I've spent quite a bit of time recently in the realm of this topic (producing systems for new audiophiles + commercial installation systems - both on the watchful dollar), and have a couple observations:
Last I checked, a 100' spool of CL3 rated monster cable on Ebay was $100-$150 (higher retail, of course). That's $2-$3/foot (vs. $3/foot for the analysis plus) and the sound quality is markedly lower - I've used both. That aside, the advice a couple of us have offered re:Analysis Plus is still in line with bishopwill's main intent - to be inexpensive, leave room to terminate yourself to save costs (and learn something, absolutely!) and see where it leaves you at the end of the day.
I agree heartily with bishopwill's suggestion that if you can borrow some cables from someone, *do it* - that was how I got started and really started hearing the differences between cables. Keep in mind that what you audition on your mains may not be feasible in an in-wall or surround run due to price.
There are exremists on both sides (cables are the end-all, cables don't matter), but I think most people would agree that cables matter. I don't mean to be catty, but bishopwill probably isn't running monster cable, and a new audiophile needn't either, given better sounding options at that price. The real drive of his point seems to be: don't break the bank listening to people telling you you won't hear "xxx" or "yyy" until you spend "$ZZZ". At the same time, I would add - you won't even hear "www" without at least some halfway decent cables.
As for the suggestion to put better cables on your fronts, that's a natural. Like many of us, you may find youself listening in 2-channel most of the time, using the rears only for home-theater or DSP-infected "4-5 channel" listening, depending on your setup and listening environment.
As always, best of luck, and remember - however misguided we all may be, we're still free.
mwilson
