Monster MC 1000HD-4M Ultra-High Speed HDTV HDMI Cable (4 meters)

by Monster

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 157.5 x 1 x 1 inches ; 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000UF53HA
• Item model number: MC 1000HD-4M
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 28, 2007

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

HDMI places incredible performance demands on your digital A/V connections. It requires a truly high-bandwidth cable that can deliver enormous amounts of digital data without bit-error and signal degradation. Monster has created the Advanced HDMI 1000HD Ultra-High Speed Cable for those who demand the best in high definition home theater--both now and in the future. This cable is ideal for larger HDTVs, advanced projectors, and high definition AV sources. Monster designs the most advanced HDMI cables and certifies their performance for future generations of products. If the performance capabilities of this cable are ever exceeded by future generations of HDMI, Monster will replace this cable at no charge--see product packaging for further details.

From the Manufacturer

Highest Quality Digital Video and Audio Cable for the Sharpest Picture, Deepest Color, and Highest Resolution Sound

Monster Ultra-High Speed 1000HD ensures everything you like to watch in high definition has maximum realism, maximum impact. Movies are just like the director intended. Sports and live shows are just like you're there. Games are just what you expect—larger than life. With a certified bandwidth of greater than 10.2 Gbps*, no high definition experience is too demanding. 1000HD is your connection to the best in HD picture and sound, now and in the future.

As HD technologies improve, cables with more bandwidth will be needed to carry the signal, especially over distances longer than 1-2 meters

Explaining the HDMI Cable Confusion

HDMI engenders more confusion than any other connector type with many different cable and component standards, interoperability problems, and false information about the quality and performance of HDMI cables. Moreover, many electronics and cables do not perform to the standard, so many combinations of cables and components don't work. Additionally, cable performance, especially over long runs, have degraded picture quality.

Why Pay More for an HDMI Cable?

A common misconception is that all HDMI cables are the same--so why not just buy the cheapest cables you can find? The truth is that there are many levels of High-Definition digital video, and there are different levels of HDMI cables to connect them. High-Definition (720p/1080i) as we know it today is delivered at a 2.2 Gbps (giga-bits per second) throughput rate. Although high compared to standard DVD at .81 Gbps, it won't achieve the best performance from High-Definition in the near future, which will require 10.2 Gbps and more. Previous generation HDMI cables developed to meet the original 2.2 Gbps standard are not certified for the new standard and may not pass the full bandwidth required to provide the best performance from these new products.

Unlike computer data, which is tolerant of data transmission losses, video data is not. Accurate transmission is essential. Most HDMI-compliant cables can transfer older versions of High-Definition (720p/1080i) data rate over short lengths, but have problems maintaining the same performance over longer lengths as well as higher data rates required of 1080p. HDMI cables are very sensitive to construction variances. With HDMI's super-high data rate and microscopically tight tolerances, even mishandling the cables during an install can significantly affect performance. Look for better shielded connectors, mesh jackets for durability, special winding techniques, nitrogen gas dielectrics to minimize loss, and CL 3 jacket ratings to ensure maximum performance with every installation.

Monster's rugged construction lasts long and survives the toughest installations

So What Makes Monster HDMI Different?

Monster commits to providing the widest range of HDMI cables at various price points, from entry level standard speed cables, to ultra-high-speed cables for the most advanced video home theaters, some of which are yet to come. Monster has been a leader in HDMI connectivity from the beginning, working with HDMI co-inventor Silicon Image to educate consumers on the benefits and performance aspects of the cables.

Advanced HDMI performance is guaranteed, thanks to greater cable capacity for support of 12-bit color, also called Deep Color, available from advanced HD sources and displays. Greater color depth, from 8-bit to 12-bit, allows more detailed gradations of individual colors for the display of billions of colors. Additional cable bandwidth supports the xvYCC color space, also called x.v.Color, available from new advanced HD sources and displays. x.v.Color widens the number of available colors for 40 percent more colors than standard RGB. Bandwidth for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD gives you lossless surround sound, available on Blu-ray Disc™ and HD DVD™ movies. Also, Monster HDMI supports advanced HD components with 120 Hz frame/refresh rates, providing smoother, more fluid video reproduction.

The Monster Connector Difference

Noise and interference that can degrade an HDMI signal is often introduced at the connector. Monster Cable precision engineers its HDMI terminations and their internal components in order to reject external noise that can cause bit error and degrade picture and sound. The result: your HDTV will accurately display the high-definition video and audio from your high-definition sources, whether that's a 1080p-cable Blu-ray Disc™ Player, PlayStation® 3 or your 720p/1080i cable/satellite set-top box. Monster for HDMI connectors not only feature 24K gold contacts for maximum signal transfer and ultra-low distortion at the point of connection, but also silver-content soldering, connecting the HDMI cable's conductors to the connector's internal connection pins. This lowers resistance and maximizes digital signal transfer.

