Not to open this up again- but the new September PC World tests cables from five vendors with televisions with both digital and analog connections. The cables were from budget vendors cablewholesale.com, startech.com, and Monster Cable, and "boutique brands" AudioQuest and Kimber Cable.
($18-$300.)

The four pages of tests are summarized in the last paragraph, "Whether you hook up your TV via digital connections,analog connections, or both, you are unlikely to detect any difference in picture quality between a cable with a moderate price and a luxury brand. The only difference you're likely to notice is how the cable looks behind your TV."

It is my guess these results translate directly to audio gear also. Dont want to start a flame war, just information to share in case you are interected in looking at the article.

Chuck

I bought my 25ft HDMI/DVI and 25ft Component Cables from http://www.monoprice.com and receive fabulous performance at a very affordable price.

I went to Rat Shack for some S-video cable the other day. They were out of their gold series, so I bought some higher end cables just to satisfy my need at teh time. I think I paid a little over $30 for a 3 foot run. Brought it home - thought it worked just like it should - wasn't disappointed, wasn't wowed, etc.

Then, a couple of days later, I was in a mom and pop record store, and they were selling 3 foot s-video hook-ups for about $3 each for a 3 foot run. I said, what the heck, and brought them home. As expected, they looked identical (in terms of video performance) to the cables bought at Rat Shack. Obviously, I brought the cables that were 10 times as much back.

I'm always so surprised either at the glaring lack in differences between cables or my inability to notice the differences. Compared to most of my friends, I'm an A/V nut, with discerning tastes. Compared to some other "philes," I might be a weekend warrior type. But, either way, for the most part, and for most of us, the extremely small differences exhibited by cables are not enough for most of us to justify paying a ridiculous price for them.

Hi snowmanvt,

Great! Thanks for posting the alert. I don't normally see PC World but I'd bet they don't get advertising revenue from cable vendors. If they do, it's courageous of them to run the tests, and the outcome substantiates all of my findings in testing boutique vs. generic cables of all kinds over the years.

Regards,

Yeah Adrien, I haven't had a chance to look at PC World yet, but no surprise, since those results would seem to be in line with previous results of Alan and other reliable researchers. Maybe I'll take the opportunity to bring to new members the heroic exploits in cable land of Mick Loney and Al Magnani which I mentioned in my "spaghetti cable" tale to you last year.

Here is the link to the article for those that are interested:
PCWorld
Enjoy!