I'LL confined my positive view towards boutique-branded cable ONLY for VIDEO. The picture is everything. This means I would argue for S-VIDEO, COMPONENT and HDMI cables only. The more expensive the likelihood is better that it has good craftsmanship. My most relatively expensive cable is a Transparent S-Video which sells for P5,000+. Although its really hard to swallow, financially, I went after it because its the only video cable that could accentuate an older front projector's picture resolution in the absence of component, DVI or HDMI outlets. Expensive brands like Transparent could have charged premium on this S-Video because it was not sub-contracted in China, its made entirely in the United States, and with very low or modest volume. My other video cables are Monster THX1000's and Kimber Kable HDMI's. I cannot hold back serious money in getting after these brands because they're electronic durables, they'd be used for years and they don't need to be upgraded.
For audio, thats where the causes to argue have to be laid out because sound is not as tangible as video which your eyes, and any body's eye, could truly evaluate - hard and in the flesh.....