Audio and video cable suppliers often find the market lucrative. If "experts" say a particular audio cable sounds better or a video cable produces a sharper picture, most customers trust the experts perceived wisdom. Unfortunately, disreputable AV cable providers violate this trust to push more expensive equipment.

When it comes to audio cables or video cables, high price doesn’t equal high quality. In 2007, Apple began selling some songs with double the fidelity of their standard quality level for 30% more. David Pogue of the New York Times investigated and found the doubled bit rate did not provide double the quality. As you research audio cables and video cables, consider these factors:

1. Some reviewers receive income from suppliers of audio and video cables and gear their research toward getting more income rather than truthfully portraying products.

2. Avoid audio and video cable suppliers that push more expensive equipment or try to bamboozle you with technical jargon.

3. Suppliers of audio and video cables like to demonstrate the superiority of expensive equipment by quoting statistics from lab tests, but greater technical quality may not translate into greater perceivable quality.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Conduct personal tests of audio and video cables

When shopping for AV cables, always try to use a double-blind ABX test. To do this, ask a salesperson to set up 2 identical audio or video systems using different cables. Use an A/B switch, or a toggle, to turn 1 on and the other off in turn without knowing whether A or B uses the expensive cables.

I recommend: Make a homemade ABX system as described in Elliott Sound Products' Project ABX. To turn your computer into a ABX test site, visit PC ABX, which offers the source code for Unix systems or LinABX,a download.

Utilize reputable reviewers of AV cables and associated equipment

Some AV equipment review magazines have the reputation of pushing equipment whose benefits have little basis in the laws of physics or that are heavily advertised in their pages. If the reviews seem absurd or pander to advertisers, don't trust them

I recommend: Check out the results of The Consumerists' experiment, "Do Coat Hangers Sound As Good As Monster Cables." Read Don Lindich’s Sound Advice Blog offers advice on purchasing cables and avoiding scams.

Scour the AV cables bargain gathering websites

If you feel you need an expensive component and you are convinced that the claims for its capabilities are genuine, be sure to compare comments and prices across a few sites.

I recommend: Use Dealio.com, which offers a friendly interface to search for bargains and filter your searches. Cyberguys.com uses an interface that allows filtering and customizing the layout.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Research your options before you visit your local audio and video cable suppliers
• •  Request that salespeople leave you alone during your tests.
• •  If you can return cables, take several types home to test the quality.