Cable Buying Guide

Whether you are looking for an HDMI Cable, USB Cable, VGA Cable, Ethernet cable, DVI Cable or any of the other types of  video, computer or audio cables,  choosing the right cable can be confusing if not downright overwhelming. It's almost as if the equipment manufacturers were trying to make it difficult! With so many types and price ranges, where do you start?

With Comprehensive's cable buying guide, that's where! We break down the basics of cables and use some cool tools to help you make an informed choice that is right for you.

What types of cables and connection are there?

Some common types of video cables are HDMI cables and component video cables for 1080p HDTV, VGA Cables, DVI Cables or Display Port Cables for computers, Cat5e cables for networking and RCA Cables or Toslink Cables for audio. Although there are too many to list here, use our Connections Tool below that shows you the primary connection types you will come across. Hover over them and you will get a brief description of what they are and if you click them, you will be taken to the appropriate cable type for each connection.

What type of cable do I need to wire my system?

It is very common for the average person to have some connector anxiety as the manufacturers certainly don't make it easy.  Some connection types are easily discernable but some like the various versions of USB Cables are harder to differentiate.
There are many different cable formats and connection types for video, audio and networking. Which cable you need depends first on the type of equipment you are connecting to each other and what connections they offer. Although in some cases it is possible to use a video adapter or audio adapter or an adapter cable such as HDMI to DVI it is always better to connect directly from one device to another whenever possible. Most connection formats are unique to video, audio or networking but some are used for more than one or all three applications. RCA connectors for example are used for both composite video and analog audio and the latest version of HDMI supports Hi-Definition video, multi-channel audio and has network capability built right in to the same cable!
Many DVD players and televisions give you multiple connection options for audio video cables. If given the choice, always wire devices using a digital format such as HDMI for example as opposed to analog whenever possible and cost effective.
Use our Cable Consultant Tool below which shows the back end of common equipment. Simply hover over the connectors to get a description of the cable needed and click through to see and order the cables you need!

 

What are the basic components of a cable?

Center Conductor:  The center conductor is the primary conductor in the cable. The size of the gauge and materials used will play a large role in the cables final performance. Copper is the best overall material while silver coated copper adds a small additional conductivity advantage. Large gauge center conductors (smaller numbers) outperform smaller gauge center conductors (larger numbers). Center conductors come in a stranded and solid construction. While solid construction has a small performance advantage, it is no where near as flexible as stranded construction which is used most often. 
  
Dielectric: The dielectric is the white material covering the center conductor under the shield(s). The dielectric acts as an insulator for the cable and determines the impedance of the cable. Most dielectrics are made of Foam Polyethelyne or FPE. The density of the air injected into the dielectric plays a key role in the quality and consistency of the dielectric. Premium dielectrics will sometimes be made via a process known as Nitrogen Gas Injection. This process uses very small, dense nitrogen bubble distribution which improves the uniformity and insulation qualities of the dielectric and is usually found on premium, more costly cables.

 Shield(s): The shield does as the name implies; it shields the center conductor to prevent it from picking up any extraneous electromagnetic or radio frequency noise which could disturb the signal you are trying to send. The shield also acts as a ground in the construction of the circuit. A cable can be made up of several different types of shields and can also have an outer shield as well as individual shields on particular wires or conductors. The four primary types of shielding are braided, spiral, foil and twisted. Generally, the larger the percentage of coverage the greater the shield's effectiveness and all four shields have different properties for protection of your signal. Shields are usually measured in "percentage of coverage". The higher the percentage the better the coverage (i.e. 90% is better than 60%). The percentage of coverage is critical to it's shielding capabilities.

Cable Jacket: The primary role of the cable jacket is to provide protection for the inner materials of the cable. The most common type of cable jacket is PVC which protects the cable and provides flexibility.  A "plenum" jacket is fire retardant and used by commercial and residential installers as required by construction codes.

Connectors

Connectors are usually either molded or assembly type.

