Interconnects be as neutral as possible?

You just have to get started, and decide what cables are right for your system. Simple as that. Audition first, and then buy. It doesn't matter if most people think the ones you try are "neutral", or not. It's an overused expression, and no cable is without its inherent signature, and neither is a SOTA system, for that matter. Just get started, and be happy, cause there are no shortcuts.

The Cable Company is a good place to start.Tell them what your system is made up of and they will recommened a cable.Do 1 at a time.Dont do both IC and speakers at the sime time.Your best cable should go from source to pre amp.THe Cable Company will let you try them out which is nice.Happy hunting.

Your logic makes sense but you'll surely never know until you experiment. Stereophile has recommended & described the Synergistic Research Resolution Reference MKII & Designers Reference interconnects as very neutral. You may or may not value their opinions (many 'philes are on both sides of that fence) but I have them & like them. Long break-in though, if you purchase new. It took mine about 2-300 hours to settle down (I finally ran them on a dummy load for a month - then they were fine). Even the dlr's broken-in demo's fluctuated for quite awhile. I would try to install new IC's first, then spkr. cables, then the AC cords. There are just so many variables; this is more art than science.

Whatever brand you decide to try, do not buy new if you can find some used here or elsewhere. The retail price of most cables is a stunning rip-off, one which many otherwise sage audiophiles have been a victim of. Everyone has their favorite, because each cable reacts differently in every system. I will recommend Van den Hul, a brand not carried by many retailers because they do not pour thousands of dollars into glossy advertisements in the audio mags. Stores carry what sells, and maybe they'll pickup some new brand if it's the flavor of the month. Van den Hul has been researching different aspects of audio for many years, quietly obtaining patents on several items. Their cables approach neutral as closely as those costing far more. They are just not a very high profile company, and their products are not "revolutionary" enough for most US audiophiles. If you read any European mags, however, their cables are frequently chosen for use in the "reference" systems. A little speaker company called B&W uses VdH wire inside their speakers. Must be okay stuff!