How to Choose Among Wiring Options For Your Home Theatre

I love integrating audio and video technology into my home, from little gadgets like iPODs to big purchases like a big-screen TV and home theatre components.  But in all of these systems, the quality of audio and video is only as good as the weakest link.  If you don’t make the right wiring selections, it’s easy to pick out a home theater system that looks and sounds great at the store and then disappoints when you set it up at home.  

You would think that selecting cables would be obvious: just look on the back of the TV and other components and find connectors that match, right?  Unfortunately, since audio/video manufacturers maintain backward compatibility with older devices, selecting the wrong cabling could make your state-of-the-art setup look and sound like something from the late 1990s.

So, what wiring should you choose to get the most out of your system.  Here’s some help.

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

For HDTV, HDMI is the best choice.  HDMI transmits uncompressed digital audio and video in one cable. It’s good for video resolutions up to 1080p (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD produce this today) and the full range of audio codecs (Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.).  Even though HDMI cables are expensive, they can be worth the additional cost, especially in high-end systems and systems where you are transmitting the audio and video to the same device.  (The latter is a benefit because you only have to buy one cable). 

Component Video Cables

For HDTV, Component cables are the next best choice. They transmit luminance (Y), and two color signals (Pb, Pr) each on a separate wire.  Component cables are good for delivering resolutions up to 1080i, but you must have separate cabling for audio (usually either optical or coaxial).  While they won’t produce a perfect reproduction like their HDMI counterpart, on most DVD-television combinations you won’t be able to see the difference.  Beware,  RCA-style audio and video wires will fit into the component video jacks, but these wires lack the bandwidth to carry the video signal and will lead to degraded picture quality (or in worst cases, no picture).

Separate Video (S-video)

For non-HDTV, S-video offers the best alternative.  S-video transmits the brightness channel separate from the color data. It is noticeably better than composite signals and a good choice for an old VCR.  S-video is also strictly a video source, so you’ll need separate cables for audio (in most cases, this will be RCA cables).

Fiber Optic Audio

Optical audio cables are a must have for the true audiophile. These cables transmit data using light, meaning the signal won’t degrade over short distances. The only downside is that these cables break easily when bent, and they don’t transmit video.

Coaxial (Coax) Audio

Coax audio is a shielded copper wire used to transmit digital audio signals. Coax carries the same data as optical cables but  sacrifices some audio quality in the reproduction. If you’re like me, you probably can’t hear the difference, and Coax cables are generally cheaper than fiber.  Just like with optical cable, you’ll need a separate video cable to transmit audio.

RCA Composite Audio and Video

Finally, if you haven’t upgraded your TV or VCR in the last 8 years, you’ll probably be limited to RCA cables.  These mainstays of the audio/video world have been with us since long before I was born, and have only recently gone out of style.  These cables carry an individual analog signal and should only be used where newer options are unavailable.

Compatibility and Cable Length

Before purchasing any cables, be sure your equipment has the right inputs and outputs.  Extra coiled wire can also degrade a signal, so be sure to select the shortest length that reaches between the components comfortably.

What do you think? What cables do you use? Any major benefits / downsides I left out?