The Optix range of video cables is designed for high-end home cinema installations. And we mean high-end. The three-wire Optix component interconnect sells for no less than £210 for the first metre, and £60 for each metre thereafter. If you're unfortunate enough to have a front room so large that your projector and DVD player have to be spaced 10m apart, you're talking £750.

At least the price includes the connectors (BNC or phono) of your choice. A pricier cable, the Optix RGB HV, includes two more wires. This is intended to route RGB and vertical/horizontal sync signals from, for example, a scaler to a projector. You could also use this version, with the appropriate adaptors, to deliver the VGA output from a PC to a projector.

As one would expect at this price level, construction is first-rate. Each of the three (or five) constituent cables employs Nordost's Micro Monofilament technology. This allows the cables to be thin, without increasing capacitance (which can lead to an attenuation of the high frequencies responsible for finer picture details).

The conductors consist of silver-plated, high-purity copper, and Teflon insulation is used throughout. Double-screening keeps out interference - very important over longer lengths. Our 10m sample was terminated in phono plugs of the highest order, colour-coded to avoid connection confusion.

Performance

Performance is also first-rate. We used the Optix Component to connect a reference-quality Denon DVD player and DLP projector. All available picture detail is faithfully relayed to the projector, and there's no noise. Colour and greyscale don't suffer during that 10m journey, either.

The Nordost Optix Component is undoubtedly a superb cable. But in the real world, who's going to spend that sort of money? If the 'spend 15 per cent on interconnects' rule applies, you must be talking one expensive system!.