Can hi-end cables benefit less expensive electronics?


Some time ago, there was a guy on a Polish hi-end forum claiming that in his case it was better to buy some hi-end power chord than investing in a more expensive CD player. Has anybody had an experience where they invested in an expensive cable and felt the investment justified without upgrading the unit utilising the cable? Overall, would there possibly be any point in buying some expensive cable to feed electronics nearly the cost of the cable itself? I'm currently using a KT88 amplifier with a Metronome CD8 (which is also used as DAC) plus Metronome DSS as the streamer (transport only). Speakers: Franco Serblin Accords. In my case, an upgrade in electronics would involve spending at least USD 15,000 to make it sensible. But I can also spend much less and buy a Transparent XL Digital cable to replace my DIY cable that I currently use, at a much smaller expense. Is a high-end digital cable in some cases able to make it a worthwhile investment in a setup which is not top hi-end? I can afford the Transparent XL digital cable, but not necessarily any upgrade to the electronics I own. Has anybody experienced an improvement with an expensive cable even if the rest of the system would rather call for a less expensive one? When I wrote to Transparent about it, they said I should get advice from my dealer. Cable naysayers please do not comment. Also I'm not looking for cheaper alternatives to the Transparent XL. Just fancying buying a cable that many people say is an excellent cable. Of course, I do not expect the same improvement with this cable as with a full DCS Vivaldi setup, but am I likely to get an improvement, considering that the system is balanced and nothing really bothers me in it? Or should I absolutely get a cheaper cable because the more expensive one is bound to make things worse? 

serblinfan

Hallo, for people who followed this topic, I would just like to say that I finally opted for the Hijiri HDG Million digital cable, and I'm happy with the change. It was definitely worth the investment, proving, in my system at least, that the digital link is just as important as other cables, affecting the sound. Now the sound is much smoother, the lower frequencies are deep but never boomy, the higher frequencies are smooth but clear (I love the cymbals), and the midrange, especially vocals, is enchanting. The soundstage has also improved considerably over my Furutech Ag cable I previously used. If I had never tried the Hijiri, I'm sure I would be able to enjoy music with Furutech as well - it's just that once you try something better, there's no going back.... ;-)

Thank you! You guys have all been very helpful, so I thought I should share how it all ended for me, since I kept you occupied with comments for quote some time :-) 

... it's just that once you try something better, there's no going back.... ;-)

                                                       +1

                                             Happy listening!