Home Audio Wiring

Home audio wiring can rewire your social life.

Stereo interconnects are the most basic home audio wiring connectors for your home stereo system. This type of wiring connects two or more components. These are usually referred to as "line level" components. The simplest and most affordable interconnects are RCA Phono stereo interconnects. This is the most common form of wiring used in stereo systems today.

Gold-plated and shielded wires provide enhanced performance. Stereo interconnects can be used to connect CD players, tape decks, or turntables to your amplifier or preamplifier. Home audio wiring interconnects can be balanced or unbalanced. Unbalanced interconnects use two conductors. These are capable of feeding a signal from one device to another.

Stereo interconnects typically consist of a cable with a center conductor and a shield, terminated in an RCA plug. A balanced stereo interconnect carries the electrical signal on internal conductors and the shield acts as a noise shield. This is a more complicated form of home audio wiring and will also cost your more.

So what should you look for when it comes to home audio wiring? Since you can get a wide range of quality in these components try to find stereo interconnects with a copper braid shield rather than foil. Where possible, use interconnects with heavy, thick shields or double shields to help reduce cable noise.

Stay away from interconnects that feature aluminum foil shields. A foil-copper combination is an alternative option that also works fairly well. Bear in mind that all your home audio wiring should be kept as short as possible for better performance.

If you have poor quality stereo interconnects they can be upgraded with some time and financial outlay. As long as your home audio wiring is not corroded or damaged it will perform adequately. However an upgrade will greatly increase the performance of your system.

As far as home audio wiring for your speakers is concerned Audioquest, Cardas, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Goertz, and Nordost do, in fact, make superior wiring products. However at $4-5 per linear foot and as high as $40 per foot it may be impossible for many consumers to afford them.

For those on a tight budget, Home Depot sells orange 50-foot extension cords. Use it as a speaker cable that delivers reasonable sound quality. This alternative form of home audio wiring does an admirable job for the price.

And be sure to check out our pages about Home Audio Reviews, Home Audio Speaker Reviews, Home Audio Speakers, and Home Audio Subwoofers elsewhere on this site.