I'd second what Frankpiet said about the importance of system context. From my limited experience, I'd say that cable strengths/weaknesses are really system-dependent. I use a bunch of Ayre gear w/ Thiel 2.3's in an acoustically live room (under-damped); previously Cardas Golden Cross reduced some of the brightness/thinness I heard. Ayre folks have told me that the Ayre i-c's are more or less in between typical Cardas and Audioquest cables in their balance.
Since adding an Ayre L5xe power filter to my system, and transfering most of my gear from a generic wooden rack to a Solid Tech Rack of Silence (both excellent additions), the Ayre cable now sounds just right- but I've heard the Audioquest Cheetahs (which I also have, but are currently a bit thin in the mid's for my system) used in systems w/ Vandersteen 5A speakers, and my sense is that they might work best w/ Ayre gear and Vandersteens.
Since adding an Ayre L5xe power filter to my system, and transfering most of my gear from a generic wooden rack to a Solid Tech Rack of Silence (both excellent additions), the Ayre cable now sounds just right- but I've heard the Audioquest Cheetahs (which I also have, but are currently a bit thin in the mid's for my system) used in systems w/ Vandersteen 5A speakers, and my sense is that they might work best w/ Ayre gear and Vandersteens.