For reasons that are not obvious from the physics, copper does sound different from silver. (Yes, I know silver is a slightly better conductor, but explain to me how that affects SQ, assuming all audio frequencies are conducted with equal efficiency in both media.) Different listeners prefer one or the other. You have to decide which you prefer, but I also do not think based on my own experimentation that copper vs silver makes much audible difference at all when it comes to headshell wires, which are very short. Like MC suggests, a good contact enhancer, or any maneuver that allows you to reduce the number of physical connections in the phono signal path, would probably result in a better bump up in SQ than changing from copper to silver over 2 inches or so of wire. Those connectors, from cartridge pins to wire to headshell contacts to contacts at the rear of the headshell, to female RCA outputs or a DIN plug at the tonearm to the phono inputs, are where one has most to gain. Get rid of as many of those as possible. By the way, I hate silver coated copper wire, but that's just me. I prefer pure copper or pure silver, solid core vs stranded. Again, only my opinion and should not affect yours.