Additionally, the Monster for HDMI cables feature a heavy-duty internal metal shell. As a result, the internal conductor wiring routed inside the connector is always fully shielded with metal. This provides an extra defense against interference that can enter at the connector and degrade the digital signal. It also makes the whole connector stronger, preventing internal breakage at any solder point between the conductors and connectors when the cable is installed or disconnected. This isn't the case on all HDMI cables. Many HDMI cables only feature metal at the connection point. Inside the connector, a thin plastic shield typically separates the molded or metal connector body from the wiring inside. This needlessly exposes the bitstream to noise and conductor wiring to damage during installation or everyday use.

Get the Bandwidth That's Right for Your Resolution

	Monster HDMI 500hd Standard Speed HDMI Cable--Certifies a cable bandwidth of 2.23 Gbps* for maximum performance from standard high definition digital TVs and other audio/video sources. This is the cable you need as an entry-level solution to getting the most out of your current equipment up to 720p/1080i resolutions.
	Monster HDMI 700hd High Speed HDMI Cable--Certifies a cable bandwidth of 4.95 Gbps* for true 1080p video performance and high-resolution multi-channel audio. This is the cable for you if you want to get the most of the 1080p technology that's currently available.
	Monster HDMI 1000hd Ultra-High Speed HDMI Cable--Guarantees a certified cable bandwidth of 10.2 Gbps* and greater, and will support not only the truest 1080p, but advanced source and display technologies such as 120 Hz refresh rates, x.v.Color, and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. If you want a cable that's truly future-proof against advancing HD technologies, the 1000hd is what's right for you.

* Gbps results are based on testing of 2 meter cable lengths under unequalized worst case conditions. Actual Gbps rates may vary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not All HDMIs Are Created Equal., April 21, 2011

By 

George Denver "Sound Addict Boy" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monster MC 1000HD-4M Ultra-High Speed HDTV HDMI Cable (4 meters) (Electronics)

Background:

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is the best audio / video (a/v) digital interface ever made. It achieves superb a/v performance at a reasonable cost compared with other digital cables such as Toslink (Toshiba Link) & S/PDIF (Sony / Philips Digital InterFace). The HDMI standard / version is also improving with time & this digital interface is here to stay for a very long time to come.

I'm tired of reading about 1's & 0's digital theory that's been beaten to death by consumers & critics alike. There are many things that may be theoretically correct but practically it proves out to be otherwise. In my experience, the quality of materials used / implemented does have an impact on performance with all digital cables & components. It comes down to one's budget, expectations & understanding of electronics.

Over the years, I have tried / used many branded & non-branded HDMI cables. The following are a few branded HDMI cables that I currently use in my a/v system:

1) Monster MC 1000HD, priced @ USD59/2m Monster MC 1000HD-2M Ultra-High Speed HDTV HDMI Cable (2 meters),
2) Pangea Audio HD-24PC, priced @ USD70/2m Pangea Audio HD-24PC HDMI Cable 4% Silver Plated (2 Meter),
3) AudioQuest X Cable, priced @ USD30/6.5ft AudioQuest HDMI X cable - HDMI plugs 2m (6.56') braided cable &
4) Mediabridge Ultra Series, priced @ USD10/6ft Mediabridge Ultra Series - High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - Category 2 Certified - Supports 3D & Audio Return Channel [Latest HDMI Version Available] - (6 Feet).

I've used the above V1.4 HDMI cables, of different lengths, with LaCie LaCinema Media Player, Pioneer DVD Player, Oppo Bluray Player, HD Cable Box along with a 17in Dell LCD TV, 32in Panasonic LCD TV, 42in Panasonic Plasma & a 50in Panasonic Plasma TV.

Performance & rating:

Here's my take on the HDMI cables listed above:

1) Pangea Audio HD-24PC priced @ USD70/2m:

Rating: 5 Stars.

The good: Build quality is second to none. The cable will surely outlive the components it's being used with. Impeccable black level performance & I'm truly floored using this HDMI on a 50in Panasonic Plasma TV. It truly stands out with it's price to performance ratio. It's a real bargain because of the good discount & free shipping in Amazon.

The not so good: Thick & a lil' stiff just like their power cables, so not very ideal for flush wall mounted displays. Needs ample space behind the TV for cable management.

2) AudioQuest X Cable priced @ USD30/6.5ft:

Rating: 5 Stars.

The good: Very good build quality. A lil' thinner & so easier to handle than the Pangea Audio HDMI. Great performance for large screen displays. Just a tad less impressive with black level performance than the Pangea Audio HDMI. It's a very good purchase especially at the heavily discounted price & free shipping in Amazon. It w'd be hard to find a HDMI cable at this price that can beat the X Cable for build quality & performance.

The not so good: Nothing at all. Really, it's that impressive for the current listed price.

3) Mediabridge Ultra Series priced @ USD10/6ft:

Rating: 4 Stars.

