Originally posted by: mshan
I just bought a 2 meter Wireworld Ultra-Violet HDMI cable (paid $65 on eBay), and to my eyes, it is a definite, though subtle step up from the basic Monoprice ones, connecting either my Apple TV or PS3 to my Samsung LN46A550.
I see lower noise, a sense of slightly higher resolution, and interestingly at least for the PS3, a much greater sense of speed while playing games such as Gran Turismo 5.
Before I got the Ultra-Violet, I had tried a Belden Pure AV HDMI (all copper one), and felt it was just filtering noise (and detail) and not actually passing the signal more accurately and coherently.
Differences are subtle and may vary with quality of source and monitor used. My guess is that basic difference you could expect to see with better built (higher quality materials, tigher tolerances, better connectors) would be lower video noise and a more highly refined and resolved picture (picture seems more transparent, with more depth, and possibly colors that just seem more right). That being said, the Monoprice cables may not look slightly coarse to you until you compare it to a true premium cable.
I'd view it like how reasonable audiophiles view compentently designed and manufactured cables - they are a final finishing touch, a burnishing, once you have base components you are happy with already in place.
Buy a basic 28G tinned copper HDMI from Monoprice, along with one of the
premium flat HDMI they now offer and see what you think (
Generic Flat HDMI Link;
Wireworld Flat HDMI Link). See what you like and don't dislike, and if you still feel your cable box has more to offer, start researching for quality "videophile" type hdmi cables and see if reviews correlate with what you feel is deficient in your current setup.
http://www.thecableco.com/ allows you to borrow cables and test them in your own system; they do however charge shipping and non-refundable deposits, which are applied against future purchases (probably full retail).
Good Luck!