MojoLists

What cables do I need? This is one of the most common questions in home theater and it is one surrounded in myth and marketing deception. This article will focus on digital cables, HDMI, Coax and Optical cables to be precise.

Digital cables have the simple job of passing along a signal, and this is the important part, it is a digital signal. Digital signals make it to the destination or they don’t, the cable can’t add warmth or bass, it can’t bring out the high end or improve the image on your HD Television. Digital either works, or it doesn’t.

Bandwidth is the only factor that matters when buying digital cables like HDMI, Coax or Optical. HDMI cables carry both the audio and video in a single, easy to use cable. Marketing by stores and manufacturers (I am looking at you Monster Cable) implies that you need an expensive cable to make that new Blu-Ray look and sound right on your new 1080p display.

This is where they begin to flat out lie to the public, as I said above, a signal either makes it or it doesn’t, any HDMI cable will work, you get a picture or you don’t. HDMI cables are self-checking for errors so they work, period. There is no magic cable that improves the picture or sound, so one last time for those in the cheap seats, YOU EITHER GET A SIGNAL OR YOU DON'T, it is digital.

Digital audio cables are a little different however the general facts remain true, the cable doesn’t improve or change the sound of a digital signal, they simply pass on the ones and zero’s which cannot be colored or changed by the cable. The only thing that is different here is that you need to ensure the cables are 75 ohm, which gives more than enough bandwidth for digital audio.

Not all cables are 75 ohm, the skinny cords that came in your DVD player box are NOT 75 ohm, they should not be used for anything. Coax and optical digital cables do not error check but again, as long as you are looking at a 75 ohm cable you don’t need anything else.

Radio Shack offers these cables at a reasonable price, Monster Cable  is outrageously priced but there is not anything physically wrong with them, they are a good cable brand. I prefer Blue Jeans Cables, they are hand made and look great, all for a very reasonable price.

Blue Jeans Cables can be ordered in different colors to make component identification behind a rack easier. They also carefully match the ends so you know exactly which cable in a bundle does what without tracing it back to the source. I use them for my digital cables so that all my cables match but I could easily save a few bucks by going to Radio Shack.

Analog cables require a bit more consideration than digital, I will be discussing them in the next article.

Choosing Analog Cables

Organizing a large DVD and Blu-Ray collection is more than just putting the movies on a shelf. You need a tracking system and an orderly way of arranging the movies so you can find what you want quickly.

When I was living alone and had less than 500 DVDs, I was able to maintain them with less effort than I am able to now, I always knew the movie was there, I just didn’t always know its exact location. Then my good friend and neighbor got his first DVD player and I started loaning movies out.

Loaning movies out must be done with extreme caution, I only have two people I loan movies too and I don’t feel a bit bad about telling everyone else no. Loaning movies complicates things unless you keep careful track of your movies but there is a solution that makes keeping track of your current movies easy. It also keeps track of your wish list and best of all, the movies you loan out.

DVD Profiler comes in a free and premium version. The free version does everything you could want but the premium version is inexpensive and includes a few bonus features. Adding your DVD, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD discs is as easy as entering the name, UPC, reading the disc in a DVD drive or by using a hand scanner. The DVD Profiler database is kept up by enthusiasts and includes every region, version and variable you can imagine, so you always have the exact information that applies to your DVD or Blu-Ray.

DVD Profiler allows you to sort by genre, actor, media type and more making it easy to find exactly what you feel like watching. It also has excellent reporting capabilities, all of which can be printed out. In addition, they have a mobile and online version so you can check your wish list at the store or make sure you don’t already have a disc and trust me, when your collection starts to get big, you can easily forget what you already have.

Now that you have your collection loaded up it is time to organize your shelves. I use alphabetical, which is the easiest but there are other options I will discuss below. I print out a report in DVD Profiler and start loading the shelves, it makes alphabetizing faster. I go through all of my collection once a year to check for out of place or missing movies. Large collections, especially with a teen in the house, have a way of getting unorganized.

I also take the time to go through my list to identify any discs that failed to make it into the database or have vanished, usually into the depths of a bedroom. I track everything down and make corrections if necessary.

Alternative organization methods are as numerous as movies themselves, I have seen by director, year of theater release, and even by the style of case. I would suggest keeping it simple, genre is a good option that makes sense. I also separate my DVD, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD collections, more for appearance than anything else.

Now that you know how to find the best prices, store your collection and keep it organized the sky, well ,shelf space is the limit.

Collecting DVD and Blu-Ray Movies    DVD and Blu-Ray Storage

When you have a few DVD or Blu-Ray discs, keeping them safe is easy. It’s when you have 50, 100, 250 or more DVD and Blu-Ray discs that you have to start getting serious about storage and care of your collection.  This article will focus on where to put your selection to ensure the discs and cases stay good as new.

The traditional solution to DVD and Blu-Ray storage is to use shelves, large shelves, and this is the route I prefer. I have a need to look at the collection, pull out the case and make a viewing decision. Shelf storage keeps discs and cases in good condition and makes looking over your collection fast and easy. Standard bookshelves or dedicated DVD shelves are pretty much the same and interchangeable.

Shelf storage comes in a variety of sizes to fit most situations, the only problem is when you have so many discs, filling so many shelves that you have nowhere else to go. It is possible, as I am finding out now, to run out of shelf space and worse, space for more shelves. Those with an extra room can place their collection there but most of us don’t have an extra room or even an extra wall to spare. For most collectors however, the basic shelf solution is the way to go.

Storage binders are the solution for the seriously space deprived and it works in a pinch. Most people are familiar with these for storing CD collections but they work for DVD and Blu-Ray just as well. There is a serious downside to using DVD binders however. Small dust particles or even dirt get into the sleeves and scratch the delicate surface of the discs. CD’s are capable of playing perfectly well with minor scratches but DVD and Blu-Ray discs can become unplayable much easier because of a thinner layer of protective covering. Even if great care is taken, you can find your collection suffering.

Another consideration of the binder solution is that you have to either store the cases or toss them out which makes trading or selling discs much more difficult or impossible. It also makes picking a movie from your collection a chore as many discs have no clear identity and for those who have difficulty reading small print, well, you will suffer.

DiscSox is a nice solution that is a combination of the shelf and binder solutions. You cut the artwork out of the original case, slide it and the movie into a special sock to greatly reduce your collections space requirements. DiscSox claims a 13 inch stack of cases will be reduced to 3 inches and keep your discs safe and secure.

While I like the idea of saving a lot of space and still being able to see the movies cover, I can’t imagine cutting up the cases. The cases are not important to many people so you will have to weigh the DiscSox option based on your needs.

One creative option is using drawers, in a dresser, cabinet or even kitchen. This solution may work well for you if you prefer a shelf free environment but can’t bring yourself to destroy your collections covers. This option allows you to keep your movies out of harms way while maintaining a more traditional décor.

Now that you have your solution picked out, remember to dust shelves and cases often. Dust can quickly become adhered to the plastic covers of DVD and Blu-Ray cases making them less than perfect in appearance. I learned the hard way and grimace every time I pull out one of those movies.

Collecting DVD and Blu-Ray Movies    Organize a DVD and Blu-Ray Collection