[Sango]

The cables still matter to an extent to the typical user. I personally had problems with cheap HDMI cables before in the past where the audio or video displays some form of random artifact (like a little blip) in the video or sound for a quick instance because it was an actual error in data transfer. It happened at random and if one was paying attention, it can be noticed. I verified it was the cable because I would I replay the sequence where it happened to check if it's the source but doesn't happen again but I know it happened. Swapped to a quality cable, no problem.

One worse cable case (different HDMI, it was the XB360 HDMI supplied cable, where the video signal would randomly blank out for a quick sec while the audio was still present.

There are a lot more gurus that are beyond me on the AVSFoum about electronics even thou I am a member there myself. I also know a co-worker who write audio reviews for a known magazine for the high-end audio as well.