Monster vs. Fostgate

Some of the more expensive models in Monster's line are a lil more durable than the others and they look cooler, but you will never hear the difference between the top of the line 75 dollar cable and the entry-level 25 dollar cable that they make.  But to be totally honest, unless you really abuse the cable when installing it, the high end model will not really hold up all that much better than the entry level one.  This seems to be the case for pretty much all the other manufacturers out there, but there is one exception.

Rockford Fosgate makes those silly Gamma Matrix RCAs that do a good job of shielding the signal from interference, but so do RF's entry level cables;  and the problem with the Gamma MAtrix ones is that whoever designed the plugs on those cables wanted to have them be removable for easier install, but they sacrificed durability by doing so.  I have seen MANY gamma matrix RCAs with broken ends (not the tip but the part that surrounds it), to the point where the cable will not stay plugged in unless you wrap some electrical tape around the terminal and the plug.  It's kind of hard to explain just what I mean but I'm sure those of you who carry/install these cables know all too well what i'm talking about.

Needless to say, I have never seen a pair of broken RF RCAs from any of their other models--just the supposedly high end gamma matrix ones.  And I've never been able to tell a difference in sound between the models.

However, I HAVE been able to tell a difference (albeit very minimal) between the "freebie" type RCAs that have hardly any shielding and are untwisted; also these cables are just very flimsy and one pull the wrong way when installing them can easily damage the cable.