Audio Cables Buyer's Guide

They might seem like a minor part of your sound system based on size alone, but the audio cables you use can have a profoundly noticeable impact on sound quality. An integral part of your system, they're used to connect all your components together and transmit audio signals between them. Poorly-made cables increase the likelihood of noise and interference compromising your sound quality. So the audio cables you choose are just as important as any other piece of audio gear you purchase.

Most speakers don't come equipped with cables, and if they do, they're likely poor quality. This means you're responsible for buying them separately and need to decide which audio cable is the right kind for your sound system.

For the best sound, the cables should complement your sound system.

• Choosing an Audio Cable: Factors to Consider
• Types of Audio Cables: Digital and Analog
• Specs for Audio Cables: Shielding and Connectors

Choosing an Audio Cable: Factors to ConsiderˆBack to top

While choosing a cable, you need to consider which capabilities your system requires. There are several factors to consider while comparing different types.

• Signal
• Cable length
• Installation requirements
• Audio format

Signal

Older pieces of audio gear, like tape decks, and even some CD players, work just fine with a lower-quality connection. But with seemingly never-ending enhancements to technology for sound systems, televisions, computers and more, you'll want to opt for higher quality wires with better connections.

Cable length

Before purchasing cables, ensure you're purchasing the right length by measuring the distance between your sound system components first. Remember, there needs to be some slack in case you need to pull your speakers or other components out in order to fiddle with the rear panels. However, make sure the wire isn't too long, because this could degrade your system's sound. Also, when hooking up your front speakers, the wire length for each should roughly match in length to ensure each receives the same amount of power and produces sound at the same volume. The same goes for your surround sound speakers, though they don't need to match your front speakers.

Installation

Will you be installing wires in your wall? If so, make sure they're UL-listed for safety. Plus, remember once they're installed, they're going to be difficult to get out. So opt for higher-quality wires that you won't need to replace.

Audio format

Whether your system is analog or digital will determine the type of cable you want, as each system has different needs.

Types of Audio Cables: Digital and AnalogˆBack to top

Digital audio cables

Digital audio refers to the reproduction and transmission of sound signals through a digital format, such as a CD or files saved on a computer. This type of audio is extremely convenient in terms of storage, transmission and retrieval. Digital recordings are also easier to preserve than analog audio - they can be recorded and copied indefinitely without degradation of sound quality.

The main types of digital audio cables to consider are:

• HDMI/DVI
• Digital coaxial
• Optical

HDMI and DVI cables

High definition capabilities have become standard in the AV world these days. If you have a system providing high definition audio, you'll need a cable designed to transmit higher quality sound. Old school yellow, red and white cables are not meant for transmitting HD audio or video.

HD cables are the highest quality cables available. What's great about them is that in addition to the best quality audio, they also deliver crisp, clear video - all through one single cable. HDMI cables utilize a 19-pin connector to transfer digital audio and video sounds through the components of your home theater or sound system. This eliminates damage done to sound quality when converting sound signals from digital to analog and vice versa.

Offering surround sound capabilities, these cables support up to eight channels of sound. They're great for home entertainment and theater systems.

Since HD technology has been constantly evolving over the past few years, make sure your cable meets the HDMI standard of the audio equipment you're connecting.

DVI cables also transmit HD audio and video, but these are typically used with computer monitors. However, there are adapters on the market that convert DVI to HDMI and HDMI to DVI.

Optical cables

These common cables, also known as fiber optic or Toslink, transmit digital audio signals as pulses of light, making them impervious to the woes of sound interference. While they have surround sound capabilities for up to 5.1 channels, they have trouble with high resolution formats. These aren't the ideal cables for hooking up your Blu-ray player. However, you'll find optical jacks on nearly all HDTVs, CD players, cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and home theater receivers.

 

 

Digital coaxial cable

Coaxial digital cables aren't as common as optical cables nowadays, but they still offer high quality sound. These cables transmit digital data through electronic signal pulses.

Resembling a basic RCA connector, digital coaxial cables are better shielded from sound interference. They also offer 75-ohm impedance, so they can handle more power, and a wider frequency range than the standard RCA. These also boast surround sound capabilities for up to 5.1 channels. DVD players, digital CD players, home audio and home theater receivers and other devices are equipped for digital coaxial connections.

Analog audio cables

Analog cables transmit sound signals that closely resemble the original, picking up on nuances and creating a more precise sound. However, analog audio signals are more susceptible to noise and distortion than digital sound. This is especially true of copies of original analog recordings, as they tend to deteriorate and degrade in sound quality over time. While digital is king today, analog does still exist in the form of AM/FM radio, cassette tapes and VHS tapes.

