What do you mean by "better" when it comes to cabl

A lot of it starts with good system building first, e.g. properly matched components to begin with. When this is done first, then folks, by definition at this point, are IMO simply concerned with just finding decent wiring that can truly do the job while doing the least amount of harm in the process. But, if you start with a system that has been built with mismatched components, then you are likely 'stuck' on the unending treadmill of looking for wiring that will act as an equalizer of sorts. This can be a bit like looking for the needle in a haystack since often no 2 systems are mismatched in quite the same way and there's usually no readily available guide for such a search regarding the particulars of your own situation. And since the common perception is that roughly about half the systems out there (if not more) are likely in some significant way mismatched, then it's no surprise that there are plenty of folks around trying to sell their own brand of what can be, in effect, hit-or-miss, band-aids...some of which can be, well, painfully expensive. Hope this helps a bit. Regards. John

BTW and FWIW, I agree with Mrtennis here in that better, in the end and for the very most part subjectively, simply means what you prefer. Objectively, it may mean the occasional repeatable measurements, such as timing delay or ringing or some other hard-and-fast parameter that can possibly be used to make a comparison. Note here that I'm talking about a repeatable measurement that can be done in, say, a lab...not so much simply a manufacturer's specification. But, the big problem with that is that if there is any such data, it can become too easy for the discussion of it to slip beyond what is routinely assotiated with them soundwise and cross into some twilight zone of hype, so you do have to kind of separate the 2 sometimes, or it can begin to be too much to wade through. Also, the better equipment you buy, the more difference 'better' cabling can make to one degree or another, but again, if you plan your system well, in almost every case it should not be necessary for the financial securing of the wiring to begin taking over the system, at least IMHO.

Good wiring is simply that which you, having tried it in your own system, can feel confident enough that it has let the best part of your system's sonic and musical potential come through. It may take you a few tries to get your bearings and make the gross-level kinds of comparisons, but even the mistakes you may make are bound to prove to be valuable to you. I know that may not sound all that exciting, but what I'm saying is you'll get there. But, when in doubt, experiment. Try something, even if it is just on a hunch. Lot's of audiophiles go to websites like the Cable Co. or Wireworld and try out their lending library for a small fee. That's a great way to begin finding your way around without getting soaked.

And I guess that is my question. Once you use a reasonably well made cable, that seems to provide the performance you accept, is more expensive cable "better" or just different. I understand the qualities Tom referenced, but I doubt doubling the price of a cable results in each of those parameters changing for the better. It just seems like an expensive way of chasing your tail.

Sometimes the more expensive mousetrap is better, but certainly not always. There comes a point, after you've hit on the right things and have 'allowed' rather than 'restored' the signal through the system and you begin to to feel rather confident about your substitutions and experiments enough that you are essentially getting the best sonically and musically from your system, then yes, you can reach the point at which you can feel reasonably sure you have maximized the value your system can have for you and that further experimenting may only show you that the law of diminishing returns will begin to apply and just start to drain your wallet more than providing you with an equivalently meaningful improvement. The "best" may mean for your system and your sonic goals. Beyond that may not be much of a priority, or at least it has not been for me. But, this hobby is loaded with similar ways of chasing your own tail. Some people have chased themselves into great systems that they had never thought they would ever own and others have chased themselves right out of the hobby altogether, due to burn out.

As the first post stated, "better" is a subjective term.

My feeling is that a cable should not change the signal in any way. With that, the implication is that lesser cable has some impact on the signal and that "better" cable has less impact.

I too have heard differences in cables. Perhaps the differences I hear are due to different changes made to the signal by the different cables, or perhaps the difference is due to one cable having an impact and the other having no impact or less impact.

I don't know the science behind how cables impact the signal. Vaguely, I am aware that very long cabling can cause signal loss. Also, the inductance kind of impedance in a cable can result in high frequency losses. But I am willing to believe there can be a lot more involved. That's where I have to start believing in cable designers' ad claims. Like Cardas with his spiral cable configuration and materials selection, and AudioQuest when they used to make silver conductor cabling. (I know these two sound different.)

What is "better"? If I can hear a difference, I try to figure out which cable has done a better job transmitting without impacting the signal.