So we have a high definition TV and a gaming system or a upconverting dvd player or HD player, and we need an HDMI or Component cable. Typically we walk into Best Buy or any brick and mortor store and see that $100 is average for a cable and buy it. Why? well.. we already shelled out alot for the tv and the salesman said you should get this brand or that brand becuase they are the best. So why not?.I don't want to mess up this expensive purchase, right?

You do not need to pay that kind of money for a fully functioning, heavy guage, shielded HDMI cable.

Monster Cable, as one example, is a very well known, reputable company that has great high end cable and truthfully, unless your a high end user that REALLY notices a difference in signal quality, you won't need it. If the tv or playback device is low quality or very inexpensive, the cable isn't going to make a big difference in the picture quality. You can use an inexpensive cable for 30 feet and have a great HD picture.The high end stuff  SOMETIMES works better for the really long cable runs.

A lot of these high end companies outsource the production to China and other countries, you pay for the name, the hype, the sales tactics.

Like any cable, you  want heavy guage wire, and you want good connectors and a good stress relief, that's the molded plastic/rubber around the connector and the cord that keeps the wires from getting stressed near the plug. Don't go for some really off the wall Chinese made cable, that has questionable manufacturing Some of these cables barely meet the standards in manufacturing and if you move them alot, may find they go bad. Monster is really good at making heavy duty stuff for this reason. 

3M, yes,the makers of Scotch Tape, makes an excellent HDMI cable. No fancy packaging, no frills, just a sealed HDMI cable.Gold connectors, solid sress relief. They are better than Cables To GO HDMI cables in my opinion, which are good also. I have 3 for my PS3, 1080p up convert dvd player and my cable box and the picure is sweet.I get no interference, no video noise, no loose connection problems and no handshake issues with any components. Two of my friends bought them after I did and love them.

You can find them on Amazon and Ebay and pay 1/10 of normal retail cost of other brands. You can even buy Belkin cables if your inclinded and pay about $50 for a 3ft cable with a lifetime gurantee.

There are many places that you will find quality cables for under $20. Just do a search and don't fall for the hype.

There are many discussions on the subject on the web. I like the one on Digg.com the best as you can see how even those that arn't videophiles like me, won't be oversold.

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