The good: For the price, one of the best budget HDMIs out there. Very good for small screen displays & surely an upgrade to really cheap freebies that we get with most Bluray players, DVD players, Cable box etc.

The not so good: Cheap build quality when compared to the other HDMI cables that I have. Not recommended with displays larger than 40in as picture quality is a tad less crisp when compared to the other HDMI cables that I have in my system.

4) Monster MC 1000HD, priced @ USD59/2m:

Rating: 3 Stars.

The good: Good build quality, better than the Mediabridge HDMI but falls short in aesthetics & build quality when compared with Pangea Audio & AudioQuest HDMI. Performance is just as good as the AudioQuest HDMI cable.

The not so good: At half the cost the AudioQuest HDMI, with the heavy discount & better build quality, is a better buy / bargain. It's time for Monster to offer better discount on all their cables.

Conclusion:

For display screen sizes below 40in, sources less than 1080p & cable lengths below 2m, a $10/m HDMI is just as good / effective as a $100/m & above HDMI cable. If U are unhappy with a $10/m HDMI only then sh'd U try something a lil' more expensive than that.

For display screen sizes above 40in, the more robustly made Pangea & AudioQuest HDMI cables did make a difference in my system. The blacks were a lil' more well defined. The overall picture quality was a tad smoother, deeper & clearer.

There are some brands of HDMI that are priced @ $100/m & above. At that level, one gets to buy exotic HDMI jewelry. It surely will have great build, finish, EMI / RFI shielding etc but it does not necessarily improve performance under the above conditions of screen size, source strength & cable length. It's surely not for everyone.

The savings made on a `value for money' HDMI cable can be used to buy something else in the a/v system that can actually make a visible & audible difference, such as power cords, power conditioners, interconnects etc, just to name a few components that truly matter to me.

In my experience, Silver is surely the best conductor for a/v, closely followed by Copper. I also prefer to use solid core cables over stranded cables & Silver plating over Gold plating wherever circumstance & budget permit. Gold & Platinum plating is used only because they are noble metals & do not easily corrode (oxidize) like Copper & Silver. Brass is cheap & is 360 percent less conductive than Copper. I'm surprised to see Gold plated Brass connectors still being used in most pro a/v systems & cables including HDMI. I'm sure the use of Brass is the most effective way to keep cable costs low.

The Pangea Audio HDMI uses the best materials amongst all the HDMIs I've used & listed above. It uses 24 AWG (American Wire Gauge) Silver plated solid Copper conductors. Unfortunately, it's terminated with Gold plated Brass connectors. I'm yet to get hold of a HDMI that meets all my expectations & yet be priced sensibly. In a/v U get what U pay for, even then, there is a level after which U reach a point of diminishing returns. That's were good homework / research really helps. Knowing were to draw that line is the key point in this hobby.

If the HDMI requirement is for a screen size above 40in, the source is full HD (1080p) & the cable length requirement is above 2m, then I'd recommend that one tries both - the cheap Mediabridge HDMI & a better grade HDMI from Pangea or Audioquest. Amazon has a very good return policy, so one c'd return the less impressive cable within 30 days of purchase. What more can one ask for?

Just my $0.02.

Brgds.

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of Money, June 2, 2011

By 

Love Amazon - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monster MC 1000HD-4M Ultra-High Speed HDTV HDMI Cable (4 meters) (Electronics)

It's an absolute piece of junk. The picture quality deteriorated after working for an year, contacted Monster customer support and they hung up on me without resending the replacement for the cable. I would never ever buy the Monster cables. $5.00 cheap cable works better than $100 Monster cable. Lessons learned.

47 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gauranteed bandwidth is worth the price, should be much more flexible, January 12, 2008

By 

Bob "Engineer" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monster MC 1000HD-4M Ultra-High Speed HDTV HDMI Cable (4 meters) (Electronics)

I bought three 1000HD cables in various lengths and they are very well made, and work as advertised.

Much of the commentary on these reviews leaves out an important factor in the "digital is digital" critiques. The specifications for HDMI include many levels of bandwidth that are required for various digital formats. HDMI is unique in that if a given cable (or any component) cannot deliver the full bandwidth for a given format (i.e. there are too many errors received) it automatically steps down to the next lower standard, until it gets to one where it gets error-free data. As a result, some users observe that they get a picture with a cheap cable. Most HDMI cable is adequate for what Cable TV boxes and up-sampled DVD's output, so this expensive wire may not add any value there.

The claims Monster makes on their website for what bandwidth is needed each format, however, are all correct and true to the standards documentation. For HDMI 1.3a, for example, to get Dolby TrueHD uncompressed audio, DTS Master Audio, and deep color video at 1080p, you need substantially more bandwidth than for a cable box with only Dolby Digital and 1080i. If you purchased new equipment that offers these highest resolution formats, I believe the guarantee that this cable exceeds the specified requirements is worth paying more to have.

I did not rate the product a "5" because it is ridiculously stiff, however, something that could well be improved at this price.