Worth upgrading my cables?

So many folks here have fine quality components connected with less accomplished cables. Mistake every time!  If you need convincing, then do it. Research cable offerings, make a short list of those you would like to audition, and listen.  If you don’t hear ANY differences then you are at a point with your system where it is incapable of revealing cable variances. If your music satisfies you then you are at a good spot and should just relax and enjoy what you hear. 
 

If you do hear differences, the real work now begins. What cable sounds how in what system connection?  What combinations of cables in specific connections, improves the sound of your music?  The one real limiting factor is cost, assuming you have a limit on the funds you can allocate to your cable project. 
 

My last five system purchases have been cables. Four were power cables and one is the interconnect between my line stage and power amp.  
 

one warning…don’t even go there if you can’t afford the cables you audition. You can’t unhear what the auditioned cables brought to your system. That just leaves you with a persistent reality of loss.

@tcotruvo The logic of the “power cords make a difference” argument is that the component to which the power cord is connected experiences the AC it receives from that cable and knows nothing of the original origin of that power. So whatever that cable does to the original AC that is what the component operates from.

An anecdote.  Paul McGowan, the head honcho of PS Audio used Audioquest’s top level power cables on his reference system gear and was confronted with the reality that his system sounded so much better than with PS Audio’s own reference grade cables. From then to this day, PS Audio recommends AQ power cords be used with PS gear. 

@tcotruvo A bit more food for thought. Once I discovered Shunyata Research made noise reducing power cables my interest was piqued. Upon doing my due diligence, I learned that the noise reducing circuitry contained in the cable connectors reduced noise going into the component and noise coming from the component. That latter aspect really interested me. I ended up getting four of their cords, one each for my power amp, line stage, phono stage and SACD player.  Although a considerable investment, the ability to hear more fine nuances, greater detail deep in the soundstage is quite remarkable. Just when you think you understand what is possible in this hobby…

@clearthinker Shunyata Research’s website discusses each design aspect that resulted in the current line of power cables they offer. Here is an excerpt describing the noise reduction capabilities included in the NR cables: