Listen to the howling mob of blockheads in the street, a trick or two with listening tests, and the whole crowd's on its feet. I'm with Doug Schroeder on this one--if it is not a significant change for the better, than it is most likely a waste of money. If you have heard a whole new level of sound when switching to a different IC, PC, of SC, which I have SOMETIMES, don't tell me cables don't matter! VERY SMALL changes in sound aren't worth the trouble and often the cost it takes to buy the new one and sell the other. The changes that are a new paradigm to you are just awesome, especially when you can do so for a small money difference.