They’re important, too.
I have 5 LPS’s in my system. I replaced each of the cheap umbilical cords that came with the units - with DIY versions made from 20 awg pure OCC copper single strand wire.
I just purchased an older model Auralic Aries streamer that came with its own dedicated low noise LPS – and cheap umbilical cord. Actually, its umbilical cord appeared to be even more flimsy than any of the others. Upon inserting the streamer into my rig, I was mightily unimpressed. Lots of hyper-detail. Thin. Zero tone or weight.
Could the really cheap umbilical cord be the cause? I DIY’d another made from the same OCC copper single strand wire. Voila! Tone, timbre, weight & body. Like a major component upgrade. The streamer went from sounding fair to sounding great. DIY cost of the new umbilical cord - $15.
Now, I’m wondering how it will sound if I replace the cheap $2 connectors with $20 Oyaide connectors.
Everything matters.