interconnects vs speaker cables vs power cords - which make the biggest difference?

I normally do not reply to such topics, but I’ll live on the wild side a little.

I have never had any major improvements from power cords, but I still buy aftermarket PC’s because I want my gear supported properly due to all the money invested. My Dude preamp (up for sale) never responds to power cables. It does not care.

I agree with the Transparent designer - the most critical cable is from source to the preamp. I’ll get back to that.

With speaker cables I have experienced very nice results and today truly enjoy my Cerious SC’s that I cannot fathom ever taking them out.

So a little real-time info for you, since my Dude is for sale I have been bringing in other preamps of the passive style and have found one that is highly rated but the sound became bright and edgy immediately upon inserting it into the system. My present IC’s are Audio Magic Trinniums which are a hybrid ribbon cable and with the Dude were pretty darn good even though I knew from past experience that something a little more full-bodied should eventually be tested.

So I grabbed a pair of older Audioquest copper IC’s and changed out the preamp to source cable with this low priced parts-bin cable and immediately lost the brightness and added some bass because the cable shifted the frequency range by rolling off the top end, etc. which a non-silver content ribbon can do. So I proved to myself that I could perhaps live with this preamp but that really means I need to find a compatible IC. Is this tone control? Don’t really care cuz I trust my ears.

So I have a pair of Cerious graphene IC’s and a pair of Morrow MA-5’s coming to see how they do since that are about as far from a silver-infused ribbon cable you can get. I have owned Morrows before so have some familiarity. So stayed tuned.

This is the first time where I have deliberately selected cables to change the sound in order to keep a piece of electronics - or to put it another way, the preamp may be so revealing a "bright" cable is the wrong choice. In about a week I will know.

Everything is a tone control. Cables, capacitors, plugs, preamps, amps, speakers, sources, etc., etc., etc.

I have noted many times in the last couple of decades that a system component change may very well require some cable/cord changes.

No one seems to deny that cables/cords are system synergy and personal taste related. However, many talk about not using cables as tone controls. LOL!
These same folks have no idea that their speakers are tone controls. They pick the  ________ that sounds best to them, hence, it is a tone control.

Some choose to tune their system using cables, some choose to tune their system using components. Whatever floats your boat.

I agree that ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL (ie all wires being of the same basic design/quality) the ic between the source and preamp is the one most likely to make the greatest impact on the sound of a system. EVERY cable (I've used top of the line Kimber, AQ, Stealth,Shunyata, M.I.T.,Tara and Nordost and mid level High Fidelity cables--off the top of my head) has different qualities which may or may not shine in a particular system. Oh yes, and what may shine for one listener, may not for another.

Jmcgrogan2 nails it...results will vary and all expectations are different.  It's audio alchemy and everyone is cooking a different recipe!

An advice from my heart:
If you take the chance to audition the following, then you know.

Physic Harmonic "eco" power cables & speaker cables
http://cablesilk.simplesite.com/432375948
handmade by Andreas Pollakis

He gives 30 day money back unconditionally if you don’t like them.
You can reach him on Facebook, 
or by his email : 
[email protected]

The price is a joke!
Tell him George Charopoulos sent you.

Happy Listening