if i place a line cord into my stereo system interfacing an amplifier and after break-in i don't like what is coming out of my speakers., at the least it is a bad line cord for my stereo system. it may have expensive parts, be constructed according to certain criteria, but it does not further my sonic preferences.
While I agree with this statement, the key words are 'for my stereo system'.
In my experiences cables and cords are extremely system dependent. Though my musical tastes do not change drastically, I have found that changing gear/speakers can drastically change my opinion of a cable/cord. The change could be for the better or the worse. I'm almost at the point, after 28 years in this hobby, that I believe there is no bad product, it's all synergestically related.
I've heard components/speakers/cables that I enjoy sound terrible in certain systems, and I've heard components/speakers/cables that I had written off as 'bad', sound good in some systems. This is not an absolute, there is some gear that I've never heard sound bad and some that I've never heard sound good. The point is that I've learned not to discriminate against a certain product just by the sound of a system. Synergy is the most important aspect, IMHO.
For example, I've tried silver cables from several different manufacturers over the last 15 years, and never cared for the sonic signature of silver cables in general. However, after a speaker change last year, my current reference copper cables suddenly sounded lifeless and slow. I tried silver cables again, from some of the same manufacturers that I tried from before, all of a sudden, their cables clicked and sounded fabulous in my system. The first speakers that I've ever heard that sound best with silver cables. My opinion on silver cables changed dramatically. It's all about system matching, IMHO.
FWIW, I also agree that manufacturers should be encouraged to join in the forums, as their knowledge can be a valuable contribution. I also agree that shilling in the forums is in poor tastes. Here is where the gray area enters in, what is considered shilling by one may not be considered shilling by another. I, for one, didn't particularly feel that Robert was pushing his product.
Mrtennis (if that is indeed your real name :-)), if you take offense to what Robert has posted here so vigorously, I wished you had been here a year or so ago for the D&K thread parties. Talk about blatant shilling........
Cheers,
John