Furutech's HDMI-xv1.3 cable makes Monster seem low-end

by Darren Murph posted Apr 21st 2008 at 9:16PM

After getting a whiff of what Furutech's cooking, Monster is really going to have to step up its game. Not content with just charging a Benjamin or two for an HDMI cable, this company has decided that its HDMI-xv1.3 cable -- which is "engineered to work flawlessly in lengths up to 3 meters with new-generation 120Hz LCD and plasma screens" -- is somehow worth $280 to $1,400, depending on length. Sure, the thing boasts EMI / RFI rejection, contact resistance, silver-plated Alpha-OFC solid-core conductors, five full layers of shielding and nonmagnetic Pearl Chrome aluminum alloy connectors with 24K gold-plated α (Alpha) contacts, but really, nearly three bills for the one-meter edition? You know what they say about fools and their money...

Filed under: Cables, Others

Tags: 120hz, cable, cabling, Furutech, hdmi, hdmi 1.3, hdmi cable, HDMI-xv1.3 cable, Hdmi-xv1.3Cable, Hdmi1.3, HdmiCable, Xv1.3

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

Mick @ Apr 21st 2008 9:32PM

I agree about fools and their money. But Monster sucks, and this just crazy sucks. Monoprice FTW. Is there one person who reads this type of blog who still believes in this cable snake oil?

Highest Ranked

you have mail @ Apr 21st 2008 10:05PM

But the question we're holding our breath for is...

Does it withstand a nuclear blast from less than a kilometer distance, or does it just shampoo the dog & cat???

Neutral

RPGJock @ Apr 21st 2008 10:27PM

I would like to see someone do a comparison on these cables and see if there is really a need for these over priced cables. Maybe like a Prizefight over at CNET or something. A three man triple threat. Monster vs Furutech vs Monoprice/Blue Jean cable.

Neutral

Jake @ Jun 15th 2008 2:47PM

The shootout needs to happen. The truth probably lies somewhere between the "snake oil" argument and the other end of the spectrum. Oh, and I can't wait to see the coat hanger HDMI cable. There are an absurd number of conductors in an HDMI cable, so the coat hanger version will likely be about a foot in diameter. I love it, and somebody has to build it!

Highly Ranked

JBDragon @ Apr 21st 2008 10:42PM

HAHAHAHA, Only suckers would waste their money of this garbage. There are a lot of suckers buying MONSTER though, so I guess some people out there think the more you spend the better. The logic just doesn't work on everything, and cables are one of them. Really if you have the money to throw away on this crap, Buy a cable from someplace like Monoprice and with the majority of money you save, Donate it to a good cause!

Highly Ranked

Darkest Daze @ Apr 21st 2008 10:52PM

The best part is the whole fact that someone will believe that sending a 24fps or 60fps single over this wire to a 120hz tv would actually need a higher quality cable. You know, as if the TV wasn't just modifying the signal internally.

Neutral

William @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:14AM

Yeah, what we really need is someone to hook up a coat hanger to the back of one of two TV's and see if people can really tell the difference

Neutral

temp1 @ Apr 22nd 2008 3:42AM

.... and performs the same as a $10 HDMI cable from BestBuy.

Highly Ranked

Xyzzy @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:55AM

Best Buy sells an HDMI cable that only costs $10...?

Low Ranked

temp1 @ Apr 22nd 2008 3:43AM

.... and performs the same as a $10 HDMI cable from BestBuy.

Low Ranked

Jake @ Apr 22nd 2008 3:45AM

.... and performs the same as a $10 HDMI cable from BestBuy.

Neutral

andyg8180 @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:28AM

.... and performs the same as a $10 HDMI cable from BestBuy.

Neutral

andyg8180 @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:29AM

.... and performs the same as a $10 HDMI cable from BestBuy.

Neutral

Ripcord83 @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:40AM

Will they take a leg instead? Haha!

Wow, I feel sorry for the sucker that buys these.
Sorry Trump, but you shoulda learned.

Lowest Ranked

Ripcord83 @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:43AM

Will they take a leg? Haha!

Wow I feel sorry for anyone who buys these.
Sorry Trump, you shoulda learned.

Neutral

DrXym @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:13AM

Wow, you could almost pay for the TV with the change you'd save by buying a generic cable. I guess some people really are stupid enough to pay these amounts of money even though they would not see a single pixel's difference for their misguided investment.

Lowest Ranked

andyg8180 @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:46AM

.... and performs the same as a $10 HDMI cable from BestBuy.

Neutral

andyg8180 @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:46AM

D'oh.... my firefox went click crazy on the add comment button... sorry guys!!

Neutral

D-shan @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:34PM

These are a total waste of money. I thought that there had been extensive testing on the "quality" cable issue and it was thoroughly debunked? Are sheeple STILL buying into this crap?

Neutral

EQC @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:26AM

The worst part about these cables: look close. It's actually a USB cable. Ha ha ha!

(well...they render job is bad enough that it could be either...)

Low Ranked

jyhchan @ May 24th 2008 4:08AM

Wow~ from the naive comments about different cables have same performance, I can see that most of the ppl here doesn't have much solid knowledge about the whole idea of data transfer/signal distortion issues in the HDMI cables indeed. What do you think all the HDMI 1.3 a & b qualification tests are for? If you seriously think all HDMI cables have same performance, why don't you just take a CRT monitor and say it's the same as a 1080p LCD.

I guess ppl here at Engadget HD isn't realli HD afterall.

Neutral

Jake @ Jun 15th 2008 1:44PM

Don't knock Furutech so hastily; they make great stuff. AudioQuest, Furutech, Blue Jeans, Cardas, are just a few of the companies who, unlike Monster Cable, really are trying to make the best quality cable possibly. It's sad that that Monster's antics have destroyed the credibility of the engineers out there working their butts off to make sure we get the best quality cables. Granted, the value proposition might not be there for folks with under $25,000 invested in their theater. IMHO, acoustic treatment, and balanced AC power should be way up your priority list from gigabucks cables. If the price still scares you off, consider buying a used cable (from one of those reputable companies mentioned above) on Audiogon. The value proposition gets a whole lot better, and there are tons of folks who can give you objective advice as to what your cabling budget and priorities should be.

In closing; I hope Noel Lee is having a crappy weekend!

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