WOW, they are important, but in what order?

OK, I'll admit it right now. Cables are important (even if the one's I used were "high quality" but maybe not best suited for audio.

With a MOON W-8 amplifier and C4's run through a PASS LABS XP-10, differences in speaker and interconnect cables are as big as the difference beteen amplifiers. And I do mean both speaker cables and XLR interconnects.

As far as interconnects go, the ANALYSIS Plus Silver XLR brand is a very good sounding cable for the money. The NORDOST tyre2 are beyond reproach in sound and affordability, at least on C4's.

Also, XLR has a much wider soundstage than RCA's in my system. The RCA's sound like they image better, but it's because they are more left, center, right sounding. The XLR's have a sound "front" that is expansive left to right with no gaps anywhere. And, the image is much more holographic. Is anyone else hearing this between XLR and RCA's?

WHEN to do WHAT ain't as easy as it sounds (pun there) as every cable in your system adds to the end sound. Is there a "right" order to tackle this? Waht order did you all use? Why? Just dumb luck over time and random?

I decided to start with the pre to power XLR interconnects and get the best balance there as I used the garbage-in garbage-out process. Get it as close to right at the start as I can afford and put the best cable where everything can use it. Then go to speaker cables...I thought. But no, I have all those CD, phono ETC to XP-10 interconnects, too. Well, I'd better get those squared away BEFORE speaker cables (I think).

Am I doing something wrong with;
ANALYSIS Plus Silver RCA - CD to XP-10 interconnect
ANALYSIS Plus Silver XLR - LP5.3 head amp to XP-10 interconnect.
"some brand" higher grade tone-arm to LP 5.3 head-amp cable.
NORDOST tyr2 XLR from XP-10 to MOON W-8.

Once all that is sorted out, I can THEN investigate speaker cables for final "sounding". It seems the improvements would taper off markedly as you daisey-chain cables in the system such as; CD to XP-10, XP-10 to MOON W-8, W-8 to speakers. I haven't borrowed enough cables to do the full monty to hear any of this. Comments? Whaen did the jumpos in sound diminish? One cable in the chain, two?

The prices amaze me, though. But, it's sort of like this, what else can you buy that makes as big a difference in the sound for the same money? Going from my KISMET amps to the MOON W-8 sounds about the same amount better as moving to NORDOST tyr2 XLR's from the XP-10 to the W-8 amp and replacing my Belded 1694A with gold compression RCA jacks that were doing the same job. The amp was 10 grand, and the XLR NORDOST tyr2 cables are like a fourth of that, but gave the same (subjective, but you do hear it!) jump in sound. So yes, cables are expensive but "relative" to what improvements they make, they seems to have you by the high-notes! I have nothing left in my system from an active device standpoint that can do more than passive cables.

I refused to consider cables till I got the hardware done. But man, I was not ready for what I heard at all. I was definitely not ready for the prices. After listening to the system with good cables, though, the prices are easier to swallow as I'll keep the cables through sveral upgrades of hardware. Modern equipment can really separate cables by sound. No, the stuff I use may not be best for what you use, either. THAT is also a major frustration as so many cables contribute to the sound in so many combinations. Where do you stick the brighter cablers to offset the softer cables? Can you find all "just right" cables (I haven't)?

And, I'll never buy something I don't know the "sound" of. They are THAT different. Sure, any good cable will beat my initial reference Belden leads but, ONE will catch your fancy tonally. Find a good dealer and get some loaners in YOUR system. Go with what you HEAR. Be nice and get a couple cords from him before you get them on AudiogoN used. His service deserves a sale. Cables are like speakers, people change around all the time. So, you can find good cords you like, even if someone else moves on from them.

So all you guy I told that cable are more like fine tone controls, you can now tell me I was wrong, because I was. You need to keep repeating your experiences and see if things have changed, and have they. You learn, and then keep re-learning!At this level of equipment it is simply mandatory to get high grade audio only cables. The differences are like different speakers, and I've just replaced the XLR or speaker cables at separate times and not at the same time. I can't wait to get a full chain completed and listen. But, buddy can you spare dime? Power cords, though still escape me.