Topic: Monster Component Cables (Read 106 times)

Foe-hammer · « **on:** March 04, 2006, 06:00:00 PM »

I have some monster component cables, and was wondering ways to get digital audio out of it.

On the back of the monster packaging it gives a diagram on how to hook up optical. In order to use a regular optical cable, a plug adapter (mini jack into regular TOSlink) is required.

I was wondering if i could buy a regular optical cable and use TOSLINK TO OPTICAL MINI ADAPTOR, to connnect to the monster optical mini-jack. Would that work?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Foe-hammer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2006, 01:47:00 AM »

Here is a picture of what the monster optical adapter, plus monster cable looks like for the xbox, which is the same setup required by the 360:

IPB Image

The picture does not show a close-up of the adapter end that goes into the xbox cable, but it looks exactly like a stereo mini jack; like this:

IPB Image

I don't want to pay the BS price that monster charges for the cable + adapter (they only come together). So i'm wondering if this will work for the adapter:

IPB Image

And then this for the cable:

IPB Image

I'm just wondering if monster has some special optical adapter that only works with their video cables.

Also, does what brand of regular TOS link optical cable matter? I heard that unlike video cables, the brand of optical cable is not really important......they all transfer at the same quality.

mcvolfan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2006, 08:30:00 AM »

To answer your question, no it wont work, the monster connection is an electrical connection, the way your asking about is an optical connection.

C o s m o · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2006, 09:58:00 AM »

QUOTE(autoxerFSP21 @ Mar 5 2006, 09:30 AM)

What a rip. If I was buying high end component cables for the 360 I would consider the Psyclone set first. I had the Psyclone component cable on my regular xbox and it was excellent.

This is the worst advice one could offer. One common theme in the A/V forum...BUY THE M$ COMPONENT CABLES. Psyclone are junk. Madcatz are junk. And despite the cost, apparently the Monster set is unreliable at best as well. People alway have problems, then post on here about it and say, "I bought the Brand X 3rd party cables. My picture is all faqued up". Then they go buy the M$ cables and everything is fine.

Foe-hammer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2006, 03:10:00 PM »

QUOTE(mcvolfan @ Mar 5 2006, 08:37 AM)

To answer your question, no it wont work, the monster connection is an electrical connection, the way your asking about is an optical connection.

No, the monster connection i posted is an optical connection.

The problem with monster video cables is that they don't have a standard TOSlink optical connection, like MS video games do. What they have is a mini jack connection. So, in order to use a regular TOSlink optical cable, an adapter is needed.

My question is, is the adapter that monster uses different then an ordinary optical mini adapter?

Those with actual experience with monster cables and who use optical with it, would you please help?

P.S. Also, i'm not asking what a good kind of video cables are, i'm asking about a standard TOS link optical cable, and if it matter what kind i get.

Owtlaw333 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2006, 12:06:00 AM »

QUOTE(Foe-hammer @ Mar 5 2006, 02:17 PM)

No, the monster connection i posted is an optical connection.

No, it is electrical.... that square piece ("adapter") at the end of the optical cable converts the electricity to light. So you can't use that peice you listed above. When you buy the monster optical plug for ur video cables, it'll come with it. But once you have that little square piece, you can use whatever brand cable you want. So go on ebay and buy one for 15 bucks and u'll be happy. I bought one for the xb1 off ebay and i'm quite content with 'em... no problems like "everyone else" seems to have.

Foe-hammer · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2006, 01:08:00 AM »

QUOTE(Owtlaw333 @ Mar 6 2006, 12:13 AM)

No, it is electrical.... that square piece ("adapter") at the end of the optical cable converts the electricity to light. So you can't use that peice you listed above.

Shit balls!

Thanks for verifying the info; that's what i needed to know.

Why in the hell would they do that; an adapter that converts electricity to light? You'd think it would have been a lot easier to use a regular optical mini jack.

Damn them for forcing people who buy their video cables to also buy their audio cables!

This is the last time i buy monster cables.....greedy, monopoly sons of bitches!

Owtlaw333 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2006, 01:49:00 AM »

QUOTE(Foe-hammer @ Mar 6 2006, 12:15 AM)

Why in the hell would they do that; an adapter that converts electricity to light?Damn them for forcing

QUOTE(Foe-hammer @ Mar 6 2006, 12:15 AM)

Damn them for forcing people who buy their video cables to also buy their audio cables!

That's exactly why,

haha

Owtlaw333 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2006, 02:10:00 AM »

Thought I'd illustrate.

This is the plug of the adapter that goes into the video cable:
IPB Image

As you can see, once you have the adapter plugged in, you'll be able to use whatever optical cable brand you'd want... it juss plugs in the back of the adapter.
IPB Image

Foe-hammer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2006, 02:22:00 AM »

Nice pics, and that illustrates exactly what is going on.

Question:

Does the brand of fiber optic cable matter, in terms of sound quality?

prankfurter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2006, 07:42:00 AM »

brand doesnt really matter for fiber optical cable. either you get a signal (the light) or you dont. Its not electrical so there is no worry of interfernece. so sheilding is not an issue. the only thing to really worry about from my experince. is that the ends on some of the really cheap ones are loose and can seperate. but i there is no diffrence from my experinces in a 10 dollar optical cable from a 50 dollar one...

Owtlaw333 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2006, 09:23:00 AM »

Yeah... makes no difference. Idealy you'd want one that is fairly firm so the fiber doesn't get craked or whatnot, but I have one that prolly couldn't be much thinner or flimsy and it still works.

twistedsymphony · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2006, 11:31:00 AM »

QUOTE(prankfurter @ Mar 6 2006, 09:49 AM)

...the only thing to really worry about from my experience. is that the ends on some of the really cheap ones are loose and can separate. ...

Yup! Just like the $40 monster optical cable I have for my Xbox 1...

easily the crappiest optical cable I own and it was also the most expensive I've ever bought. the only reason I bought it was because I bought the AV cable from monster and didn't realize they were going to shaft me on the optical port.

Honestly, you might be able to hack something out of a 1/8" plug to RCA adapter and just use digital coaxial audio...

Owtlaw333 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2006, 12:47:00 PM »

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Mar 6 2006, 10:38 AM)

Honestly, you might be able to hack something out of a 1/8" plug to RCA adapter and just use digital coaxial audio...

But that requires actually DOING something... haha.

Foe-hammer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2006, 06:11:00 PM »

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Mar 6 2006, 11:38 AM)

Honestly, you might be able to hack something out of a 1/8" plug to RCA adapter and just use digital coaxial audio...

Good idea.

Going off from that, would this work?:

Connect the adapter in the image below to the monster cable mini jack:
IPB Image

Then connect the two male rca ends, from the image below, into the two rca females in the above image:
IPB Image

Then connect the digital coaxial cable (just your standard RCA cable, from what i understand) to the female, single rca port in the above image.

Also, is a digital coaxial cable as good as a digital optical cable.....in sound quality?

Author Topic: Monster Component Cables (Read 106 times)