My current setup is cable into 2-way splitter, one leg to cable modem, 2nd leg into another splitter for one TV and one HD DVR (Moto 3416). I am about to do some remodeling and would like to install wallplates to convenience and appearance. The question: will the budget/no name wall plate provide equivalent performance to the Phillips brand with "gold plated" connector?

Save yourself a few bucks. There wouldn't be a measurable difference on unamplified OTA, let alone cable signals.

There's also some fancy wallplates (Leviton brand) which allow you to have multiple low-voltage (e.g. coax, phone, Ethernet) hookups in one wallplate. They work just as well and they're very convenient..