Monster "Super Thin" HDMI Cables Preview

Monster Cable, the company we all love to hate, has come out with what looks to be a truly innovative product. HDMI has been around for a while and just recently the new 1.4 spec was released. We've seen fat cables and flat cables, cables of all colors, finishes, and lengths. We've tested cables, we've reviewed cables, and we've talked about them to no end. But, for the first time, at least since VizionWire went belly-up, we're seeing a truly thin HDMI cable. At only 3.5mm in diameter (the size of the jack on your headphones), it really is significantly thinner than everything else out there. Monster says it is around 65% thinner than normal HDMI cables! Now that's thin!

The applications of this type of cable are obvious. While your normal HDMI cables range from supple to unwieldy, the size of the cable will give you unprecedented ability to bend, transport, and hide it. With more and more camcorders and laptops coming out with HDMI, an extremely thin cable should provide a popular choice. Can you imagine trying to put some of those garden hose style HDMI cables in your camera case?

The only way to get an HDMI cable this thin is through an active solution. Monster has partnered with RedMere on this. Using their MagnifEye Active technology, the cable requires no external power supply for its active solution. On the 24k gold tipped connector is an LED indicator letting you know that that cable is active.

As you'd expect from Monster, the cables aren't cheap. They come in three flavors - two in the Digital Life series - one with a standard size termination on both ends, the other with a mini connector on one end. There is also a Core line that comes in 1, 2, and 5 meter lengths. The cables range from $79.95 for a meter up to $119.95 for 5.

The real question on our minds is how well these cables will play with the new HDMI 1.4 spec. While the overall bandwidth requirements haven't changed, the audio return channel looks to be compatible with most 1.3a certified cables. Will these new thin cables be able to handle the extra functionality? Also in question is whether Monster will release a new Ethernet-capable Super Thin HDMI cable.

Conclusion

Let's face it, this is a cool cable. Expensive? Yeah. But if you're trying to transport or hide and HDMI cable it might be your best choice. Think about all those that have cable runs that they are lying across the carpet and having a hard time hiding them. The Super Thin HDMI cables from Monster could be a much more economical choice than other more "permanent" solutions. We don't mind seeing higher prices for a unique products and Monster seems to have one on there hands here. Hey, at least it isn't thousands of dollars a foot speaker cable.

For more information, please visit www.monstercable.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.