WHY CABLES MATTER!

I said why.

So is  "Cables commensurate to the equipment in use. " your answer?

Basically it seems you don't know the specifics or you read that somewhere.

Doesn't answer my question.

Look, stereo gear comes in differing levels of performance. Some basic 100 w/ch amps can be had for a few hundred dollars these days. They use IC’s, low grade electrolytic capacitors, low grade resistors, inductors, low grade printed circuit boards and wiring. They make music but the distortion and noise levels wash out resolution and detail. Better gear still use op amps but will have better electrolytic caps and resistors, inductors and maybe better grade printed circuit boards. And today’s op amps perform much better than in the past. The best gear uses discrete components, high grade circuit boards, better grade of electrolytic capacitors and some film capacitors- better transistors, or tubes. and better grade of inductors. Now resolution and detail is sufficient to differentiate between the different grades of cables. The top end gear will have more sophisticated EMI and RFI rejection circuitry, silver or gold plated printed circuit boards and top grade wiring, resistors, inductors and film and electrolytic capacitors. Add in some nice metal work and metal boxes for this higher end gear and the prices do get rather high. You get what you pay for- very high resolution, clarity, low noise and detail. Now the best cables and power cords will work together with this gear to provide the ultimate in performance.

Take for example, my Marantz HT receiver. It is a nice 40 lb box that delivers 125 W/ch into 9 channels at 8 ohms. One of my Pass Labs mono amps delivers 280 watts into a single channel. That mono amp is almost twice the size of the Marantz receiver and weighs 110 lbs. I expect it to deliver a much higher level of performance and it does. I also know that the best power cords, speaker cables and interconnects will enhance its performance whereas those same cables would be overkill for the Marantz receiver. I know I would not hear much of a difference on my mid fi system with high end cables- it can’t hurt but it also will not help much.

I hope this answers your question and you are being sincere- not just yanking my chain.

It's the weakest link in the chain story.  Buy a top grade amp, preamp and speakers but use a $200 CD player and the system will not inspire.  Get a good quality source and the system sounds better.  Now get some good cabling to round out the system and it will really sing.

It's like my brother back in high school.  He bought a 1969 Gran Torino with a 4 speed transmission.  He rebuilt the engine and put a 3/4 race cam in it.  Double pumper four barrel carburetor and headers.  First thing that broke were the valve push rods.  The stock push rods could not handle the race cam.  Then he broke the transmission.  Got a Borg Warner T10- the rock crusher, it was called.  Next, he burned up the stock clutch.  Put in a racing clutch.  Took all I had to push in the clutch pedal.  Spun the drive shaft (or prop shaft).   Got a stronger drive shaft.  Lastly, broke the U bolts holding the rear springs.  Finally sold the car.  But it was fast.

@tonywinga - Agree with your commentary. Nice system as well. By the way maybe you should go into the rack business, nicely done!