We've heard this question so many times that we've taken for granted the answer, but given the recent increase in competition in the cable market, we figured we'd pass along Josiah's question on the matter:

"I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars for those cables sold in Best Buy and Circuit City, but I want the best possible audio and video quality. I've got a pretty basic setup, and I just need a few HDMI cables, a set of component cables and a few optical audio cables. Where would I go to get the best for my money? Is there a particular brand I should look for? What has worked out for your readers?"

Unload your experiences with cables -- however expensive (or cheap) -- below, and be sure to elaborate on which brand / store / etc. you found to be the best for the price. Oh, and make no mention of Furutech, we're trying to keep the cost-per-cable under a grand.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

We live in an ever changing world of electronics -- which is the way we like it -- but sometimes we try to hold on to the past. It's not that we don't like progress or change, but it's just that we feel that for us to throw out all of our old stuff and replace it with new stuff, that the new stuff had better be an improvement. Recently we started playing with Vudu again, and one thing we realized we missed in our review was the fact that HDMI is required for HD viewing. We find this new trend to kill component video a real drag, but wonder is it time to let go? We know that custom integrators don't like HDMI, but other than that, are we the only ones holding on to the ability to use existing custom cables that don't fall out on their own?

Now here's an adapter we can all love: the HDfury2. Put simply, this kit enables owners of pre-2005 displays to enjoy 1080p content via HDMI. Those "older" sets and projectors lacked the ability to comprehend HDCP, and this minuscule device packs a built-in deciphering converter that pumps out Blu-ray content at beautiful 1080p over component / VGA. There's also an audio combo jack that channels analog and digital optical formats, and yes, it plays nice with both PAL and NTSC. Check the read link for all the fine print, and get ready to hand over $249 when it (hopefully) ships next month.

[Thanks, Daniel]

What is this, the unofficial week for dishing out HDMI equipment? Shortly after seeing an HDMI repeater and distribution amplifier from two separate companies comes Extron Electronics to tempt your wallet once more. The RGB-HDMI 300 conveniently converts incoming analog component video and RGBHV signals to HDMI, and while it won't accept Discover, it will play nice with HDTV resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,200. You can also select from a number of HDMI output rates including 1080p60, and the slim profile makes it easy to hide on the backside of a flat-panel. No mention of a price, but we're guessing it'll be somewhere between "costly" and "for real?".

We have all ideas that these converters from TV One will likely be used by professionals exclusively, but if you've found yourself in a pickle that requires a digital-to-analog (or vice-versa) converter, here's your solution. The 1T-FC-524 converts analog RGBHV or Component YPbPr inputs to DVI signals, while the 1T-FC-425 converts DVI to RGBHV or Component YPbPr. Additionally, the output resolution is the same as the input, and TV resolutions from 480i up to 1080p are supported (along with PC resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200). Both units are selling now for £119 ($235) apiece.

Not like Team Xtender hasn't been offering something similar to this for well over a year now, but hey, nothing wrong with a bit of delayed competition. XCM has just made clear that it will soon be selling the 1080p Mega-Cool VGA box, which takes any component input and shoots it back out via VGA. The box supports PC resolutions up to UXGA (1,600 x 1,200 at 75Hz) or HDTV (up to 1,920 x 1,080). Plug-and-play, NTSC / PAL support and USB power are all included -- you just provide the ins and outs. Mum's the current word on pricing / availability, but we're hearing that e-tailer Total Console will be offering it soon.

[Via IGN]

Hot on the heels of its 1T-DA-631 HDMI Extender comes the rack-mountable 1T-MX-3344 component Matrix Routing Switcher from TVOne. Granted, component uses are slowly fading, but for those still relying on the ole green / red / blue, this here device provides four inputs and four outputs with stereo audio jacks accompanying them all. As you'd expect, it enables any of the four inputs to be "routed to a single output, multiple outputs or all outputs," and resolutions from 480i to 1080p are supported. Users can control the action via the front panel buttons, an IR remote or the RS-232 interface, but it'll cost you a stiff $595 for the privilege.

Shortly after dishing out a v1.3-compliant 1:10 HDMI distribution amplifier and 1:5 HDMI splitter, Gefen is hitting us up with two new signal pushers for the component lovers in the house. The 1:4 Component/Audio CAT-5 Distribution Amplifier and the 1:8 Component/Audio CAT-5 Distribution Amplifier each enable component video to be delivered to a multitude of displays (four for the first, eight for the second); additionally, each box is equipped with RCA, S/PDIF and Toslink optical audio jacks. The duo promises to carry both audio and 1080p video signals over CAT5 cables to displays some 1,000 feet away, and while they'll run you $799 and $1,499, respectively, receivers are sold separately at $200 a pop.

