Do you consider cables to be a "component" of your system?

Of course, they are components, and very important ones. Speaking of preamp and amp, I would first upgrade power cords and then the interconnects in between them. In other words, first improve power supplies and then do the link.

If buying used, 1m pair interconnects or 1.5m power cord should not usually cost more than $1k each, unless your set-up is quite extreme.

Examples are Wywires Diamond and older Purist Audio Dominus. Yeah, I got both.

Wow… I’ve 1/2 a bag of magic beans for sale, first half sold to Bilbo Baggins. Top end cables did nothing for his Extreme system so beans it is. 
 

Cheers

coralkong

Yes. Cabling is an integral part of any System worth owning. And Yes, Cabling does  make a difference. Next...

Happy Listening!

A new religion appeared in First World countries in the late Seventies. With the arrival of Monster and Discwashrr Gold Ens the Great Cable Race was off and running! Unlike horse racing there is NO measurement system that proves cable A is superior or different from cable B. The belief in sonic differences among cables is ENTIRELY faith-based, just as religion is! And just as devisive! The first person to invent a measuring system for these differences that the "golden ears" crowd claims to hear will qualify for the Nobel Prize in Physics!