Cables do sound different...a little. But for HiFi stores' profit margin...a lot! This is the legacy of the Head Monster, super salesman Noel Lee. IME, compared to room acoustics and proper speaker placement, they matter little. High value brands like WBC or BJC are good enough for all but the real esoteric "everything matters" crowd, with pocket depth to match. Look inside classics like a Marantz or ARC tube component...no teflon insulated linear crystal unobtanium wire, oversized capacitors, etc. Best sounding classical records ever made? Living Stereo. Decca. Living Presence...alll made without exotic mic cables or parts.