Here's something you probably did not know: audio cables happen to be one of the most controversial areas of the electronics field. Certain industry experts claim to have developed highend cabling. How will you choose then? I suppose this is a subjective area. If you're not a true audiophile, don't worry too much, go for something that fits your budget and is compatible with your audio equipment. But, if you're intense about your audio, you might buy a couple of different cables, run some experiments, write me and let me know so I can update this wiki. Remember too, that an important consideration in transmission quality is the total length of the cable, longer cables result in degraded signals. So, try to accurately judge how much cable you need to get the job done.
Audio cables, as you've probably guessed by now, are sold according to a number of different standards: RCA cables are the most common, toslink is more advanced, digital audio cables are also available. Below we'll explore some of these options.
Cable Cabal
Be sure to check exactly which type of cable your hardware needs before jumping in. If you don't know which type, RCA is a safe bet.
* RCA (Analog) Audio Cables
** Standard single-pin cables used in almost all home setups
* Digital Optical Audio Cables
** For more advanced systems
* Toslink Audio Cables
** For toslink compatible systems
* High-End Audio Cables
** Let the controversy rage on...
** You'd think that after 6000 years of civilization we'd have found something more interesting to argue about.
* Speaker Wire
** These are specific for speakers, and may be needed to complete your home theater.
* Signal Splitters or Y Cables
** Split one signal onto two channels.
* Mini-Plug Cables
** Commonly used by headphones, and other personal devices,
* 1/4 inch TRS Plug Cables
** Common in commercial music applications.
Go Naked... Think About Wireless
Since the discovery of the radio wave, we've found a lot of ways to eliminate this whole cable controversy. Consider a wireless setup in your home, it will help eliminate cable clutter, but will generally be more expensive.
* Wireless Audio Receivers
* Wireless Speakers
* Wireless Home Theater Speakers
* Wireless Home Theater Systems
Top Sellers
Here are some of the top selling audio cables on the market today:
