Can hi-end cables benefit less expensive electronics?


Some time ago, there was a guy on a Polish hi-end forum claiming that in his case it was better to buy some hi-end power chord than investing in a more expensive CD player. Has anybody had an experience where they invested in an expensive cable and felt the investment justified without upgrading the unit utilising the cable? Overall, would there possibly be any point in buying some expensive cable to feed electronics nearly the cost of the cable itself? I'm currently using a KT88 amplifier with a Metronome CD8 (which is also used as DAC) plus Metronome DSS as the streamer (transport only). Speakers: Franco Serblin Accords. In my case, an upgrade in electronics would involve spending at least USD 15,000 to make it sensible. But I can also spend much less and buy a Transparent XL Digital cable to replace my DIY cable that I currently use, at a much smaller expense. Is a high-end digital cable in some cases able to make it a worthwhile investment in a setup which is not top hi-end? I can afford the Transparent XL digital cable, but not necessarily any upgrade to the electronics I own. Has anybody experienced an improvement with an expensive cable even if the rest of the system would rather call for a less expensive one? When I wrote to Transparent about it, they said I should get advice from my dealer. Cable naysayers please do not comment. Also I'm not looking for cheaper alternatives to the Transparent XL. Just fancying buying a cable that many people say is an excellent cable. Of course, I do not expect the same improvement with this cable as with a full DCS Vivaldi setup, but am I likely to get an improvement, considering that the system is balanced and nothing really bothers me in it? Or should I absolutely get a cheaper cable because the more expensive one is bound to make things worse? 

serblinfan

Is a high-end digital cable in some cases able to make it a worthwhile investment in a setup which is not top hi-end?

A good digital cable is critical and worth exploring and investing in, but how much to invest is very system/budget dependent.  In my system a better digital cable made a very significant improvement and regretted waiting so long to upgrade, so with your current DIY cable I’d certainly encourage you to try something else.  And getting a better digital cable will obviously also pay dividends if/when you upgrade other components, so there’s that.  Why are you locked into the Transparent cable that may or may not work best for your system/tastes?  Whatever you do, and as with all cables, I’d make sure you can try the cable first so either use a dealer who will let you do that or buy used.  Just my $0.02 FWIW, and best of luck.

I locked into Transparent on the basis of reviews (!) and the fact that I can get it at nearly half the price ;-) Also I bought much of what I own based on intuition and somehow I feel that this cable may appeal to me... ;-) Foolish, I know... ;-) But in my case, it's not whether it's the best cable for me, it's a question of whether I will like it without listening to anything else, for which I would have to pay the full price for ;-) Crazy, I know... 

And just to remind you, I’m currently using a Furutech FX - Alpha Ag + CF-102 NCF R. By the way, I’m so surprised I’m getting such great answers without the crowd saying that cables don’t matter. What are they doing? Barbecue?? :-)

Also I would like to add that I’m not expecting to transform my system from something I hate into something I will love. It’s a question for me of taking my system to something more exquisite, giving it some sublime touch. And here’s where I think (believe) good cables can do the job. I’m quite happy with the system as it is and I have no hopes for bringing it to the stratosphere. I was just hoping for some more refinement. And I just thought that companies such as Transparent with their XL digital link might help me here, as I have an opportunity of getting it at a good price...