One issue I kind of have with cables, is as follows...

In the aersopace industry, or any other hi-tec  - surely the emphasis is for the highest possible level of performance. This is often regardless of price.

If there were 3 cables in a hi-tec industry, and one had better measured performance then thats the one that would be used.

In audio, conversely people often use one that they think sounds better, regardless of its suitability for purpose ... it may be weaker in terms of carrying a signal, rejecting RFI, EMI etc.

By using a cable as a component, you can alter the sound, sure..but have we used a cable as a tone control which would be shown up for all its weaknesses with more revealing equipment? Is the one trick pony an attempt to 'fix' a perceived system weakness?

In my own system, I dont want further alteration to the sound - I want to pick components I like the sound of, and connect them up. I want the leads to do the best job a lead can do of carrying a signal. I dont want them to add, or subtract, or alter.

Im not saying my own cables do that necessarily, just that this is my ideal and my goal. I struggle with the notion that its not the same goal for everyone..

I suppose whether/not you agree with me would strongly depend on whether you view a cable as a component within your system that can be used to alter the sound, or purely as a means of carrying signal/power.

over to you guys