My stereo consultant guy from a major chain spec'ed $900 in cables and power management for a "basic" system (the lowest end) which was about $500-$600 more than I thought I needed, but I don't have a lot of knowledge about what is in the box or whether it is "crap" as he says it is. He said they won't install with the manufacturers' cables. Ideas or suggestions?
It's probably a little of both: there probably is more commission on accessories than components; for long runs of speaker cable, in a basic sense, it is beneficial to go will larger gauge.
I suggest going with a 14-gauge speaker cable and a moderately priced power outlet conditioner/surge protector. Parts express has some good choices in bulk high-quality speaker cable as well as some decent AC line conditioners. I see you could do it all very well for under $500 total.
My choice for the line conditioner is the Chang Lightspeed CLS 305 (I had the older version of this model for several years with superb results), but if that's too much, you can still get a good one for under $200. The better the home theater is, the more sensitive to higher quality accessories will make to the sound and video quality.
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He's playing on your fears. You know what the profit margin for accessories is? About 4x more than the equipment you bought. Use the cables that came with it for now.
From what I understand expensive digital cables(DVI, HDMI etc.) mean NOTHING at all and are the exact same as their "cheap" counterparts.
Analog cables (composite, component etc.) are where quality really matter.
With Digital the signal either gets there or it doesn't. Analog cables are a different story.
That being said Check out monoprice.com
I have ordered several HDMI cables from them and have been happy EVERY time I ordered. I can't speak to the quality of their Analog stuff.
to the untrained ear, nothing will change if you use the one's in the box. Absolutely nothing
Yeah, that's a rip. I used to work for Circuit City and they try to throw all sorts of crap at you. A good rule of thumb is to spend 10 - 15% of the total purchase on cables. The most important cables to upgrade are speaker cables, you can probably tell the difference between those on any system and the ones included with just about any system are HORRIBLE. From there, you'd probably want to upgrade to some decent video cables. And a surge protector/power conditioner is always a good idea, but you don't have to spend hundreds of dcable management home theaterollars to get a decent one. And you can always update this stuff down the line, but getting speaker cable right away is probably a good idea. Cables and probably the surge protector.
Saying they won't install with the manufacturers' cables sounds like extortion to me, I'd really push them on that.
Listen, everyone is going to try and sell you really expensive cables. Yes, they are better, but i'll bet you that you won't be able to tell. Especially if you are hooking it up to a basic system. Even if it is high definition and surround sound and all that. I buy ALL of my cables at Wal-Mart and I don't have a problem at all.
The important thing in my eyes are the connections, not the cables. For example, if you connect your DVD player to your HDTV using a standard yellow RCA cable, your picture will be "OK" at best. If you use an HDMI cable, the picture will be great or even excellent. Same goes for the audio. Toslink optical cables and digital coaxial imputs are the best.
So basically, it's the connections more than the cables.
This is a question most people ask when purchasing Home Theater Components. It's like asking...why are You changing the Rims and Tires and/ or Stereo on You Vehicle when it already has them? The answer is Performance! Did You know that cheap cables that come in the box can harm You system! Think of it like this... when You turn up the volume on Your Receiver and the Amps start pushing more and more power to Your Speakers is like switching on a light in Your Home. The current going through the light bulb is so great that the filament starts to glow. The same thing happens with cheap cables. In low volumes the current from Your Receiver doesn't affect the cables but when You begin the push the cables they get warm (Grab cheap cables after a min. or so) and where the weakest link is, the multi-wires in the cables begin to break from the amps/ current. (most cables in the box are only 26ga wire) What would happen if You put the same cables in a Car pumping out 500watts? Nothing because they'd disintegrate long before You hit 500watts. Remember...the more strands of wire, I only use 10-14ga on My Home Theater. the better the wire, use High Grade OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) and the shorter the runs, don't go over 3.0' for A/V Cables the better the Sound.
The most you should spend is like $150, without a power conditioner. Just buy monster THX standard. the difference is the signal quality theres less noise, better power transfer, tighter cable management home theaterbass, crisper highs, are some of the beefits of better cables.
your system is only as good as your cables those in the box cables are the weakest link in your system.
You are getting ripped off.
You can get away with the cheaper interconnects easily. But you definitely don't want to go cheap with speaker wires....maybe not necessarily cheap, just don''t try to use the super thin stuff you can floss your teeth with.
Go with at the very least a 16 awg gauge copper speaker wire. 14 or 12 awg is even better....(the smaller the number the fatter the wire)
I like to get the best cables for RBG from DVD player to TV and fiber optic from DVD to sound amplifier. RCA's do the job every where else, you cant tell the difference with out instruments, I should say I cant tell the difference.
Oh boy. Somebody looking to make a bigger commission or they are just plain ignorant. For a "basic" system, that is quite frankly ridiculous (link to my website and have them call me if you want and I'll tell them this on the phone). No way in HELL I would sell somebody that level of cable and power products for an entry level system even though cables are damned profitable. That is just flat out unethical and shows somebody out for themselves instead of trying to design the best system for YOU.
If you REALLY want to make a difference in the sound QUALITY of the system, you want to look at the one component that has more effect on the sound quality than ANY other component or cable...the Room. A good acoustic treatment package will have a major, giant, huge effect on the sound quality of your system. The difference you will hear with cable upgrades may be totally masked by room acoustics anomalies. Differences in cables may add up to 1/4 of a DB...where room peaks can be 20 to 30 db. I spec good solid cabling for my clients...we even make some if it ourselves but it is always balanced from a value standpoint with the rest of the system (i.e. I recommend you spend the money where it makes an actual difference).
After room acoustics, I'd analyze your needs and likely upgrade your speaker package. Another $500 upgrade in speakers and a sub will be a hell of a lot more audible than $500 in cables thru an entry level speaker set.
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