This is one of those things that's been stewing in my head for a while, and once I saw this post about the same topic on digg I felt like I had to say something. Everyone is talking about HDMI with the release of the PS3, and it's worth talking about; many people don't know that much about the cables or the connections. Heck, I've talked to people who don't realize that their PS3 will look better if they upgrade their composite cables that come with the system. I'm not going to try to break down the entire issue of cabling because it's a broad one, but if you're looking to buy an HDMI cable, just pay attention to the fact that there are stores that will rob you and others that won't.

When I was in Best Buy a few days ago I couldn't find an HDMI cable that was less than $50. When I picked up my PS3 from EBGameStop I was offered a $70 cable. I started to despair; I'd be fine with my component cables for a while if it was going to cost me that much to upgrade into HDMI. Heck, the system can use PS2 component cables, and they had those on sale for $15. Cabling is something of a racket, and while there probably is a difference between the medium-quality cables and the Monster Cables that cost $100+, I'm guessing none of us have systems that will let us tell enough of a difference to make the price worth it.

I tracked down my HDMI cables at Meijer, of all places. They were stuck underneath the display and weren't badged PS3, so I did a price check. $20, Nyko brand. I brought them home, hooked the system up, and it looked great. That freed up a component input as well, so I was able to hook up my Wii component cables. Those cost me $20 at Best Buy, off-brand. They also looked great.

I don't think the GameStop branded cable is $20 better than Sony's cable. This pricing is all over the place, and it's clear that the only difference is how much each retailer wants to mark up their cables. You can save $35 or so just by avoiding Best Buy and getting your Nyko cable online! I couldn't find the listing for the Nyko brand online through Meijer, so they may have realized they can make more money by not offering them, or by marking them up in-store. Look for the red HDMI cable and ask for a price check. It couldn't hurt.

The price differences between cables that are essentially the same can be incredible. $100 one place, $30 someplace else, and $20 online. The fact is many places like Best Buy only carry a few brands and jack the price up. It's worth spending the afternoon shopping around for your cables. Best Buy had expensive HDMI cables but cheap Wii component cables. Meijer didn't have Wii component at all but they had a $20 HDMI cable. Don't get fooled into thinking that just because you're paying more you'll see a better picture, or it isn't worth your time to check around. 

If you're still skeptical, keep your receipts. Buy the $100 HDMI cable at the Sony Store and then a $20 Monoprice cable, and try them both. See if you can see $80 worth of difference. If you don't, take one back. The price difference will buy you a new game, and it's worth proving to yourself that the lower-priced cables are just as good. I'd also like to point out that while putting this story together, multiple Ars staffers have mentioned Monoprice. I haven't bought from them myself, so I can't give you first-hand knowledge, but they seem to have a good reputation. Happy hunting! 

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