" clothes
at the local Army surplus store.
As a last note, I feel it should be mentioned that
Monster Cables have sewed up distribution deals with
virtually all the mass market retailers on the west coast.
In some cases, such as Circuit City; it seems to be about
the only cables they carry. So if you want to get something
decent, you will have to find a higher end audio retailer
or go the mail order route.
One star for value and two stars for overall rating.
MONSTER SUCKS!!

My Main System:

Thiel 3.5 Speakers
Transparent Musicwave Speaker Cables
Adcom GTP-550 Tuner/Preamp
Adcom GFA-555 Mark II Amp
Cyrus PCM II CD Player
XLO ER-5 Interconnects

Similar Products Used:

XLO ER-5, MITerminator 4, Radio Shack Gold, Monster 100,
200 & 400 Series Interconnects.

nice cables

none

good price to performance ratio. this cable is a high end cable for high end users. i found no sonic problems w/them. the local home base was going out of business, so i stocked up. 30% off lowest price right? some audiofiles don't like them but i do. given the option i would buy them again.
socal residents check your homebase before you go to dow, good guys or circiut city.

Similar Products Used:

acustic research and rca home theater