Asking for guidance on my first hi-fi system...

Blue Jeans cable is good.

As for power cords, do not believe the snake oil about power cords. People CAN reliably tell the difference in a blind test between speakers, amplifiers and preamps. But no one has ever reliably shown they can tell the difference between power cords.

Say no to voodoo induced audiophile anxiety. If there's a difference it is small, and most likely all in your head. The power of suggestion is a powerful force indeed.

In the early history of the US, there were these people who traveled around selling ointments and potions who promised cures for all manner of ailments. These people were called snake oil salesmen.

Indeed, I could say "I have tried snake oil and I couldn't tell the difference", but that wouldn't be telling the whole story.

The whole story is that a significant portion of the audiophile community believes that power cords make a difference. They plug in an exotic power cord, strain to hear a difference, and indeed, there it is.

I have asked these same audiophiles to try doing a blind test. In every case, they decline to do so, saying they'd rather not know. You know, people feel strongly attached to the things they own. By buying an exotic power cord, you sort of self-select into the group that believes in exotic power cables. Not always, but sometimes.

Look, 40 or 50 million Americans smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is very bad for you. It does not insult Americans that cigarette smoking is bad for you.

A number of audiophiles have exotic power cords. Exotic power cords are indistinguishable in blind testing from ordinary and well engineered power cords. It does not insult exotic power cord owners that such power cords are indistinguishable.

You really think the hobby is shrinking because people disagree about power cords? I don't think that's the reason.

Differences between preamps, amplifiers and speakers are readily and scientifically explained.

It's a free country: buy exotic power cables if you want. I would just recommend you try a blind test.

Because the power of suggestion is very strong. Isn't it interesting that people sometimes describe maple isolation stands as organic, silver interconnects as cold and analytical, and copper interconnects as warm?

I wonder what would happen if you only told someone that an interconnect was made with silver, but you actually substituted a copper pair?