Why buy separate and expensive cables for home theater? What's wrong with the ones in the box?

Analog cables (composite, component etc.) are where quality really matter.

With Digital the signal either gets there or it doesn't. Analog cables are a different story.

That being said Check out monoprice.com

I have ordered several HDMI cables from them and have been happy EVERY time I ordered. I can't speak to the quality of their Analog stuff. to the untrained ear, nothing will change if you use the one's in the box. Absolutely nothing Yeah, that's a rip. I used to work for Circuit City and they try to throw all sorts of crap at you. A good rule of thumb is to spend 10 - 15% of the total purchase on cables. The most important cables to upgrade are speaker cables, you can probably tell the difference between those on any system and the ones included with just about any system are HORRIBLE. From there, you'd probably want to upgrade to some decent video cables. And a surge protector/power conditioner is always a good idea, but you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a decent one. And you can always update this stuff down the line, but getting speaker cable right away is probably a good idea. Cables and probably the surge protector.

Saying they won't install with the manufacturers' cables sounds like extortion to me, I'd really push them on that. Listen, everyone is going to try and sell you really expensive cables. Yes, they are better, but i'll bet you that you won't be able to tell. Especially if you are hooking it up to a basic system. Even if it is high definition and surround sound and all that. I buy ALL of my cables at Wal-Mart and I don't have a problem at all.