Are cables additive or subtractive?

There’s lots of debates here about the effectiveness of cables. Let’s please keep that elsewhere so we can have a DIFFERENT discussion about cables.

Let’s assume for argument’s sake that yes, cables make a difference and that it’s worth paying for that difference.

Lets assume that is true, then lets ask the question:

Again, for this thread, assume cables change something audible.

What do you think and what are your experiences?

Also, let's try to avoid sweeping generalities and try to focus on what happens along this axis: Subtraction or addition.

erik_squires12-30-2022 3:55pm

marqmike Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 838 posts 12-30-2022 at 04:13pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Both it seems. I use them as small final sound adjustments. Sometimes it adds something I like and sometimes it takes something away I like. I have about 8 sets of different ic's. And to me I t seems I can count on them changing the sound the same way in every system. I kind of like that. But like all of us I have just limited experience.
marqmike Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 838 posts 12-31-2022 at 04:07am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete If this makes any sense here it is. I have Van den Hul ’The First’ ic’s. They seem to take the most away in the sound that is electronicy, edgey, glary, thin, ghosty, and leaves a more natural sound. I have some audio art 3SE’s that seem to make the music feel bouncy in a good way, rubbery, elastic, if that makes any sense, music becomes more moving, seems timing is expressed a little more in a good way, bass line??, I don’t know for sure, but they have just a tiny more edge.. I have some mit 330’s that gives a bit more body to the music but the highs seem to have a small extra bit of metallic in contrast to more wood sounding when it comes to wood instruments. I have some Madie signatures that give me some natural openness, natural transparency, natural air, but leave me a very slight whitish residue.