Synergy - SO Important

I am really confused about the craze about speaker cables.  I have somewhat of a background in electrical engineering.  A larger-gauge cable will conduct more electrons (14AWG > 16AWG).  But a conductor is a conductor.  Copper is copper (what most of us use).  I suppose the wealthier folks might use silver wire for slightly less resistance.  But cable should be an ancillary piece in support of the entire chain...

E = I * R
I = E / R
R = E / I

...or am I missing something?

Please, educate me...

If you only think numbers and measurements matter then the ASR forums might be a better match. BTW being an electrical engineer doesn't mean you are better qualified to tell anyone what is best for their own system or ears. How do we even know we are measuring the correct things? My guess is some systems are much more revealing than others especially with certain cables or other component's! 

Again I will say that if you add something new to your stereo and concentrate really hard, you very probably will hear a difference during an A/B test. Perhaps even an improvement. If you leave the house for a few hours or perhaps even a weekend, would you notice the cable change? In most cases, I would guess no. 

All this being said, I have heard the difference in sound between cables, but I doubt that I would notice a change in interconnect and speaker cables from my mid-tier Audiquest to high-tier anything, if I were to take a weekend vacation and come back to my stereo. It's not just a blind test I'm talking about. You must add duration. I think that is fair because there is always a duration between one listening session and another.

Now, let's say that I could hear the difference after a duration if I put the most expensive cables on my stereo. I'm guessing that even used, trading my cables in, it would be well over $10,000. Would the difference in very expensive cables be worth it? Say, if I took that money and bought a new amp instead.

Audiophile trade-offs. How fun.

Synergy is important.  Just trying to save you all some money, that’s all.


Amazon Basics 12-Gauge Speaker Wire Cable for Audio Applications, 99.9% Oxygen-Free Copper, Red and Black Color Coded, 100-Foot, White  $52.99

Cabling should be next to free, almost an afterthought in the budget, not a major component.  But then, this is 2026...

"Just trying to save you all some money, that’s all."  you don’t say!

Thank you for your all words of wisdom.