Audio and Video Cables

No system is complete without the Audio/Video cables that connect everything. Most components come with free A/V cables that allow you to hook up your system and get it running. In most cases, though, these cables are worth what you paid (Free). Upgrading to a higher quality of wire can make a noticeable difference in how your A/V system looks and sounds. Assuming you've decided what types of cables and wires you need, you're left with a large assortment of brands and quality levels to choose from.

Does any of it make a difference?
In some cases, yes. Larger speaker wire passes more of the audio amplifier's signal on to the speakers themselves, assuming that the length is relatively long (30 feet) or the speakers are harder to drive (less than 4 ohms). The same is true of video cables. Low resolution signals, like NTSC, don't require thick wires. A decent-quality S-video cable, for an example, can run up to a couple of hundred feet. Poor quality cables, on the other hand, don't. There are plenty of affordable, decent quality video cables. Upconverted or high definition signals should only be run only over short lengths, though, with regular, not mini, sized cables. Digital audio signals can use the same wire as composite video cables. You should also keep line level audio cables as short as possible, unless you're using balanced cables, which can be longer. You should expect to spend five to ten percent of your home theater's budget on cables.

A/V Reporter,
CL West