Ultimate stereo nightmare

All you need for the future is structured wiring. No matter how jumbled things become, you will not lose track. Get the professionals you hired to do this if you wish.

For every cable, without exception: Place a label (with a label maker, a sturdy piece of heavy paper with handwriting, anything you like) at one end that identifies what is at the other end. Repeat for the other end.

It is a PIA. But you only do it once. It is a brilliant approach, and the idea is not mine. It is an idea from network structured wiring for complex distributed wiring setups.

Personally, if you are changing/upgrading equipment often, I would recommend making label names based on function. So, the label for a standalone re-clocker is re-clocker, not Brand-Product name. When you buy the new and better re clocker, the label can be unchnaged.

I hope it goes without saying that the labels must be durable and easily removable without damage or residue.  Good luck from another older creaky audiophool.

Well, I think my audiophile days are over. I took the whole very complicated system apart and labeled the various wires the best I could.  That’s the problem.  At my age (83) things are not as exact as they should be and I probably screwed up somewhere. I’m afraid Humpty Dumpty is never going to be put back together again. 
 I wanted to make things easier for the technician but I don’t think she’ll be able to cope with this.

Oh well, there’s always my headphones.

I’m in that older age bracket now, and the best move I’ve made was to get caster wheels for my Salamander A5 audio stand to get access easily now to the back. My hockey knees and back are especially grateful that I did.....

I hear you on the age, also I have an amp I need to reach behind to turn on, so more bending and reaching. So I had a welder make a steel frame and I am using butcher block for the shelves (with rubber vibration absorbers), and here is the winner, high quality casters, so I can just spin it around when I need to. But by making it custom, putting in the cable management holes/holders/etc. I am hoping all this is much easier in the future. It is also custom sized to my gear. I am guessing when all said and done will cost $500-$600.

rvpiano I had no idea you were up there in age great job disconnecting it all man! And fingers crossed it's a nice easy fix. I hope you've tried some of the troubleshooting ideas suggested.