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

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.

Stick with the power cable provided by the manufacturer and spend your money elsewhere. If you have dirty power spend, your money fixing that. The only way a power cable will improve a components performance is if you upgrade your power lines from your wall outlet all the way to the electrical transformer in your neighborhood, and even then, that wiring will just be a huge antenna that will pick up all kinds of noise. 

I think the most "correct" answer depends heavily on your cabling starting point(s).

If you started at THE most basic level (the interconnect junk that comes with many components, a basic roll of 16g speaker wire, and a Home Depot multi-outlet power cord) then I would rank audibly noticeable 'improvement' as follows:

 1st place: Speaker cabling 

2nd place: Interconnect cabling

3rd place: Power cabling

You are also going to get the most noticeable LEVEL of improvement switching out from these starter cables to even the most basic level shielded / higher gauge speaker cable / interconnects / almost any 'conditioning' power cabling...

As you go up the ladder in quality (and cost), the Law of Diminishing Returns will come into play; subsequent levels of 'improvement' (or even sonically noticeable differences) will become ever more subtle. Then of course, you have to factor in the individuals personal taste and, many times, the physical limitations of the individuals hearing and ability to discern minor differences in sound quality. I find more often than you might think an individual (especially those of us past a certain age) wastes time and money (IMO) chasing specs that they themselves can no longer hear due to age - related hearing spectrum loss...

One area that often is overlooked is asking the question "are my components currently fully capable of performing at their rated capacity / SQ..?" Are the internals clean and dust free? Do all potentiometers work without issue? Do my speakers / amplifiers / media players need recapping or other restorative work to truly reach their stated specifications? As I personally favor 'vintage' equipment, this question is a must-ask in my niche group; however, even for those with newer era equipment, the area of component health should still be explored (but often is not). 

IMO, in the end it really becomes (at its simplest form) a matter of how far you want to chase perfection - and how much time and $$$ you are willing to invest in the chase...

I will agree speaker cables have the most substantial impact on system performance especially when cables are mixed with different brands.