The main types of analog audio cables are:

• RCA
• Sub-Mini (3.5mm)
• Speaker wire

RCA analog audio cable

These are the most common audio cables. They come in a pair of wires molded together with separate ends; the ends have a red plug for your right speaker and white plug for the left, though sometimes they'll come with red and black connectors. They're commonly used for your connecting basic home AV equipment, such as VCRs and DVD players to your television or CD players to stereo receivers. Gold-plated RCA cables offer a bit higher sound quality, as they have extra protection against corrosion and sound deterioration.

Sub-Mini (3.5mm)

These smaller audio cables are great for enhancing your personal audio experiences. Sub-mini cables connect to devices like headsets, headphones, personal CD players, MP3 players and iPods. Even your iPhone and other smart phones have a 3.5mm jack that fits them, giving you the opportunity for communicating more effectively.

Speaker wire

Speaker wires are the second most common type of audio cable. They connect your stereo receiver to all speakers, except for subwoofers, which requires a coaxial cable. These wires transmit power to the speakers in addition to audio signals.

"Gauge" is the thickness of a wire's conductive copper bundle. The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire, meaning it will do a better job of transmitting amplified audio signals. Most speaker wires range from 12-gauge to 16-gauge.

When choosing a gauge, the distance between your speaker and amplifier is the most important factor to consider.

• Less than 60 feet - 16-gauge
• 60 to 200 feet - 14-gauge
• More than 200 feet - 12-gauge

Specs for Audio Cables: Shielding and ConnectorsˆBack to top

Shielding

Audio cables - aside from speaker wires and optical cables - are shielded to protect the sound signal from radio frequency interference and electromagnetic interference that will degrade the sound. Shielding material, which is often layered, keeps this interference from reaching the conductor and creating noise.

There are three main types of shielding:

• Braided shield
• Spiral-wrapped, or serve shield
• Foil shield

Braided shield

Most often shielding comes in the form of a wired braid. Small wire strands are braided to surround and protect the center conductor's insulator. Since this type of shielding is flexible and durable, they're great for handling the wear and tear of live performances on stage. They're best used for microphones and instruments.

Spiral-wrapped shield

Also known as a serve shield, this protection is formed by wrapping a flat strip of wire strands around the center conductor in a spiral. Though not as strong as a braided shield, it's more flexible, stretching when the cable is bent. However, they're slightly less resistant to radio interference than other types of shielding, and since they're also easier to make, spiral-wrapped shields are less expensive than braided ones.

Foil shield

Foil shields are mylar-backed aluminum tubes with a copper wire connected at each end. These types of shields are inexpensive and while effective, incredibly fragile and prone to damage. It's best to not move foil shielding on cables that will be stretched and reconnected often for this reason. They're great for speakers that won't be moved very often, like those in a home stereo system in a fixed location in your home.

Connectors

This is the part of your audio cables that actually plug into the jacks on your audio gear. Connectors are designated genders. Male connectors usually consist of at least one protruding pin, though some connectors have several. These generally plug into the female connector.

Here are a few common types of connectors:

• XLR
• RCA
• TRS/TS
• USB
• Speaker connectors

XLR

This type of connector is the most commonly used for professional audio needs. With ground connections, in addition to positive and negative connections, XLR connectors are typically used for transmitting microphone or balanced audio signals. Generally, you'll see these connecting mics to mixers and a variety of outputs to your speakers. They have a circular design with between 3 and 7 pins.

RCA

RCA connectors are most commonly used on home stereo equipment, CD players and turntables. RCA cables are usually a pair of wires that are molded together. The ends of these wires, however, are separate, and usually come with red and white connecting heads (though sometimes you'll see a black, rather than white, connector). These connectors have a central pin, approximately 2mm, surrounded by an outer shell. Designed for ease and convenience, it takes just seconds to plug them into your electronic devices. They can handle a wide range of frequencies and power. One thing to remember: RCA connectors are meant for indoor use only.

TS/TRS

A TS connector is a 1/4" or 1/8" plug commonly used as instrument cables, speaker cables or unbalanced patch cables. TRS connectors are similar to TS connectors except that they have an additional ring, allowing the connection of two wires. They're also used for balanced cable, stereo and can also be utilized as a single jack for input and output signal flow. The names TS and TRS refer to the design of these connectors. TS simply means "tip, sleeve," referring to the tip of the plug and its shaft, while TRS stands for "tip, ring, sleeve."

USB

USBs are commonplace digital computer connections. They have type A or type B connectors on one end and are used to plug instruments, speakers, MP3 players, digital audio gear and more into your computer.

Speaker wire connectors

Speaker cable connections have two common designs. Spring clips feature a simple clamp that locks in either bare wires or pin connectors. Another common connection is 5-way binding posts, which are screw-down connectors. These accept several types of connections, including pins and bare wires.