Choosing the right cable
 

I cannot but help thinking that cables do not exist in and of themselves; rather, they are an integral part of an overall audio system. Now, Wireworld makes a slew of different products of increasing complexity and "fineness" with the same functionality, e.g., as interconnect cables or speaker cables.

I am under the assumption that a law of "diminishing returns" is in effect, with each upgrade step becoming less discernable until there isn't any longer a recognizable improvement in the sound at all -- based on the other components in one's audio system. So the question in my mind is, When is enough enough? Masterlu's system, for example, clearly warrants the inclusion of the Platinum 8 cabling. But let's consider instead just a somewhat above entry-level system. Wireworld offers 9 different interconnects. Which one would provide the user with the best performance/cost return? At which cable "grade" above that would that user be wasting money because either the potential improvement simply wouldn't be discernable or, if the user could strain to hear any degree of improvement in the playback of certain recordings, the cost of realizing that increment -- except for the truly wealthy -- would be absurd?

Sometimes, there are major changes in a vendor's cable offerings between one grade and the next. When deciding on my new interconnects between my preamp and power amps, I did as much research (admittedly, only online) as I could on the cables made by Wireworld. What I noticed was that, for all but their entry-level cable, the fundamental underlying architecture was essentially the same. What changed was consistently modest -- for example, the copper conductor went from oxygen-free to OCC-7N copper to that copper silver-plated, or the gauge went from 24 to 21 to 18. In total, Wireworld offers 9 different interconnect cables. At the end, I chose their Equinox 8, but my decision came from my gut -- based on its affordability (for me, given I needed three 39' lengths) and the elements of its construction (type of copper, number of wires, flexibility, etc.).

Let me add, that Masterlu initially suggested the Solstice grade cable, which would have saved me considerable money compared to what I am spending for the Equinox 8s. Moreover, he did not try to "upsell" his suggestion; I did that all by myself. My self-upsale may be an interesting statement about the audiophile nature but also critical to the survival of a number of equipment companies! :)

I am confident that I will be happy with what I will have gotten, for I just placed this special order yesterday. But I confess it still sort of bothers me that there wasn't any way for me to know definitively whether I made the best choice of Wireworld model let alone whether there might have been a competitive interconnect of comparable price that would have served my audio system better.

A long standing and useful advice is to consider spending 10% of your total system cost, on the total cost of aftermarket wires.
This is a good and useful way for a person lost in the cable jungle, to use as a guideline.
Naturally, folks with a great deal of experience may choose other levels, but they know more what they expect and want.

For my own experience, over 55 years... The first time I even thought about anything of any sort of better cable was not until after 1980s. Then I bought some Mark Levinson bulk cable and Radio Shack gold plated RCA. (I still have some of those, but with Vampire Tiffany connectors, even though I do not used them now) It took me until hte late 1990's and more upgrades to 'hear' my first power cord that actually I could hear a difference.
In 2010 I retired and did some major upgrades. And noticed I could hear better cables. In the mid 2015 I first bought some $300 a pop IC, and realized I wanted more, and moved up to $1000 a pop. I spent $9000 on new cables. (knowing I would eventually upgrade equipment a lot .. later on.
Last year I bought two new things, Speakers, and a SACD player/DAC. Along with those I got a lot on odd things. duplex outlets, and recently butcher blocks.
Now I can hear really small variations, and can easily tell cables apart.
But curiously, I am pretty much right at the 10% for interconnects anyway. not counting power conditioning and AC stuff.

Anyway, the 10% is a great way to keep from going overboard on IC. It gives you a range of prices.. and will help your system to grow in a more structured way.
If you cannot hear any differences.. do not worry. Maybe later, as your listening and system improve, you may be able to. It is always good to have well regarded IC..So the IC are not holding back the sound (even if you cannot really grasp exactly what they are helping) So when you do get to where you can hear differences in things like calbes. You already have some.. even if you keep them a spares and extras!

Agreed, the chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

https://simonerescio.it/wp-content/u...-weak-link.jpg

Best graphic that explains our madness aka hobby.

Choosing the right cable
 

Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_sU...w?usp=drivesdk

An interesting graphic, but the star is, I think, misplaced. I suggest it should be relocated down and to the right at the point where the effort expended exceeds the value received for that effort.

What fluctuates is how an individual determines the constitution of value and effort; for example, what action one person considers to be accomplished only at an enormous effort might, for another, be done much more easily.

Regardless, the concept is right. For each of us there comes a point when "enough is enough" and we stop -- and that is our own internalized determination of the moment of diminishing returns.