What do audiophiles want from a cable?

Perfection is not an option. No cable exists that passes information exactly as it is transmitted. 
Therefore, people tune the sound of their system to suit their musical tastes. Whether they decide to use gear (speakers, amps, sources) to tune the sound of their system to their tastes, or cables/cords, is up to each individual to assess.
I believe that many folks find it easier to change cables than to change gear when tuning their system.

Why not just get a equalizer? Much simpler if that's the true desire. 

I use the "eq" on my MA7000.  A better way to describe it is a series of controls that provide me with up to 12db of boost or cut at 5 frequencies know to cause room anomalies(nasties).  I use it to tune my room.  Yes my listening room.  That is how it was intended to be used I believe.  You see there is a spike at 1500hz in here caused by I don't know what.  I knock it down about 2-3db and perfecto!  Good sound.

@yoby I have two pair of the Jade cables.  They are awesome, no doubt about it.  The move to an integrated made them available.  Are you interested?

Randy did you attempt to bring freaking POLITICS into a cable thread on an AUDIO forum.....?   There is a forum for that I'm sure and I bet they looooove to argue over there.  I'm sorry man but that's just wrong.  God help us all.

Thank you onelove for your comments regarding AZ Satori!  Sounds favorable and the more I read on Agon, the more it seems these may be some of the most highly praised speaker cables on this forum.  Most seem to love them.  I hope they will be wonderful, but I have not gotten to burn them in yet.  During initial hookup I broke one of the banana connectors on the amp end(7ga).  Now typically I would re terminate these babies myself, but after closer inspection and considering possible future resale, I sent them to Mr. Robert Lee for some new Furutech spades.  So Satori Shotgun will be back to me in a few weeks good as new, and I'll give my impressions to add to all the others.  

Watch out McGrogan, the dawgs are howling again!  And I'm not talking about UGA football.  Carry on with the madness please.

Where are you Budburma?  Hopefully somewhere "hearing the humanity" in front of the Opera Callas.  OR maybe on top of a Catskill peak barking at the moon.  Either way...We need your input here, and I need more of your impressions of Sablon Panetela and the Western Electric 16ga wire that I have loved in the past with vintage McIntosh toooooob gear.  Btw, I saw where the Dueland guy has made a copy wrapped in cotton, soaked in mineral oil, and then baked in an oven....no joke lol.  

Ok, so to answer the question imo, the least amount of insertion loss.

I think you're onto something here chrisr, because that is exactly what she said.