Can anyone explain cable risers?

Tried some home-made ones. Couldn't tell the difference with or without. Try it yourself. You'll never know...

I think everybody has mentioned why they don't or do use them. I think the op needs us to explain(see the OP)what they do. So here is and explanation. Cables risers raise the cable off the floor. Got it so far? In doing so they dignify the lowly cable to audiophile status. It becomes not like a lowly beast of burden but something for the eye to behold and cause you to say 'you are my cables aren't you?'. Then it makes the cable feel important and in turn the it makes the owner feel proud. So to choose your 'raisers of the cable' whether it is toilet paper rolls or gold bars my recommendation is ask yourself how important do you want to feel. It is all in how you treat your cables I tell ya. So raise yourself up you noise lover and getcha some pretty cables rasiers.

" something for the eye to behold and cause you to say 'you are my cables aren't you?'. Then it makes the cable feel important and in turn the it makes the owner feel proud"

Does this apply to Elizabeth and her cables? Remember, they be on toilet paper thingys. :)

Cable risers reduce structural vibration including seismic vibration. They also look cool.

I use cabe risers for one reason only. They dress up the wires running across the floor. I have wood floors so the only reason mentioned would not even apply in my case. I use antique glass power line insulators that I got on Ebay for about $2 EACH. So, in my case, for only $16 I dressed my cabless to my SO's satisfaction. I bi-wire (let's not get started on the effectiveness of that...) so it actually looks like mini power lines running just above the floor!

So, for me, the only reason is aesthetics.