Cable burn in

Of course: anything the Church of Denyin'tology's popes can't fathom, they'll summarily dismiss (uneducated twits that they are).

"As I already mentioned, this characterization doesn't apply to me. I'm an educated professional in a relevant field."

+1 @fair 

Quite the condescending statement "uneducated twits that they are" typical around here. I don't deny the need for quality cables in a system, however the point of diminishing returns is reached very quickly. As I stated earlier, a professional grade cable that has been tested and proven to meet it's design specs to perform audio signal transfer is all one really needs. They perform their duties in virtually every aspect of recorded music production. Engineers are listening to studio monitors via signal that is transferred and amplified through such cables. In a home listening environment, the same types of cables produce optimum results. Noise rejection and faithful, neutral signal delivery due to intelligent design, high quality wire, insulation and jacket along with quality end terminations. Now take the same 3.00 per foot bulk cabling and install say 20.00 in termination hardware and you have at most a 60.00 pair of 2 meter interconnects. That's a professional grade, studio quality pair used by industry pros who record the music you listen too. I make them all the time in RCA and XLR configurations. Now they wouldn't appeal to the audiophile masses at that price point in that physical appearance. Put a thicker than necessary insulation over the wire with pretty colored braided sheath and a 1500.00 price tag, then the upper tier deep pocketed ones will buy the clever marketing hype. In this real world, professional experience based example >60.00 is your point of diminishing return.

Had my interconnect cables custom made to be 10’3.47” long….mathematically this is the perfect length as all the distortion has plenty of room to disperse.

The AC based audio signal degausses any residual polarization that might be attributed to cable break in.  Sorry about that. 

Spend a hundred dollars and get a LCR meter.  Measure your cables.  You will then discover where your harshness comes from.

"Had my interconnect cables custom made to be 10’3.47” long….mathematically this is the perfect length as all the distortion has plenty of room to disperse."

Well that is true for one specific wire manufactured in a particular way. The math changes when you vary construction and gauge and strand thickness.

Cable cooking and freezing can change the math when it alters the metallurgical structure.of the conductor.

 You can reverse the cable and the math will change. Wire has a best way for proper electron flow.

 Avoid laying speaker cables on a bare floor as wood will change the flow of electrons and render your mathematically precise calculated wire to then be incorrect. Ceramic tile will not unless you have tile with heavy iron content. Also avoid finer wool carpets as they are prone to static electricity buildup which can effect your outcome too.

Sarc now off.

Hahaha! It's always a good topic to bring out the sour pusses dining on sour grapes. My experience in audio has been enriched by listening and trusting my ears. My experience and ears don't match everyone's I listen, or am in contact, with and I can only speak to my experience:  the very large number of audiophiles I've had contact with, am in touch with and have sat together and listened  on each other's systems pretty much all agree that everything can make a difference - and that cables are, and should be treated as, components. They to take burn in much like other pieces of gear. Trust your ears - you're on the right path in that you are listening and taking stock. Keep an open mind and experiment.

Cary gear tends to be a bit warm in their house sound and that can be heightened by cabling so it depends on the sonic landscape you enjoy. Keep listening and enjoy the tunes!