20 Questions for. . .Don Bouchard
Ultralink's Bouchard offers sage advice for those starting to get serious about system cabling.

Click for more >> Ultralink HDMI-RPT HDMI Repeater
Even as DVI and HDMI were being adopted by video manufacturers as the digital links of choice, one limitation of these connections was already well known: they don't like to be used in long lengths.

Click for more >> Cables: The Tangled Web
Yes, manufacturers are undoubtedly burning the midnight oil in hopes of becoming the first to develop a wireless standard for high quality transmission of audio and video programming inside the home. But for now, good old hard wiring is the only way to go.

Click for more >> Connecting With Your New AV Receiver
So you just bought your first AV receiver (AVR), and now you're staring in fright at the back panel and what looks to be several thousand connectors jammed together tighter than the squares on a New York Times sukodu puzzle – and just about as incomprehensible.

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There are three basic types of cables used in sending an audio signal through a length of cable:

• Analog phono or line level signals
• Speaker Cables
• Digital Connection Cables

For analog signals going from a source; CD player, Phono stage, Preamplifier, Tuner or other source, consumer products use an RCA plug on the connecting wire. For some of the finest systems and in professional installations, a balanced line using XLR connections are the connector of choice.

The size of the signal, in volts, is typically far lower than the signal level for a speaker connection. Because of the difference in this signal level, the sonic effects of resistance, capacitance and inductance produce different results when used as a line level interconnect versus being used as a speaker cable.

For example, the resistance of a speaker cable will be more easily heard than with a line level cable. A thicker, lower resistance speaker cable will usually give better bass performance than a thinner higher resistance cable. With a line level source, the affects of the capacitance of the cable can be more audible. Therefore, use a cable that is designed for the specific application.

Digital cables have a different set of parameters to meet for high quality. Technical concerns, jitter and bandwidth for example, are not major design goals for analog cables. Therefore, it is usually imperative to use cables specifically designed for a digital interface when connecting a digital source to a digital processor.

Some digital interfaces require unique connectors, Toslink or ST optical are two such connectors use in the digital world. Digital connections can also be via a standard RCA plug and jack and a 3 conductor XLR used as am AES/EBU connection.

UltralinkSDS - The Science Behind the System
The wire and cables throughout your home entertainment systems are as important as any other component and much more important to the final performance on the screen and out of the loudspeakers than most.

Click for more >> High Definition Hook-Up Guide
Today's home theatre systems can provide incredible high-definition picture and sound quality. In order to capitalize on your home theatre's potential, you need to use the right connections. The UltralinkHD™ Hook-Up Guide provides a user-friendly diagram to help you connect your home theatre with the very best available options; maximizing your home theatre's picture and sound quality.

Click for more >> "Putting The 'EYE' On HDMI"
Don Bouchard talks about the quality of Ultralink® HDMI cables in this article featured in the January 2008 issue of Widescreen Review.

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