I’ve never had a cable take my system from just OK to great. That kind of leap has always come from upgrading core components like better speakers, cleaner power, or proper room treatment. Cables can fine-tune things, maybe tighten the bass a bit or smooth out the highs, but if a system sounds just OK to begin with, no cable is going to work miracles.
I’ve tried some high-end cables out of curiosity. They weren’t total snake oil, but the differences were subtle at best. More like chasing the last one percent than making a real transformation. In my experience, good cables matter once everything else is already dialed in, but they don’t turn a mediocre system into something amazing.
That said, if someone’s had a true wow moment from a cable swap, I’d be interested to hear about it. Just hasn’t happened for me.