Help New Surround Home Theater

[jrad13]

Hi, I'm by far no expert and was hoping to tap into member collective expertise and experience. *I've recently finished my basement and bought new HDTV and home theater. The Sony HT I bought is the 5.1 HT 6600DP. *At purchase the salesman recommended to upgrade at least two cables, audio and video he said each would be about $100, I balked but now am second guessing.. *can someone recommend what I truly should upgrade (Component video etc) and what I can pass on? *if so what brand or type to get?THANKS!!

[mustang_steve]

If you balked, maybe your in the right here.

Cables are insanley overpriced for what they are, and often are sold with less than kosher methods.

Look for something designed for your app, different connections have different impedance ranges they should run at (analog audio being 80-300ohms, digital coax being 75 ohms only, etc.). *Also look for something that is shielded, preferable rather heavily shielded. *This can make a big difference when you have the normal spaghetti pile of cables running around the back of your audiorack if you have had problems with noise in your lines.

If you want, just buy some basic shielded cable, or radio shack golds, and see if they make the mark. *If not, then it's time to look for something a bit more substantial.

Either way, $100 per cable is ridiculous unless they are some seriously long cables.

[jrad13]

Thanks MS, I will liekly start at a moderate upgrade from the stock cables and look for a moderately priced gold type at RS... let ya know how I make out...

The bottom line for me was cost/benefit, the cost of upgrading cables for any noticeable difference in sound or video quality to a non pro like myself... thanks again!