Cables more hype than value?

So what you are trying to say is that if you choose your components carefully, then all you need the cables to do is transfer signal from one component to the next? That will probably make choosing the right cable a lot easier and far less costly. No?

Not exactly, but rather that while different cables do sound different to me I have not found a good correlation between money spent and sound quality, and also that money spent on electronics and speakers generally offers greater improvements than on cables.

I am not saying that just any old wire will sound good. My SCs and ICs are multiple wire, solid core, thin gauge, high quality copper in a minimal natural dielectric. SCs are star quad configured with separate runs for LF and MF/HF in biwire. ICs are either consistently spaced single wire or braided multiple wire. They all have high quality connectors. The cables are as short as possible while facilitating a relaxed routing between gear. I spent a lot of years, and a lot of time, trying different manufactured cables and DIY cables and believing the next great thing would make a significant improvement but often being disappointed. I am sure there are great sounding cables out there and I would like to try them but I no longer feel compelled to keep trying new things.

Hey Mitch2, first let me say that I really like your preamp! Looking very nice! Bet it sounds great too! Would love to be able to collaborate with Steve have something similar done with my TLC-1 Deluxe. Do you have remote volume control? I really want to go all out, but I just cannot afford a VRE-1 at this time. I recently picked up a DNA-1 Deluxe with Gold Edition upgrades from SMcAudio. This tapped out my audio budget, but was well worth the price paid!

Next, I must tell you that the Tara Labs Air 1 sc and ic cabling in my system has changed the game for me. I experienced huge improvements in sound quality and musical enjoyment in comparison to the many cables I had tried in the past! So there are significantly better cables out there worth trying.

Hi Mitch2, I bet those Clayton M-300 amps sound incredible. I bet they have your AA 9 speakers in a vise-grip! I owned a pair of Clayton Audio M-100 monoblock amps a few years back, and IMHO, Wilson Shen and Stan Klyne are two of the best solid state designers in the business. I regret selling them. Steve McCormack does very good work as well.
Those three men put out products that consistently embarrass many more expensive, better advertised solid state gear.

I've read a bunch of this thread, and not seen any mention of some kind of turn-around point as far as any indication on equipment capabilities vs being able to tell a difference. Any one have a thread in mind, or advice as far as to what level that point may show itself?

Audio will always be a personal thing. You cannot think for others. Respect them, you don't have to agree with eachother. But be polite. I have my own opinion as well. At the end it is about what you hear. In the last 10 years I did a lot of blind tests for my clients. Many were amazed about the quality what cables can give these days. What I do is making an a-b comparison. I Always use a cheaper spource, amp or speaker with a not expensive cable. And a more expensive cable with a less expensive source, amp or speaker. So people understand more easilly what the difference is. These days the quality is so good that I can get a higher end result with a more expensive cable and less expensive source, amp or speaker. I want every client to get the most for the money they spend. So I Always give them different options to choose. In highend audio without the best available cables you Always will loose. I love audioshows because I like to blow every other set away. This gives me always a very big smile on my face. Good cables help me a lot to achieve this.