Jim, you're going to get responses on both sides of this issue. Here's what I think about that:
If most of your electronics (particularly amp and preamp) are from the same manufacturer, you (should) already have a built-in system synergy. In this context BTW, "synergy" means that the equipment has been designed (we hope ~!) to interface together electrically to have perfect impedance matching giving best energy transfer and faithful signal transfer. All the cables have to do is get the signal from one component to the next with the least editorializing of their own! In this case you want neutral cables, all from the same manufacturer. If your components are (in addition to being from the same maker) of the expensive highly resolving kind, then you want neutral, high definition (low time smear) cables, also from the same manufacturer. Why from the same manufacturer? Because then the cables, as a group will all have a uniform sonic effect in your system. If it's not right, then you know what to do: either change cable manufacturer, or try their more expensive line! (This is where a good dealer or The Cable Company comes in handy!)
On the other hand, if you have equipment from a variety of manufacturers, cables from different makers may be better suited to interface certain components. Here I would start with amp-preamp, speakers, source-preamp, and finally PCs in that order. This insures you'll best be able to hear the effect that changes in each successive system location have on the system as a whole. That's why PCs are listed last, because any effect they could have might go unnoticed if auditioned earlier in the scheme of things. Some folks consider this method as using cabling as a sort of "tone-control" or equalizer, to adjust/balance the sonics of their system. I suppose one could think of it that way, but to me, it's just using your ears to discover the best electrical interface between components. Then if after trying a variety of cables in a certain location, you still don't like the way it sounds, you need to change the component, not the cables!
If you look at my system, you see I have the same cabling throughout. I also have equipment from the same manufacturer throughout -- except for my CDT/DAC. So that's the one interface where I tried a few different brands of ICs, and (without prejudice) still chose one from my principal manufacturer. One might look at my system and think it's almost too resolving; but in fact it's very easy to listen to for hours and hours. I attribute a lot of this capability to the cables -- not the "sound" of the cables, but the fact that they allow all the components to work together as an engineered "ensemble" as designed.
If most of your electronics (particularly amp and preamp) are from the same manufacturer, you (should) already have a built-in system synergy. In this context BTW, "synergy" means that the equipment has been designed (we hope ~!) to interface together electrically to have perfect impedance matching giving best energy transfer and faithful signal transfer. All the cables have to do is get the signal from one component to the next with the least editorializing of their own! In this case you want neutral cables, all from the same manufacturer. If your components are (in addition to being from the same maker) of the expensive highly resolving kind, then you want neutral, high definition (low time smear) cables, also from the same manufacturer. Why from the same manufacturer? Because then the cables, as a group will all have a uniform sonic effect in your system. If it's not right, then you know what to do: either change cable manufacturer, or try their more expensive line! (This is where a good dealer or The Cable Company comes in handy!)
On the other hand, if you have equipment from a variety of manufacturers, cables from different makers may be better suited to interface certain components. Here I would start with amp-preamp, speakers, source-preamp, and finally PCs in that order. This insures you'll best be able to hear the effect that changes in each successive system location have on the system as a whole. That's why PCs are listed last, because any effect they could have might go unnoticed if auditioned earlier in the scheme of things. Some folks consider this method as using cabling as a sort of "tone-control" or equalizer, to adjust/balance the sonics of their system. I suppose one could think of it that way, but to me, it's just using your ears to discover the best electrical interface between components. Then if after trying a variety of cables in a certain location, you still don't like the way it sounds, you need to change the component, not the cables!
If you look at my system, you see I have the same cabling throughout. I also have equipment from the same manufacturer throughout -- except for my CDT/DAC. So that's the one interface where I tried a few different brands of ICs, and (without prejudice) still chose one from my principal manufacturer. One might look at my system and think it's almost too resolving; but in fact it's very easy to listen to for hours and hours. I attribute a lot of this capability to the cables -- not the "sound" of the cables, but the fact that they allow all the components to work together as an engineered "ensemble" as designed.