Griffo - you hit the nail on the head. I use custom mains cables with good connectors and lab grade filters attached - they do make an audible difference especially on phono stages and cdp. I think earthing as much as anything else accounts for differences in cables. I too have spoken to distributors and each one did exactly the same thing - they slag off every single piece of kit you have becuase they want you to replace everything with stuff they sell. They know their kit isnt that much different - they are just trying to squeeze as many bucks out as they can.