Cable Risers/Elevators revisited

For a couple of years now, I've been using ceramic cable elevators, you know, the ones that are overpriced telephone pole pieces.  😉 I've used them blindly, and always have had a pretty revolving system, since my speaker upgrade earlier this year, I've been reevaluating things.  Last night I decided to remove the cable elevators from the system and let the cables rest au natural on the carpeted floor.  Honestly, I wasn't expecting a world of differnce.   Well, to my surprise, it sounded-better?!   Larger soundstage, much better timbre and bloom, less analytical, with better dynamics.  It sounds way less hifi, and more like a live performance.   I   I can't  believe it.   I would have thought the opposite would have been found.   I'm at a loss.  Reinserting the lifters brings a super squeaky clean, but univolving and electronic sound.   Not sure if it's gen ceramic, but maybe a test drive of different lifter materials is in order.