Public Relations: Monster Responds To "Monster Cables, Monster Ripoff"

There is, apparently, a big market out there for HD-related gear. Who knew? I still have rabbit ears perched perkily atop my lo-def TV.

But one thing that's necessary for now -- cables to connect all your home theatre componentry. And recently, I've been seeing lots of talk about Monster cables. I remember these from when I was a pimply skinny teen geek in the first flush of SAS (stereo acquisition syndrome), and I couldn't afford 'em.

Apparently now I still can't afford 'em. And it gets worse! Apparently there are cables that can cost up to SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Illusionist and skeptic James Randi doesn't think much of those cables, or of Monster cables.

Gawker family web-site Consumerist recently posted an item called "Monster Cables, Monster Ripoff", where they published a list of retail markups on their products, and suggested that the cables made zero difference to the quality of picture.

Unfortunately, Monster responded, in what I would say is a massively ineffective manner, and Consumerist dutifully posted it as Public Relations: Monster Responds To "Monster Cables, Monster Ripoff". In just 900 words, they managed to bore me to tears, AND give Consumerist more ammunition to toss back at them, pointing to (among other things) a site where one can purchase equivalent (in Consumerist's opinion at least) cables for $3.

The response sounds like a lawyer wrote it. Not the best way to go back at a feisty web site like this one, IMO.

Ciao,
Bob.