Who makes budget speaker cables which are truly “good” or “exceptional” in quality?

MIT has expertise at the extreme high end that allows them to make very high value introductory models. 

Ordinary basic cable is good enough. The rest is a rip off.

willemj said:
" Ordinary basic cable is good enough. The rest is a rip off."
It is not "good enough" for everybody.
How many cables have you listened to?

My time is too expensive to waste.

There is a market for expensive cables.  That market is for those who spend the money and then truly believe they can hear a difference.  If they believe they hear a difference, then they feel that their music sounds more pleasing and therefore is a positive thing.  

The cables don't have to really do anything to please this market, and if that segment of the market is pleased, these cables serve a purpose.  I'm just glad I cannot hear any difference when there is none.  My cables are a mix of Kimber Kable, Wireworld and Monoprice.  They all sound pretty damn good though the Kimbers look cooler.