Home Theatre - What Difference Do Cables Make?

By: Warren Thompson
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:21:08
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

If you go to your local home theater store, you may be confronted by a variety of “extreme” sounding names for cabling: Mega Cables, Monster Cables, Uber Cables… the proliferation of “boutique” cabling is always a source of controversy in home theater and audiophile circles. The question is, how much difference do they make, and are they worth it? Well despite the perils involved in even mentioning this topic, I’m going to attempt to add something to the discussion.

The most important thing to recognize is that a cable cannot improve the sound of a home stereo system any more than an electrical wire can create extra electricity when you plug it into the wall. That’s actually a very good example, because when you’re listening to audio for instance, what we’re hearing is an electronic representation of acoustic sounds – that is to say, the actual sounds have not been captured and stuffed into a compact disc like fireflies in a child’s jar – they have been copied, imitated, and a representation stored on the disc as a series of numbers.

These numbers are then read and translated into electronic signals, which are sent to the speakers in order to approximate the actual sounds. With that in mind, it makes sense that poor quality wires don’t physically change the sound – instead it’s like a game of ‘telephone’, in which the band tells the CD, the CD tells the player, the player tells the wires, and the wires tell the speakers, with something being lost at every step so that the message “Aunt Betty baked a pie” is altered to “Fat Eddy wants to cry” or what should be a great live recording sounds tinny, distant, or otherwise just plain wrong.

A good cable will change the signal as little as possible, but all cables do damage your signal a bit – it’s simply a matter of degree. As far as which cables are the best? That’s up to you or your local audio guru to decide – much is up to personal preference, with the rest probably being left up to your budget to decide.

Warren Thompson is fanatic about his new home theater system. He is also a contributing writer for hometheaterfocus.com – an immensely informative guide to home theater technology, with information about speaker positioning, home theater lighting, projection systems and more.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Home Audio Video category

  • MP3 Players - Offer great & varied ways to stay connected with music - By: Nitin Batra
    MP3 Player is a device to play audio file. This device support specific audio format. MP3 is a formate that is supported by this player. It is a compressed version of audio format.
  • Are You Seriously Thinking About Installing Your Own Home Theater? - By: Scott Armstrong
    The home theater market in Dallas, Texas can get cofusing, let Home Theatre Dallas help you navigate the waters.
  • What consumers need to do before the digital switch on February 17, 2009 - By: Tony Luna
    On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only on digital. This article will help you determine what you need to do to prepare yourself for the upcoming digital switch.
  • Touch screen DVD Players - By: Orson Dixon
    With many touch screen DVD players available in the market, it may be quite a challenge to choose which player suits your needs the most.
  • The Perfect Paint Job Requires Perfect Planning - By: Virginia Wherland
    You may have heard that the bulk of a paint job, is not in the painting itself, but in the preparation to paint. While this is the case, it's important to note that a solid preparation before painting will also increase your chances of a more successful and professional looking paint job. So, do not overlook the important steps involved in painting preparation. Well thought out preparation will make the job hassle-free and look as good as possible.
  • The Hype and Noise about DVD - By: Sandra Prior
    Video CDs have been around for a while, but the quality they delivered was poor. The high capacity of DVD, on the other hand, allows for really great image quality - much better than VHS - along with cinema quality sound.
  • Preparing to Install Your Home Theater System - By: Vic Metten
    So getting that new HDTV and Hi-Definition DVD player sure has you excited. Now that your home and everything is unboxed and sitting around you on the floor, you see the 50 or so colored jacks staring at you, saying, "Plug me in!" Yes, connecting your Home Theater system can be a daunting task, especially if you don't know what should be hooked up for best quality.
  • Brand Name TV Stands - Guaranteed Excellent Quality - By: Antonio Gabellone
    For high quality material, choose brand name TV stands. Your entertainment system will be safe and secure, considering the durability of these television stands. Choosing a brand name TV stand will surely be worth your time and money.
  • LCD Versus Plasma - Which One is Best? - By: Leon Drell
    A new television is high on everyone's wish list. Who wouldn't love a brand new fifty-inch flat screen TV hanging on their living room wall? These days, the battle between LCD and plasma is on, and choosing sides can be hard. Which one should you purchase?
  • The Basics of Plasma Televisions - By: Leon Drell
    Are you thinking about buying a plasma television for your home? As you may already know, Plasma televisions are becoming increasingly popular as of late, as the prices of Plasma Televisions are becoming more and more affordable each passing year. Plasma televisions can provide excellent viewing experience, and are perfect for those who want to enjoy a high quality home theater.