"Thomas G. Marshall" . com
wrote in message news:Ke2ne.5436$zb.4004@trndny06...

Note: I'm expecting to be flamed from here to china for asking this,
because
variations have been asked a million times here. I've read through a
number
of them, but would like another stab at it.

AFAICT, the /universe/ uses essentially three kinds of
AV/audio/s-video/component cables. I'll gladly accept correction here.

1. The mostly inexpensive ~6 to 12 dollars
2. Acoustic Research
3. Monster

Is there a lesser known manufacturer out there than anyone particularly
loves that is cheaper, but of similar quality at AR or M.

I'm afraid you've been taken in by advertising. The AR brand is available as
a generic from
Parts Express: http://www.partsexpress.com/
There is no apparent brand difference, even though the manufacturers spend
millions of dollars on branding exercises to brainwash you, nor is there any
reason to believe that Monster is "better".

In my experience, there are some sonic differences, but these have to do
with the specific, unusual construction of the cable that is not found in
mainstream product such as you are considering. It is not related to general
quality. I have heard a rather unusual cable, made of twisted pair embedded
in Kapton, but it is not priced to interest either you or me.