Molded connectors are those that are as the name implies, molded into the cable. The connector mold protects the solder points and helps anchor the connector to the cable. Assembly type connectors consist of a connector hood that usually screws around the solder points of the connector. The problem with assembly connectors is that the solder points and a clamp at the base are all that are holding it to the cable and there is usually little if any strain relief. On a molded connector, the mold allows the connector and solder points to stay in place and withstand considerably more stress in part thanks to built in strain relief. Connectors can be made of many different materials which can have an impact on the performance and durability of the cable overall. For instance, nickel over brass is one of the preferred connector materials because of it's transmission properties and durability but it costs more. Many importers substitute this with what are called "die cast" connectors. It takes a sharp eye to spot.

You can also find more detailed information on cable construction by visiting our Learning Center.

What features are important to consider?

The features that matter for av cables, patch cables or network cables are subjective in some ways as a lot depends on your application. In general and without getting too technical, the primary features that matter most are as follows. Keep in mind how you are using the cable may determine the priority of these features.

Gauge: The gauge of the wire (larger gauge is better than smaller gauge though represented backwards as 12 gauge is bigger than 18 gauge).

Center conductor material: Tinned copper or oxygen free copper is preferred and avoid copper clad steel which is a cheap substitute with inferior electrical qualities. This is a trick used by some of the more unscrupulous internet stores and the china factories they support.

Shielding type and % :  A high percentage braided shield (90% or above) is better than spiral or just an overall foil wrap),

Connector durability: Choose molded connectors over assembled connectors if possible and certainly if you plan on putting the cable under any stress.

Reliability: A cable that fails is no bargain. Always purchase from a trusted and reliable source.

What doesn't matter:

24k Gold Connectors: Unless you will be using in extreme conditions where oxidation is a concern, there is no discernable difference. In the professional market, no one uses gold plated connectors.

Braided Jackets: They sure look good but have no tangible benefit.

Hi-End Connectors: Fancy connectors look nice but it is the materials used, the durability of the mold and pins, the bend radius and the reliability of the solder points that are truly important.

Retail Brand Names: If you like giving your money away, this is a great way to do it. There is simply no justification for the prices that some of these retail brands charge.

Fancy Blister Packaging: Fancy "aero-dynamic" packaging looks nice and some have made an art of it, but it's expensive, it is not green by anyone's standards and it's a waste of money. Also on a practical note, have you ever tried to open those darn clamshell packages?

What performance level do I need?

Your application plays a large role in choosing the right performance grade computer, audio or video cable. For example, if you are going short distances in a living room where the cable will remain untouched, a general purpose cable from a reputable source will do the trick most times. (However if the cable is not well shielded, even a short distance "economy" cable can become a problem and those problems can be exacerbated over longer distances longer than 15 ft.). If you are going longer distances or are installing a permanent system in a boardroom, live shows, classrooms, government installation or other commercial spaces where failure is not an option, cables are not easily accessible for replacement or will be repeatedly re-connected, you should consider going with a professional/ premium grade cable. These cables will usually use a large center conductor, thicker jacketing and heavy duty connectors to stand up to the abuse the cable will take. Some video and audiophiles will also like the premium cables to get every last pixel and decibel from their systems which is usually not necessary but if you want it, we have it!

Why do retail stores charge so much for their cables and are they better?

Because they can get away with it. Those so called "premium" retail cable brands have made a good living off of the consumer's lack of cable knowledge over the years. While their claims of superior construction compared to no-name cables may be true in many cases, their pricing simply cannot be justified. Can you imagine paying $59 for a simple six foot RF coax cable or $89-$200 for an HDMI cable? We can't either. That's where Comprehensive comes in and why Comprehensive has been the preferred brand since 1974 by people who know cable, Pro AV systems integrators. The more people know about cables, the better Comprehensive looks. The pro's always need excellent cables at a competitive price and they wouldn't be caught dead purchasing those retail brands. The Pro's simply know better and with our help, now you do too!

Why should I buy from Comprehensive?

Because Comprehensive has 35 years of experience serving those that know cable and connectivity best- Pro AV and I.T. systems integrators. The pro's insist on top quality, reliability and value but are much too smart to pay for the hype and marketing of the retail brands. They know when they come to Comprehensive, they will get the best of all worlds; premium quality, legendary reliability, outstanding value and top shelf support all while saving 25-75% off of retail prices.  (Click here to see some of our customers)
If you have any questions about our products or about Comprehensive, we would be happy to help you.

Please contact us at:
Phone: 800-526-0242
e-mail: sales@comprehensivecable.com
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