Can I start some trouble?

It's highly unlikely that the manufacturers COULD do anything to power cords or power conditioners that would reliably change the sound. It is possible for cables, although the only tools available to them would make the cables less accurate (in a technical sense) than 12 AWG zipcord. It's possible that someone with overly bright speakers might like a cable that rolled off the highs (though that strikes me as an odd way of going about things--why not just buy more accurate speakers in the first place?).

Frankly, I think the manufacturers rely more on expectation effects than real engineering.

"Frankly, I think the manufacturers rely more on expectation effects than real engineering".

bomarc .. you took the words out of my mouth. And I think this applies to all audio components, not just cables (though they are probably the worst offenders).

I won't bother to comment on Bomarc's "less accurate than 12 gauge zip cord" comment as we've been there a million times before. I ask others to refrain from going there also as nobody needs to re-read or re-post all of the same comments over and over again.

As to cables in general, buy and use what you think works best within the confines of your system. After all, you are the one using it and gaining the pleasure from it. Why try to please someone else ?

There is no reason to spend money on something that offers you no benefit. That is, nothing other than the "prestige factor" of being able to say "I own Brand X cables". Believe me, there are times that i've tried "Brand X" cables and thought that they were a BIG let-down from some much cheaper cables. As such, out the door they went. I let someone else pay for the prestige factor. Then again, the differences in component design and system synergy varies from system to system. It is quite possible that what was a "dog" of a cable in my system worked quite well in theirs.

If you can't hear ( and enjoy ) the difference's, spend your money on what you think gives you the maximum return for your investment. This is not only true for cables, but for all components. Sean
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PS... I'm really beginning to hate cable threads.

In some cases I think this is definitely true. That's why one of my criteria is that EVERYTHING improves, not just one or two or three things. In some cases the improvement is so remarkable and across the board that I have no doubt at all that the change is better.

I agree and disagree with darylhifi. I don't feel the "tone control" effect pertains to only the ultra-expensive cables. They are inherent in all cables of every price point.

Whether the "tone control" effect is done because cable companies are trying to justify their cost, that is another story.