Originally posted by: merlocka
These promedia sound better than most speakers costing 3-4 times as much.
Most as in...what $450-600 2.1 sets does it sound better than?
What is magnetic flux tube?
This is a specially-designed dielectric tube that runs down the middle of a group of different gauge windings. This helps break up the magnetic field generated from the current flowing through the cable?s conductors. We wrap the larger solid-core conductors (the culprit of this magnetic field) around this dialectric for maximum affect.
Unfortunately the effects of magnetic fields do not make a difference to the audible spectrum, which is a very thin bandwidth on the absolute scale.
$30 for 16-guage cable is alot. At best buy for $30 you can get a 100-foot run of 16-guage with included pairs of binding posts. And that's a BAD deal.
gold plated miniplugs, and wire pin terminations
These can be bought on the cheap.
Impressive clarity, bass response, and dynamic range in a compact design.
Clarity (or lack of signal loss) is primarily cable inductance and how well the connected amplifer is damped (so that the cable impedence causes limited/neglible audible changes). The better of an amp you have, the less of a need for esoteric (read: cable becomes less important, gauge becomes determining factor)
-Special LPE insulation reduces signal loss and distortion.
Well...okay that's fair. Insulation does do those things (preventing externalities). Insulation is not very expensive though. I'm sure every other speaker wire in B&M stores are well insulated too. Monster is not an exception, just better advertised and costlier.
What's a better alternative?
DIY - Do it yourself is usually cheaper. Otherwise, whatever you can find online that's cheaper, is a better alternative.
ABX, time and time again, has proven this. If not by ABX, it's just a good feeling you get when you can look at your cables while listening to your music.
ABX has "proven" that most people no longer can hear the difference before there is no longer a measurable difference. Cables measuring with good inductance, low impedence, well-insulated, usually cost more than Home Depot 12-guage, but not by much. ABX has also *proven* there's no direct link between price and quality.
There is plenty of crap throughout the entire price range, and plenty of good stuff too. It's hard to tell what the "really good stuff is", because well, people have different amplifiers and cables are not stock things, they are a transfer medium. (Assuming gauge is equal), the amplifier (and how well damped it is) tends to be the deciding factor. If its poorly damped, it will have worse results with high impedence, high inductance cables.
It's all about cost/performance. A cable is just one connection. A good cable can fix one problem in the audio chain. But if your amp sucks, its cheaper to buy a better amp then buying better cables for all your sources. Better amp is closer to a one-size fits all solution. And it doesn't just go for amps. If the sound of your system is not to your liking, instead of spending money on a different amp, its more cost effective to just buy better (more neutral speakers).
Upgrade your system accordingly. Snake oil is a term that's often thrown around to mean it has "no effect," but some audio enthusiasts also use it (although in exaggerated fashion) when they speak of things that DO have effects, but aren't the cheapest solution to your problem. Upgrade your speakers, then amp, then cables. If you do it the other way around, you are just being less efficient with your money.