Upgrade Cables or Just Upgrade Equipment & Live in Shame?

you have many good cables...some feel using same brand "full loom" helps sound, some don’t...same with subs, in some rooms and systems one is fine (especially if you have single listening position), in others more is better...you can add one at a time or get a single better one...I don’t like Pangea cords...you gotta try stuff out, you will get every possible opinion here...you might love 4 subs and full loom of good cables, or you may not...your gear is certainly good enough that it might be fun trying it out, buy cables you can return or easily sell...

Here’s my opinion:

You have a really nice system.

The mix and match cables are fine.

Opinions vary about 3 vs. 4 subs, but the best way to determine this is to measure your room with a microphone and then play with placement and adjust room treatments. Good bass traps and mini-DSP on my 3 subs made the difference for me between ok bass and excellent bass.

I would make sure that you’re certain that everything else is not the weak link before spending on cables.

If an either/or proposition, i.e., cables or subs, IMO you will move the ball much further with the subs than with new cables. 

As to the number of subs, do your research.  The manufacturer of my subs believes two is a big improvement over one, and three or four can enhance things further.  IME, going from one to two was a very significant improvement.  I would like to try three.  You could also look up The Swarm Subwoofer System for more perspective.  

The swarm will likely make a much bigger difference than swapping cables.  Do the swarm!  I would, however, rethink the generic Ethernet cable from your router to streamer.  That can’t be good.

jeffseight,

I guess the big question is what is it that you think could or want to be improved? Is it bass, soundstage, dynamics? All of these will take you down different roads.

If you are happy with your equipment, then, AC cleaning, power, room treatment and speaker placement will give you more bang for your buck.

I am not a proponent of using all the same brand of cables unless your equipment is made by the same manufacturer and the same vintage. And cabling would be the last thing, but when everything else is good the cables will enhance the system.

ozzy