Radio Shack Products - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Dilmo · 01-10-2005, 08:20 AM

When I was a kid, Radio Shack made shitty stuff. Hardware, cables, adapters, etc. They are still around, so I am asking has their products improved enough to compete with more popular brand products? I think they sell under the brand Recoton, or something like it. Can I trust their products? I am looking for good, but fair priced component cables. They appear to be nice with a good price. What say you? Thanks.

biglyle · 01-10-2005, 12:50 PM

I use Rat Shack component cables for cable HDTV and have had no problems at all with them, my HD picture quality is excellent.

Jellodyne · 01-10-2005, 02:00 PM

Radio Shack, as a general rule, sells shitty products. Some of their products which are manufactured by third parties are well-made beyond their control, and are in no way their fault.

Vaster makes pretty good cheap component cables which you can buy for next to nothing at cableclub.com. Skip the Shack.

bembol · 01-10-2005, 02:39 PM

I don't buy anything from Radio Shack but with money being tight I had to go with Acoustic Research (Future Shop/Best Buy) which is under Recoton? I wanted Monster Cable.

I 8 Piglet · 01-10-2005, 04:48 PM

I have actually found radio shacks older cables to be pretty decent and very affordable. However, I have noticed that they are fazing those out for what are essentially the same product with fancier packaging at a significantly higher price.

Jellodyne · 01-11-2005, 12:53 AM

Quote:

I had to go with Acoustic Research

AR is not a bad choice. OK cables, relatively decent price. Not great, but if you're going to buy cables in a box store, AR is about as good as it gets on the price/performance scale.

Quote:

I wanted Monster Cable.

Monster Baaaaaaad. Ok, well maybe not bad, but definately overpriced. What you want is cables which are as good as Monster but for a sixth the price. Seriously, give these a try:

http://www.cableclub.com/product_inf...oducts_id=2065

The web site stinks and it's tough to find anything on it, but their cables are great and their prices are teeny-tiny. I know these guys because we order all kinds of network and computer cables (EXCELLENT KVM cables) from them at work, so I tried their audio cables and video cables which are great cables and a crazy good deal.

I also have a set of these cables:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...Number=181-672

They're about the same as the AR cables, maybe a little better, but not as good as the $11 Vastar.

If you want to spend Monster money, I've heard these are awesome (though I have not used them personally):

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/component/index.htm

They're pricy (like Monster) and I've heard nothing but raves for them. I guess you actually get a premium cable for the price.

Dilmo · 01-11-2005, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellodyne

Monster Baaaaaaad. Ok, well maybe not bad, but definately overpriced.

Way overpriced! I settled for some GE cables for now. Consumer Report gave them a decent review. Wish me luck. I almost got the Acoustic Research, but couldn't decide, and money is tight right now.

plissken99 · 01-11-2005, 05:53 AM

This place has great cables, as good as the top end Monster stuff, and much better pricing. http://www.bluejeanscable.com/index.htm

I've gotten a variety of things from Rat Shack that stunk. The first was a neon phone for my brothers birthday, when we plugged it in, it began smoking and burnt out after 2 minutes. The replacents light didn't light up.

I bought a standard set of stereo cables from them, that wouldn't work.

Buy speaker wire from them, avoid otherwise.

Sycho · 01-11-2005, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plissken99

Buy speaker wire from them, avoid otherwise.

I don't buy speaker wire, I go to where I had Co-Op and get free 12 guadge wire, lots of it.

Shadowman82 · 01-12-2005, 10:10 PM

Well at least the trusty Radioshack sound meter is a standard among the Home Theatre crowd .

Honestly though regardless of quality I don't like shopping at Radioshack because they always ask you for your damn address for every little tinsy thing you buy .

Dilmo · 01-13-2005, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowman82

Honestly though regardless of quality I don't like shopping at Radioshack because they always ask you for your damn address for every little tinsy thing you buy .

I have always hated that crap!

Jellodyne · 01-17-2005, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Well at least the trusty Radioshack sound meter is a standard among the Home Theatre crowd

Damn, you caught me. For all my Radio Shack trash talk, I own, use, and recommend the analog 'Shack sound meter.

Drugs Delaney · 01-19-2005, 03:35 AM

I like Radio Shack more than I like Kobe Bryant.

01-10-2005, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dilmo Suspended Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New Braunfels, Texas. Far From Crawford!	Radio Shack Products When I was a kid, Radio Shack made shitty stuff. Hardware, cables, adapters, etc. They are still around, so I am asking has their products improved enough to compete with more popular brand products? I think they sell under the brand Recoton, or something like it. Can I trust their products? I am looking for good, but fair priced component cables. They appear to be nice with a good price. What say you? Thanks.

01-10-2005, 02:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jellodyne Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN, US	Radio Shack, as a general rule, sells shitty products. Some of their products which are manufactured by third parties are well-made beyond their control, and are in no way their fault. Vaster makes pretty good cheap component cables which you can buy for next to nothing at cableclub.com. Skip the Shack. __________________ DO NOT SIT NEXT TO DENIS!

01-10-2005, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
I 8 Piglet Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: missing NYC hardcore :(	I have actually found radio shacks older cables to be pretty decent and very affordable. However, I have noticed that they are fazing those out for what are essentially the same product with fancier packaging at a significantly higher price. __________________ "I have respect for Beer!" - John Nash "He was a wise man, who invented beer." - Plato My HT v2.1: with x1 screen shots New screen shots 2/4/04 \| My DVD Collection as of 12/15/04

01-11-2005, 05:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
plissken99 Actor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dallas, Ft Worth	This place has great cables, as good as the top end Monster stuff, and much better pricing. http://www.bluejeanscable.com/index.htm I've gotten a variety of things from Rat Shack that stunk. The first was a neon phone for my brothers birthday, when we plugged it in, it began smoking and burnt out after 2 minutes. The replacents light didn't light up. I bought a standard set of stereo cables from them, that wouldn't work. Buy speaker wire from them, avoid otherwise. __________________ “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Snake Plissken Plissken's DVD, HD-DVD and Blu Ray collection And Plissken's home theater

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01-10-2005, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
biglyle Actor Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada	I use Rat Shack component cables for cable HDTV and have had no problems at all with them, my HD picture quality is excellent.

01-10-2005, 02:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
bembol Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: gta\|brampton	I don't buy anything from Radio Shack but with money being tight I had to go with Acoustic Research (Future Shop/Best Buy) which is under Recoton? I wanted Monster Cable.

01-12-2005, 10:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shadowman82 Actor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada	Well at least the trusty Radioshack sound meter is a standard among the Home Theatre crowd . Honestly though regardless of quality I don't like shopping at Radioshack because they always ask you for your damn address for every little tinsy thing you buy .

01-19-2005, 03:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
Drugs Delaney Banned Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Previously Banned User	I like Radio Shack more than I like Kobe Bryant.