Reb, you stated: The #1 factor by far is the type of conductor material the cord is built of. Everything else is secondary. Well, I agree but only to a certain point. If I compare my current cable, the Pure Note Paragon Enhanced with another less expensive pure silver conductor cable, I hear very audible differences. The Pure Note is detailed (silver effect), has good delineation of space and instruments (silver effect), is fast (silver effect), and has agile bass (silver effect). But it doesn't have the emphazised treble and harsh upper midrange of the typical pure silver cable. So I think it has also to do with the shape of the conductors (ribbon, round or rectangular), the dielectric material and whether the conductors are cryoed or not.
Chris
Chris