DO CABLES REALLY MATTER?

Glupson, I didn’t say they were comfortable. I said they sounded bad. Reading 101.

Well I will say this. To each his own. In my system my choice of equipment and cabling work for me in my listening enviorment.  Your room does play a major part in how your music sound. Positioning of speakers also play a major part. In my situation I’m basically locked in component wise. My system is very niche because of the brands I chose. They are great performers that most don’t know about so I think you should listen to your own ear to determine if the difference is worth it. I’m not going to go drop 5k on one Cable but I will spend a decent amount if I think a Cable brings out the little things that make enjoy my system more.  It’s up to each individual to decide what he or she wants to do. Remember though you are the one listening to your system the most so you have to like it not anybody else. As far as hearing is concerned. Some can’t hear the difference. I actually can so for me and my ear enjoyment I will tweak with cabling a little. Enjoy everyone. 

I may be wrong, but the fallacy that "some" seem to be making is people are purchasing cables without listening to them in their own system. I've listened to many different cables in my system. I have never purchased cables or anything based on cost.

When you have 3 people sitting there listening to a system they have heard a number of times each in the past few years.   All listen to the same 4-5 cuts using one set of cables, and then all listen to the same 4-5 cuts using the other set of cables.  Each of them concludes in similar ways on what was improved, and it was transformational to the system.  This was done with broken in cables that one or both of them brought over to hear.  I had not bought anything yet, and really had no desire to do so, unless there was a significant difference in the sound and it took my system to a much more realistic sound.  Being as all that happened, I then ordered the said cables from the distributer, or I bought them from one of my friends at a used price.  Call it what you want, that is THE way to do listening tests and to possibly see if something is a vast improvement to your system IMO.

All cables and power cords must be allowed time to settle in. Once the electrical-mechanical connection is disturbed you have to start all over. Even if the cables or cords are broken in. Therefore, any kind shootout or blind test is unreliable. It’s not that easy, MGee. Even if the cable or cord is moved without unplugging, that alone can affect the sound. That’s why the debate has gone on for what, 40 years? I don’t even have to bring up contact enhancers or cable elevators. Even when people think they hear differences in tests they sometimes change their mind later and think better if it for a number of reasons. Especially if the device is controversial. 😬