EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING CABLES FOR YOUR HOME THEATER SYSTEM

• April 16, 2018

A professional home theater installation is a very exciting time. As it’s going on, you know you’re that much closer to watching the next big game or Hollywood hit movie – in style. However, do you also know that without the right cables, your new home theater system could sound and look as if it were playing in an echoing tunnel with outdated technology?
Just as you may put mid-range to top-of-the-line tires on your vehicle (because they’re better), you should not underestimate the power and difference of cables.

What are Cables?

Cables are everywhere around us. They give way for electricity, the internet and home theater equipment (to name just a few) and are made of one or more wires wrapped in insulation and terminated by a metal connector. There are a few elements to consider when buying cables for your home theater set-up; knowing these will enable you to have the most superior experience while getting the best value for your money.

Cable Shielding

Interference is all around us – even though it’s impossible to see with the human eye. This interference comes from electromagnetic power sources and causes noise which can be picked up by your home theater cables unless they are adequately shielded. In a simplified explanation, a shield is a conductive material which can absorb outside signals leaving you with crisp sounds and smooth visuals.

Impedance

Video and audio signals are alternating, and for them to span the length of the cable, from one signal to the other, the impedance must be completely balanced. If the impedance of each signal does not match, they become ‘choppy’ and begin to collide into one another. Although all this is happening in micro seconds, it can lead to noise and signal loss.

Understanding Resistance

Resistance has an important role in home theater installations. (In a layman’s definition, resistance is the ability to restrict the free flow of electrons.) When your resistance is around 5% greater than your speakers’ impedance, the sound performance will be hindered. Two factors affect resistance: the length of your wire and the cross section area within the wire. Shorter wire means less resistance; so when possible, a shorter wire length is ideal while still considering perfect positioning. The cross section of the cable is the thickness of the wire. The thicker the wire, or lower the gauge, the less resistance it will have.

Cable Metals

During the process of buying cables for your home theater system, you might notice the varying choices of metals used. Copper is the most common material for speaker cables because it’s affordable and has low resistance. However, copper oxidizes; therefore, it must be properly covered and insulated. Without doing so, the connection can become weakened. Silver cables are less resistive than copper, and so thinner wires (or gauge) will still have a low resistance. In general, silver is more expensive than copper and that will reflect in the price of the cables. Technically, you can buy a thicker copper cable which is just as good as their thinner silver counterpart. Gold cables do not oxidize, but the resistivity is high; thus, using it inside cables is not very common and rather costly.

Final Thoughts and Considerations

Buying the right cable can take just as much time as buying the right speakers or TV. However, this extra time will make a big difference in a way that you won’t regret. After all, why invest in an incredible home theater system and neglect the very components that allow sounds and visuals to be enjoyed at their optimal peak performance level?
A professional home theater installation service in Houston, TX. can help you to determine what type gauge and metal is best for you; after which, the entire set-up can be efficiently done to ensure you get the ‘front row’ experience. Contact DynamiqAV Integration today to schedule a home theater installation now.