Choosing Quality RCA Audio Video Cables

Whether you're a hardened gearhead,  or you’ve just bought your first complete home theater system, you’re going to want to get the most out of your new Audio/Video equipment. Poor quality cables may allow noise and interference to compromise the signals coming from your new components, with the end result being a sub-par listening or viewing experience.

The new A/V components you’ve purchased won’t include all the cables you need for your setup.  The lengths may be wrong, you may need a different gender, or a right angle connector to fit.  The OEM cables that are included will also be of basic quality, nothing special.  You’ll need to consider immediately replacing those free "in-the-box" cables with higher-quality ones, and enjoy more realistic sound and a clearer picture.

Basic Anatomy of a Cable
The cable consist of three main parts, all of which can affect signal quality: 1) the conductor, 2) the shielding, and 3) the connector. The conductor is the portion of the cable through which the signal directly passes. Since the conductor is basically a wire, it can act as an antenna to receive radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI).  A good cable must include metal shielding to filter out these potential sources of noise. Last but not least, the connector is the part of the cable that actually comes into contact with your Audio Video equipment.

Essential Features:
Good quality audio cables will contain an oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductor, which passes signals accurately with minimal signal loss or degredation. Many premium cables also include two separate shielding elements.  One will typically be made of braided copper, designed to guard against RFI, and the other one will be made of foil, to guard against EMI.  The idea is to prevent  annoying buzzes or ‘pops’ from being introduced into the Audio Video signal.

Directional Arrows:
One some cables, the shield is grounded only on the end that connects to the source.  The idea is that the interference will drain away from the destination end of the cable. Cables of this type can be identified by directional arrows printed on their jackets.  Make sure to hook them up with the arrow pointing away from the source.

RCA Audio interconnects
You will notice that connectors are critically important to cable quality. Quality RCA connectors provide constant, high-pressure contact with your components' jacks.  They will also be gold-plated to prevent corrosion, and to ensure a clean contact. The goal is high-quality signal transfer which won't cut out, act intermittently or degrade over time. For RCA style interconnects, try to keep lengths below 30 meters.

Some manufacturers such as Ultralink and Monster Cable offer many different levels of cable quality. How do you pick the level that's right for your system? If you've noticed lots of interference in your picture or sound, or if you're running cable over a relatively long distance, the key is to look for the best level of shielding you can afford. Be less concerned about the overall diameter of the plastic or rubber cladding, that only protects from physical damage.  The quality and diameter of the conductor on the inside may vary, but typically make less of  difference than quality shielding.