A number of manufacturers have stepped forward to provide specialty cables that can reduce labor costs when installing high-end systems. Genesis Cable Systems, Pleasant Prairie, Wis., provides a variety of “multimedia†cables that bundle combinations of Cat 5e UTP and RG6 coax for residential use. Because they are packaged in an overall jacket, cable installation time is reduced when compared to pulling separate conductors. The thickness of these cables reduces the possibility of excessive bending during installation, which can damage UTP conductors or reduce their signaling capability.
Home theatre wiring systems utilize new technologies such as HDTV (High Definition Television), and require higher grades of cabling for proper operation. Manufacturers such as Isotec, Des Plaines, Ill., provide purpose-built products such as the “Sheer Sound†RGBHV Mini Digital Coaxial cable, which meets HDTV and digital requirements, according to the manufacturer.