The Nordost philosophy starts at the outlet and suggests that the power cord from the wall to your conditioner (if used), is the most important. The source PC is second then pre and amp. Interconnects flow from the source to the pre and then amp. Speaker cables should be chosen last.
I feel that the best bang for the buck usually comes from buying just above the middle of the companies offerings and that a true demonstration of their cables can only be achieved with a complete "loom" from that manufacturer. To do so otherwise introduces too many variables and it is impossible to really know what the cables are doing to your system. You either buy into their philosophy or not.
Their website gives specific reasons why this makes sense in reducing timing errors and sound anomalies. In short, following one design will allow everything to work as a synergistic whole without competeing with various design, engineering and material choices from several different brands. It makes absolute sense, but it is not practiced by many among us. Would you mix parts from a Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Firestone, Goodyear?
