In rack dressing, why is it important to keep power cables separate from signal cables?

Keeping power cables separate from signal cables is crucial for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). Power cables can carry alternating current (AC), which generates an electromagnetic field that can interfere with the signals transmitted through nearby signal cables. This interference can lead to degraded audio and video quality, causing issues such as hum, buzz, or distortion in the signal. By maintaining a physical separation between these two types of cables, the integrity of the signal can be preserved, ensuring cleaner and more reliable performance of the audio-visual systems.

While aesthetics, ease of movement, and disconnection are practical considerations in cable management, they do not address the core issue of signal quality and integrity that is significantly affected by EMI.