Calming the Cable Cacophony

Do you get the heebie-jeebies when you see all those inputs on the back of a home theater receiver, a TiVo, or your stereo equipment? We can help sort them out.

There are an absurd number of ways to connect a home theater system, but the basic rule of thumb is to stay digital wherever possible and use the connection that results in the highest-quality audio and video signals. In the example below, the satellite receiver connects directly to an HDTV using either an HDMI or DVI cable for a digital video signal. If your video source won't allow this, use the next best thing: component cables. If you can't do that, use S-Video or composite as a last resort.

The cables that connect the parts of a typical home theater tend naturally to form rats' nests. The tangle not only is unsightly, it also can be maddening if you need to troubleshoot a connection or add or replace a component. It can even cause audio hum or video interference. Here are a few tips on keeping it neat.

1. Bundle signal cables that lead from one component to another. You can buy plastic tubing designed for this purpose, but cables cinched with hook-and-loop ties do the job quickly. Adhesive tape also works, though it's harder to remove when you want to make changes, but you can use it as cheap labels as well.

2. Keep power and signal cables separate. Running them parallel in close quarters encourages them to hum.

3. Label each end of every cable or cable bundle according to source, destination, and function to maintain sanity. You can buy premade labels for this purpose, though, again, adhesive tape is serviceable and easily customized.

4. Avoid using unnecessarily long cables. Some suppliers like Blue Jeans Cable will make cables to your specifications. Custom cables can cost more, but are worth it if you have unusually long runs.

Video signals all start and end in RGB format (a display uses red, green, and blue to create a full-color image). But video sources process and deliver those signals in different ways, and often you'll have more than one type of connection to choose from. Which one will give you the best image? Our take: For analog video, go with component cables if possible. If that isn't possible, and it often won't be, use S-Video. Your last resort is composite, the familiar "yellow" cable made famous by VCRs. For digital video, use an HDMI or DVI connection for best results.

Good news: Audio is simpler than video. The two basic types of signals--digital and analog--subdivide into two common types of connection for each. If the audio originates in digital form (as it will from CD, DVD, HDTV, satellite TV, and digital cable), you'll almost invariably want to keep signals digital until the point where they must be decoded to analog.

Michael Riggs

Writer Michael Riggs has been reviewing A/V gear for more years than he likes to admit.