If you were an analog die-hard, it would mean a rotary dial phone.
Agree about The Cable Co. precisely because what works for one person in their system given their preferences may or may not be the "right" choice for you. As to "right" there are all kinds of reasons offered for why different cables sound different, but in the end, it’s pretty subjective and it’s your money. There’s an affliction that pervades most hobbies and pursuits, variously known as ’upgraditis,’ ’gear lust’ and the sincere desire to extract that last iota of performance from your particular combination of components.
I use fancy cable on my main system and beer budget stuff on my vintage system. I’ve also started trying some brands, like Analysis Plus, that offer very reasonably priced cable starting at less than boutique pricing.
SF area has some pretty serious hi-fi, or at least it used to; there must be some audiophiles there willing to invite you into their homes and let you listen to what they are doing-- all of it is a learning experience. One fellow who posts here periodically-- with a museum full of rare, top flight gear, eschews audiophile cable altogether--not because he is a cable ’denier’ (he acknowledges that different cables change the sound), but for that very reason, uses the basic, run of the mill stuff.
There is also a DIY camp that has momentum-- you can buy raw cable and roll your own. The main issue there is proper terminations. Easier perhaps with some analog wire than digital. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you start making your own power cables, but there are plenty of folks that do.
A very famous manufacturer of the old school- Peter Walker- who developed the legendary Quad Loudspeaker- arguably the first full range commercial electrostatic speaker, was once asked what he considered to be important about cable. He said there were two essential criteria: did it conduct signal and was it long enough.
Between the extremes of argument and price, there is some cable that is right for you. Who was it that tried the beds in the bear’s house and found the one that was just right? That’s your mission. Have fun.
Agree about The Cable Co. precisely because what works for one person in their system given their preferences may or may not be the "right" choice for you. As to "right" there are all kinds of reasons offered for why different cables sound different, but in the end, it’s pretty subjective and it’s your money. There’s an affliction that pervades most hobbies and pursuits, variously known as ’upgraditis,’ ’gear lust’ and the sincere desire to extract that last iota of performance from your particular combination of components.
I use fancy cable on my main system and beer budget stuff on my vintage system. I’ve also started trying some brands, like Analysis Plus, that offer very reasonably priced cable starting at less than boutique pricing.
SF area has some pretty serious hi-fi, or at least it used to; there must be some audiophiles there willing to invite you into their homes and let you listen to what they are doing-- all of it is a learning experience. One fellow who posts here periodically-- with a museum full of rare, top flight gear, eschews audiophile cable altogether--not because he is a cable ’denier’ (he acknowledges that different cables change the sound), but for that very reason, uses the basic, run of the mill stuff.
There is also a DIY camp that has momentum-- you can buy raw cable and roll your own. The main issue there is proper terminations. Easier perhaps with some analog wire than digital. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you start making your own power cables, but there are plenty of folks that do.
A very famous manufacturer of the old school- Peter Walker- who developed the legendary Quad Loudspeaker- arguably the first full range commercial electrostatic speaker, was once asked what he considered to be important about cable. He said there were two essential criteria: did it conduct signal and was it long enough.
Between the extremes of argument and price, there is some cable that is right for you. Who was it that tried the beds in the bear’s house and found the one that was just right? That’s your mission. Have fun.