What type of cables make the most difference


What type of cables, in your subjective experience, makes the most difference? I’m not focusing on brands, but rather, on type, ie, speaker cables, power cables, analog interconnect, digital interconnect, and anything else I may have omitted. If you don’t think cables beyond a base level of competency makes a difference that’s fine too. 
 

zavato

Interesting question and discussion. I was surprised the conventional wisdom was PC. I asked chatGPT for its subjective opinion for MY system … interesting it’s recommendations were much more in line with my investment strategy.
However, it does go on to say… What cannot be verified from primary sources is that “power cables matter more” or “speaker cables matter less.” There is no universally accepted technical evidence establishing such a ranking.

Type

Likely audible influence

Speaker cables

5 stars

Analog interconnects

4.5 stars 

Phono cables

4.5 stars 

USB digital

3 stars

Power cords

2.5 - 3 stars

Ethernet

2 stars 

There seems to be a misunderstanding among some people that WBC is made in Japan. In fact, the company is based in Sri Lanka, and the cables are assembled there.

https://worldsbestcables.com/about-wbc/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The confusion likely comes from the fact that some of the primary cable brands WBC uses, such as Mogami and Canare, are manufactured in Japan. However, Gotham and several other components are sourced from Switzerland and other countries.

I have purchased several WBC cables over the years, but none of them remain in the signal chain of my systems today. They have all been replaced by either DH Labs or Veritas cables. These are much more refined cables with significantly higher price tags, but in my opinion, they are worth every penny.

This thread has resulted as I suspected it might/ a real divergence of opinions which anecdotally points to a conclusion that it is system dependent and that there is no right answer. 

Speaker cables make the biggest difference in my systems.  Bi-wire jumppers also make a big difference.  Power cords are probably third, but it seems dependent on my power conditioner.  My main system has a PS Audio Power Plant, and my office system has a Nautilus Power Strip.  The power cords make a bigger difference in my office system than in my main system.

One needs to spend at least $2,000 for a pair of 1 meter speaker cables to make a large difference.  Differences between two cables below that price level are subtle, but differences between two cables become much more apparent for more expensive cables.  That's also true for other cable types although the tipping point varies with each cable type.

 

Well shielded interconnects are the most important if your system has multiple components.  XLR renders shielding a done deal, but unbalanced cables vary widely in their noise rejection.  Next in line are speaker cables, which need to introduce low enough series resistance to preserve amplifier damping effect.  Power cables are of dubious value as an upgrade, IME.  Granted, my system is not mega bucks and my room is not perfect and my ears are not young anymore.  My cables are a mix of things I've accumulated over the years from Nordost Purple Flare speaker cables to WBC XLRs.  I do have an AQ Coffee digital coaxial and several Mackenzie unbalanced ICs.