The PC World Test Center evaluated analog and digital video cables from
five vendors: budget-cable companies CableWholesale.com and StarTech.com,
industry leader Monster Cable, and boutique brands AudioQuest and Kimber
Kable. For analog connections, we tested the three-wire component-video
cable--the only common analog interconnect that can carry high-definition
TV or progressive-scan DVD signals. For digital connections, we used
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), which carries digital video
and audio signals.
Prices for the component cables ranged from $18 (CableWholesale.com) up to
$275 (AudioQuest). The HDMI cable prices ranged from $31
(CableWholesale.com) to $300 (Monster Cable). See our chart for pricing and
vendor information:
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,121777,pg,4,tk,box,00.asp
Our verdict: Whether you hook up your TV via digital connections, analog
connections, or both, you are unlikely to detect any difference in picture
quality between a cable with a moderate price and a luxury brand. Read on
for details.
Robert Turnbull, Toronto, Canada
