My first post,
The RCA connectors with cables; as stated in the many replies, in Analog Audio there is little performance difference between the lower cost cables and the high-end cables.
However, One exception should be considered, the insulating material which surrounds the center (shielded) wire can measurably cause a small phase change/delay. This delay 'time-smears' the higher frequencies. PVC insulation has poor performance, Teflon insulation is far better performance. The result can be heard in many higher-end amplifiers. The PVC cable insulation is common. I suggest you look for the less common and slightly more costly cables using Teflon insulation for the core/center wire.
PVC has higher Dielectric Absorption than Teflon. The effect of Dielectric Absorption is a 'storage' event somewhat similar to a capacitor. When a signal changes amplitude, like from low to high, some of the electric charge is first, slightly resisted by the dielectric then the dielectric become fully or near-fully charged, followed by the signal going to a lower level and in-turn the charge in the dielectric goes down, at a slower rate than the main signal, while following the signal down. PVC's high dielectric, holds onto the charge longer than Teflon's, low dielectric. Arguments abound about this effect on Audio. However I have measured and had several auditions wherein the acoustic difference is both measured and heard, predominately from 8KHz and above, just by changing the cable insulation types. Personally, after first making bench measurements. I was pleasantly surprise to actually hear the difference. Even more so when 'the Golden Ears' of a major studio, for the first time, noticed his favorite CD had a Silver Bell playing in the mix. Personally it was so faint as to go unnoticed. Which, I suppose, is expected compared to having such excellent hearing as, 'Golden ears'.
For Audio, you find little benefit, sometimes none, to simply pay higher prices based on advertisements alone.
For Video, it becomes even more important to use Teflon, due to the higher frequencies. In the case of Analog Video the colors typically are richer as compared to the relative 'faded' color to be seen side-by-side in calibrated monitors.
Jaye
