What factor can pose a risk to signal integrity when prepping cable for connectors?

Excessive untwisting of cable pairs can severely compromise signal integrity. Twisted-pair cabling is designed with pairs of wires twisted together to minimize electromagnetic interference and maintain a balanced signal. Each pair's twists help to cancel out electromagnetic interference that could disrupt the signal, ensuring that the integrity is preserved throughout the cable run.

When the wires are untwisted excessively before connecting to connectors, the balance is disrupted, and the cable is more susceptible to noise and external interference. This can result in increased crosstalk between pairs and reduced overall performance, which is critical for maintaining high-quality audio, video, and data transmissions in an AV environment.

While other factors, such as overlong pairs, too many twists, and insufficient shielding, can also affect cable performance, excessive untwisting is particularly detrimental as it directly impacts the essential design feature of twisted pairs that is aimed at reducing interference and maintaining a clean signal.