millercarbon: thank you for your summary of experience - at least I agree with the first 7 words in your last paragraph. But I wholeheartedly disagree because my speaker cables cost abit less than $14 - run as biwires. And the Lampcord idea was tried with a miserable outcome...
I wouldn't/shouldn't disagree that ever system is different - usually a mash of financially achieveable wants, hopes and dreams. I know a fellow who's recently spent ABOUT $550.K on Italian speakers, a complete ( and I mean COMPLETE) system of all one brand components, a turntable that looks like it should be orbiting the earth, a brand new (completely refurbished and custom painted) reel-to-reel, and top of the line speaker cables and interconnects from a custom manufacturer. He's a guy who would NEVER experiment with anything BECAUSE HE SIMPLY ACCEPTS THAT THE PRICE RELATES TO IT ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST. I do not subscribe to that theory in audio: I could spend more but don't. I prefer to prove things before I become a member of blind group-think...