Great suggestions so far, unfortunately in my experience you simply have to live with them for a while, what may attract you initially might not work for you in the long run. Also, your mental state changes over time, when your in the mood for music your system usually satisfies, when you not at that same level you tend to look for something to get you there and become more engaged to the system rather than the music.
Here's my final theory on cables - they are tone controls for one (at least they are capable of changing the sound) and way easier to swap out and cheaper to experiment with than components, cartridges, tonearms, tables, etc...in order to attempt to improve you sound.
Here's my final theory on cables - they are tone controls for one (at least they are capable of changing the sound) and way easier to swap out and cheaper to experiment with than components, cartridges, tonearms, tables, etc...in order to attempt to improve you sound.