Hauppauge has pulled the wraps of their HD PVR, which can take a HD signal from its component inputs and transcode it to H.264 in real time for storage on your computer. If you don't believe that old-school analog component connections are any good, keep walking. True, there will be some degradation after the signal makes its digital-to-analog-to-digital journey, but we like the universal applicability of this device. Hauppauge is tossing a copy of its HD encoder software so you can then burn the recorded content to a DVD for use on the run. Available Q1 2008 for $249.

[Via TVSquad]

Those who just seem to sleep better knowing that every component of their (Sony) setup has the same brand name on it may take pleasure in the fact that the aforementioned company is doling out a smorgasbord of new AV cables across the pond. Apparently, the firm's high performance AV series will include HDMI, component, SCART, optical / coaxial digital audio and stereo audio flavors, and they will all be marketed as perfect complements to BRAVIA TVs, VAIO PCs, PS3s and Sony Blu-ray players. These cables are purportedly a notch above the midrange lineup introduced earlier this year, and they all boast 24k gold plated connectors and are manufactured from 99.996-percent oxygen free copper (OFC). No prices are mentioned, but you can supposedly find the whole lot now in one, three and five meter lengths over in Europe.

[Via Cybertheater]

In the mad rush for the latest and greatest, it's easy to categorize older technologies as inferior just because they're older. We've covered the topic of HDMI vs. component before, and there's definitely a lot of FUD behind the widespread belief that the newer HDMI standard is always "better." The bottom line is this, the gear on either side of the cable often has a far larger effect on final image quality than the cable itself. With well designed equipment, that old-school component connection may perform just as well as the HDMI one. Factor in HDMI's shorter reach, higher priced switching equipment, and mechanical stability issues, and you may end up with an inferior overall solution. Trust your own eyes and ears more than any marketing speak, as some of the push behind HDMI has nothing to do with image quality.

Wow, that was really quick. The CEA just turned down the proposal of adding 1080p to the component video spec. Apparently, television and movie industry suits were totally against the idea - big surprise. We're sorry if we got anyone's hopes but it doesn't look like there is going to officially be 1080p over component anytime soon. It sounds like there is a plan B however, but something tells us not to hold our breaths.

Normally home theater receivers aren't considered anything special, content to switch inputs and power speakers, letting the plasma flat-panel take all the glory. But Yamaha has thrown all the goodies and features into the RX-Z11 receiver, with THX Ultra2 Plus certification for quality assurance, five HDMI 1.3a inputs and two outputs, four component inputs and two outs, and support for five audio and two video zones. It also supports the newest audio codecs, including Dolby TrueHD, and DTS Master Audio. To finish off the features, the receiver also supports terrestrial HD and XM satellite radio, network capabilities and internet radio, and includes an iPod dock for external media. The RX-Z11 comes out in November, for an undisclosed (but surely expensive) price.

Finally, a group of A/V installers has heard the cries for 1080p via component instead of HDMI. The official spec defining component video transport, CEA-770.3, does not officially allow that cable system to transmit the highest spec of HD: 1080p. Now, most have found out that component can indeed handle the signal and in fact, since most installers have found component is easier to work with than HDMI, there is a group pushing for 1080p support. However, even if this spec is indeed updated to handle 1080p support, there is no doubt that next-gen DVD players and game systems will not allow it due to piracy concerns. Hopefully the MPAA is too busy suing some random 12-year-old and doesn't notice the spec bump as we would love to see 1080p support via component.

That wireless USB hub you peeked this morning was just the calm before the storm, as Gefen has now unveiled a smorgasbord of HD converters, extenders, and other accessories that you just can't do without. Up first is the $249 Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter, which pipes that recently one-upped component and Toslink connection into a single HDMI cable. Next, it looks like Gefen is expanding its PVR lineup with an HD iteration that supports HDMI and is capable of recording HDCP-compliant sources in 1080p. Moving on, you'll find a 4x4 HDMI CAT5 Matrix to string your HDMI signals along up to 200-feet using vanilla CAT5 cabling, and the $399 Component Audio Extender enables nearly any audio source to be transferred 330-feet away over Ethernet. Last (but certainly not least), the $699 Wireless HDMI Extender delivers a plug 'n play method of extending HDMI signals up to 33-feet over the air with no loss in quality. Unsurprisingly, Gefen's latest niche convenience products won't enter your AV system without a premium, so be sure and avoid the gallery below if you're already being negatively tempted to pick something up.

Read - Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter
Read - Personal Video Recorders
Read - 4x4 HDMI CAT5 Matrix
Read - Component Audio Extender
Read - Wireless HDMI Extender