Audio / Video Cables For Connecting Home Theater

Home theater wiring There are three basic types of cable connections that need to be made to properly set up and install a home theater surround sound system in which a home theater receiver performs all of the audio/video switching. When it comes to home theater cables, you always want to connect A/V source components to the receiver with the best possible type and quality of cable to experience the highest performance and maximum simplicity of system operation. All connections should be made with equipment powered off and unplugged!

1. Connect outputs from each of your sources such as a Blu-ray Disc player, video game console(s), and/or HDTV receiver to the inputs on the back of the home theater receiver, ideally using HDMI cables.
2. Connect the video monitor output on the back of the home theater receiver to the matching video input on the back of your high definition TV or projector, ideally using HDMI cable.
3. Run speaker wire from the speaker outputs on back of the home theater receiver to each of the five to seven surround sound speakers, plus a subwoofer cable from the sub pre-out jack on the receiver to the input on the powered subwoofer.

►Depending on the level of complexity and automation in your system, there may be other types of connections and cables required. A great source for more home theater setup info is Monster Cable's Home Theater Connection Guide.

►To protect your entire home theater from power spikes and surges -- and improve its performance at the same time, be sure to plug all component AC power cords into, and loop all incoming outdoor antenna, cable, satellite, and phone lines through, a quality home theater power surge protector! For home theater surge protection, we highly recommend Monster Power surge protectors. Check out the PowerSquid Surge3000 Calamari surge protector!

►Want in-home expert home theater installation help? Consider Zip Express Home Theater Installation.

1. Cables to connect AV components to receiver If your home theater receiver features enough HDMI inputs, you should connect each of your source components with HDMI outputs to the back of the surround sound receiver with an HDMI cable.

Blu-ray Disc players with BD-Live and Network streaming video capabilities also need to be connected to the network using Ethernet cable to experience all the "extra" entertainment possibilities.

Any home theater source components that lack an HDMI output will need to be connected to the receiver with separate video and audio cables.

• Video cables In decreasing order of quality, HD video cables include DVI (not commonly used on newer gear) and component video cables. Non-HD video cables include S-Video and composite video.
• Audio cables Digital audio cables come in 2 popular types -- optical and coaxial (not to be confused with the coaxial cable used to transmit cable and satellite TV signals into your home). Older analog sources such as VCRs, audio cassette decks, and turntables utilize standard RCA stereo cables.

2. Cables to connect receiver to HDTV / projector If your home theater receiver has the capability to upconvert all video sources to 1080p, you should be able to run just a single HDMI cable from the back of your receiver to your HDTV or projector.

If not, you will also likely need to run component video, S-Video, and/or composite video cables to separate inputs on your TV, and switch video inputs on your television every time you want to switch between your video sources.

3. Cables to connect speakers to receiver Depending on the size and layout of your room, you will probably need at least 100 feet of total (in-wall) speaker wire to connect the speakers to the receiver. Don't forget to also buy a subwoofer cable!