Having built a number of audio systems over the years, I've experienced and observed why cables are perceived the way they are.
I start builds by first choosing speakers and amps as a package. This is both the most critical stage of building system and the most important equipment within the system. Especially the speaker, start off with wrong choice and you'll invariably end up at dead end. Next, in my case, linestage, since I always run both analog and digital, then comes source equipment.
I'll add the above is built upon two fundamentals, both AC delivery and room could be thought as critical components, both were taken care of very early in this process. I've been in same dedicated listening room for over twenty years, so these two things have been fairly static since I found a satisfying solution.
So then we come to fine tuning the system, this includes things like equipment racks, footers, cables. During fine tuning stage what may seem like undue attention is paid to individual aspects such as footers on any piece of equipment, individual cables. One may perceive this one particular cable as being the cause of some perceived sound quality anomalie, therefore, any number of cables may be auditioned. Perhaps they discover a particular cable that cures this anomalie, in the moment that cable may be perceived as an extremely important component. This particular cable and all cables for that matter now become far more important than their actual contribution to the entire system. I presume this is the point when you see people extolling the virtues of some particular cable. Some may remain fixated upon the moment this cable or cables took their system 'over the top'. They then go on to misjudge the true percentage of contribution this cable or cables made to the entire system.
Having gone through this same process any number of times over many years, I now have what I think is a more accurate perception of cable's value to the entire system. I no longer hear cable changes that take my system 'over the top'. My present system has reached the most pleasurable state ever experienced without the most expensive cables I previously owned. I segued out of them because over time they weren't this perfect solution I may have previously perceived them being. Its somewhat counterintuitive, but my experience has been the more my systems improved the less cables mattered. All the top of line cables I've auditioned or owned have had relatively strong particular flavorings which didn't turn out to work in long run. My take is these strong flavorings were chosen to make them stand out against others. Once your system is well balanced and natural sans cables you don't want or need the strong flavorings. I now perceive cables as workmanlike in nature, just get out the way, let the equipment create the sound signature.
I start builds by first choosing speakers and amps as a package. This is both the most critical stage of building system and the most important equipment within the system. Especially the speaker, start off with wrong choice and you'll invariably end up at dead end. Next, in my case, linestage, since I always run both analog and digital, then comes source equipment.
I'll add the above is built upon two fundamentals, both AC delivery and room could be thought as critical components, both were taken care of very early in this process. I've been in same dedicated listening room for over twenty years, so these two things have been fairly static since I found a satisfying solution.
So then we come to fine tuning the system, this includes things like equipment racks, footers, cables. During fine tuning stage what may seem like undue attention is paid to individual aspects such as footers on any piece of equipment, individual cables. One may perceive this one particular cable as being the cause of some perceived sound quality anomalie, therefore, any number of cables may be auditioned. Perhaps they discover a particular cable that cures this anomalie, in the moment that cable may be perceived as an extremely important component. This particular cable and all cables for that matter now become far more important than their actual contribution to the entire system. I presume this is the point when you see people extolling the virtues of some particular cable. Some may remain fixated upon the moment this cable or cables took their system 'over the top'. They then go on to misjudge the true percentage of contribution this cable or cables made to the entire system.
Having gone through this same process any number of times over many years, I now have what I think is a more accurate perception of cable's value to the entire system. I no longer hear cable changes that take my system 'over the top'. My present system has reached the most pleasurable state ever experienced without the most expensive cables I previously owned. I segued out of them because over time they weren't this perfect solution I may have previously perceived them being. Its somewhat counterintuitive, but my experience has been the more my systems improved the less cables mattered. All the top of line cables I've auditioned or owned have had relatively strong particular flavorings which didn't turn out to work in long run. My take is these strong flavorings were chosen to make them stand out against others. Once your system is well balanced and natural sans cables you don't want or need the strong flavorings. I now perceive cables as workmanlike in nature, just get out the way, let the equipment create the sound signature.