There can be a surprising degree of difference in sound from one cable manufacturer's product to the next. I have used braided, networked, flat, etc. speaker cables and IC's. It is possible to achieve a very pleasing sound using combinations of cables.
However... try switching the cables around a bit. Move the mid/tweet cable down to the bass. You will notice a difference in presentation. At times I have had four complete sets of cables to mix/match for reviewing purposes. While all thse have been fun to season the music, I have consistently returned to a single manufacturer's cables for my reference listening. I generally do not mix the cables on my critical listening. However, there are exceptions, such as the Eminent Technology LFT-8A's, which I found that using a flat cable on the mid/highs and a networked cable on the bass was to my ear superior.
Dave M. is correct regarding the coherency. While one may enjoy what is obtained by mixing the cables, one begins to wonder "what if" in regards to having the "better" sounding cable on both the highs/lows. If one cable is consistently better on bass and upper range, then that's your cable, and you would likely be happiest to use it (or another in the same line) across the board.
In general, I've found that the best way to determine which cables to own is by comparing entire suites of cables. Yes, this can get quite expensive. You may end up with two or three sets lying around and/or several thousands of dollars tied up temporarily until some can be sold off.
It's not all fun and games at that point, BUT you can find the best cables to please your ears that way. Before I became a reviewer I relied on reviews of popular cables to determine which ones I would try.
When you switch speakers, it's not a given that your favorite cable will mate with the new speakers pefectly. However, I have generally found that the cables I prefer I do tend to like top and bottom on most speakers.
Finally, I have found that when you hear the "right" cable on your system, you may feel that it makes as significant a difference as a front end or amp upgrade. I have been absolutely shocked at what improvements are possible with power cords, IC's and speaker cables. If you are bound to find the ultimate sound with your system, then pursuing your "holy grail" cable is worth it.
However... try switching the cables around a bit. Move the mid/tweet cable down to the bass. You will notice a difference in presentation. At times I have had four complete sets of cables to mix/match for reviewing purposes. While all thse have been fun to season the music, I have consistently returned to a single manufacturer's cables for my reference listening. I generally do not mix the cables on my critical listening. However, there are exceptions, such as the Eminent Technology LFT-8A's, which I found that using a flat cable on the mid/highs and a networked cable on the bass was to my ear superior.
Dave M. is correct regarding the coherency. While one may enjoy what is obtained by mixing the cables, one begins to wonder "what if" in regards to having the "better" sounding cable on both the highs/lows. If one cable is consistently better on bass and upper range, then that's your cable, and you would likely be happiest to use it (or another in the same line) across the board.
In general, I've found that the best way to determine which cables to own is by comparing entire suites of cables. Yes, this can get quite expensive. You may end up with two or three sets lying around and/or several thousands of dollars tied up temporarily until some can be sold off.
It's not all fun and games at that point, BUT you can find the best cables to please your ears that way. Before I became a reviewer I relied on reviews of popular cables to determine which ones I would try.
When you switch speakers, it's not a given that your favorite cable will mate with the new speakers pefectly. However, I have generally found that the cables I prefer I do tend to like top and bottom on most speakers.
Finally, I have found that when you hear the "right" cable on your system, you may feel that it makes as significant a difference as a front end or amp upgrade. I have been absolutely shocked at what improvements are possible with power cords, IC's and speaker cables. If you are bound to find the ultimate sound with your system, then pursuing your "holy grail" cable is worth it.