Are Expensive Balanced Interconnects Necessary?

@marco1 - I appreciate your subtlety.🤗

On a more serious note, using a Cardas Clear XLR vs.  Mogomi XLR from my Atma-sphere pre to my Atma amp both of which meet the AES48 standard, I hear NO difference.   When using the same cables from my Denafrips DAC (don't know if Denafripts meets AES 48 but it is "balanced") I do hear a difference and improvememt.  More weight and transparency. So for me at least, the answer is it depends.  Sorry couldn't resist before :-)

Yes jump on Purist or Tara ASAP!!!