Do I need an expensive digital cable?

@lanx0003 

I live in the mostly mid-tier cable world from Audioquest. I inherited a half-meter pair of high-end (more than a $1,000) RCA cables. I use these between my preamp and amp. Since all the other cables are not close in quality, I don't think the priceya Kimbers do much.

I have no doubt that if I could afford to buy high end in almost any well-known cable brand (when I look at them in comparison, they all seem to use the same basic materials and techniques) my system would sound better. But $20,000 plus on cables is not going to happen. 

Just one note on whether an expense (that you can afford) is worth it. When we A/B cables or anything else, we listen very closely for minute differences we then exagerate in our minds. My bottom-line is this: Would I know the difference if I left the house for half an hour and came back to my stereo. Would I notice if one streamer (for example) was playing instead of a more expensive one.

When I bought my Moon 280D streamer, I could not tell the difference in a five-minute test between it and much more expensive streamers. If the sales guy prompted me to listen to the cymbal decay or whatever, I might have noticed. But I don't think I would have noticed at home, even when I was listening to a piece with both my conscious and unconscious minds. In other words, not worth the extra $6K.

@audio-b-dog Try the pricey cables between your source and your preamp and then see if you can hear a difference. 

@jc4659 

If you send me a check, I'll do it. 

... When we A/B cables or anything else, we listen very closely for minute differences we then exagerate in our minds. My bottom-line is this: Would I know the difference if I left the house for half an hour and came back to my stereo....

Simply put, I audition each cable and component for about 30 days. Why 30 days? Because that’s typically the manufacturer’s trial period.

I don’t do instantaneous A/B comparisons. Instead, I break in new components using my second or third system during the first week. After accumulating roughly 40–50 hours, I move them to my main system and may swap them every other day with the existing cable. During this process, I take notes while listening to familiar test tracks.

Human short-term memory is limited, so taking notes is essential. I also cross-reference my notes and revise them if needed.

I begin serious evaluation after 40–50 hours, even though some components (including cables) may require longer break-in time—up to 150–200 hours. That said, some cables, such as my I²S cables, seem to be fully broken in within that initial 40–50 hours. I’ve found that notes taken on different days tend to be more consistent.

Overall, this “every-other-day” approach helps me discern differences in a more reliable and repeatable way. I’m sharing this for reference—if the “half-hour” method works better for you, feel free to stick with it as long as it suits your listening process.

@lanx0003 

I think you're in a different league than I am. I really don't have the budget for more than mid-tier cable, which is what I now have. The sellers I'm familiar with won't lend out expensive cable unless they believe somebody would buy it if they liked it. I wouldn't. The used cable company will only credit a person with other cables.

Also, I don't have the time or patience to do the comparisons you do. It sounds as though you do the same kind of comparisons reviewers do. I would say I'm a mid-tier audiophile and you're a high-tier one.