@curiousjim imagine cable production / assembly line with last step check before selling to buyers, assuming all cables are different, even the same brand! 

@stager Generally, I agree a cable will reveal its true nature almost immediately. I have had quite a few cables through here in 5 years and some of the designs do sound much better after "burning in"

@ddrave44 I don't believe the companies like SR and Shunyata apply current as much as they do voltage. Quantum tunneling is what SR calls it and I believe others do this 

Quantum Tunneling

SRX XL High Voltage Conditioning

The new SRX XL High Voltage Conditioning is our most advanced process for treating cables with 1,000,000 volts of electricity at specific frequencies and pulse modulations for long durations, creating a canal in the conductor material and contact points at the molecular level that allows electrons to flow more freely. This new process improves upon the SRX High Voltage Conditioning process by employing new extended duration sweeping frequency plots and advancements to our Tesla Coil, resulting in SRX XL cables to sound even more open and accurate than the cables before them.

Interestingly, I just bought my first set of SR cables (used Euphoria x SC’s) and find them quite compelling. I have not dabbled in SC’s of any great length after having used Fideliums for almost 4 years.

I realized I do like a little more analytical sound (had to admit to myself that I do - first step to recovery, ha). I like having the details I have strived for come through smooth and musical. And I was quite surprised that the SR SC’s gave me so much more than the Cerious Matrix I have been using for 6 months.

I should listen to you folks more because someone recommended SR to me over a year ago and I was just not able to zero in on one of their levels and understand it enough so moved on.

I recently changed my IC’s to Siltech and they did deliver even quieter backgrounds as promised and are very smooth. But when I tried Siltech SC’s they veiled the music. That was odd but enough for me to finally research the top brands again for something commensurate with the Siltechs. I splurged and grabbed a deal on some Euphoria X’s and, while still exploring them, I find them shaking my paradigm about how good I THOUGHT my sound WAS.

Live and learn. Check my Tennessee system page for my cable journey.

Gentlemen there are alot of great answers, GoodLuck.