A customer rep from Audioquest had some interesting answers to my question about the relative importance of different parts of the audio signal chain.
Not surprisingly, he conveyed that the optimal cable/interconnect will introduce the least amount of distortion to the audio signal (i.e. a cable cannot improve the original audio signal). He did not think one part of the signal chain was paramount- rather he emphasized the cumulative effects (i.e. cumulative distortion) of all the cables/interconnects in the system. In his opinion, a few high quality interconnects with average speaker wire would most likely end being comparable in audio quality to average connects and excellent speaker wire.
So if I understand his feedback, cabling/wire throughout the system that introduces the least amount of signal distortion would be the target.
That does make sense but once you start getting your hands dirty and start feeling around a pattern emerges. Nothing will screw with timing and prat like a digital rca/xlr for eg. As you move cables around you start to get a sense of what you like and what everything does in your own system. His explanation is right but its textbook too.
I personally don't like all the same brand of cabling working in one system. Thats my own opinion but i find i want to hear the cabling off the transport, including power cables off the source. If you cable the same brand what can happen is the cable signature brand can drowned out the source. I know its sounds funky but thats the best i can describe it.
Right now i am using Wywires xlr between my bdp and dac. Empirical audio from my dac to the pre amp and Wywires from my pre amp to power amp in rca.
Another alternative i like is my Atlas opus rca from my bdp to dac - Wywires dac to pre and pre to power. I use Gutwire as speaker wire on both.
Both sound great on Bryston gear.
Bryston have good wire too but i wouldn't use it straight through. The xlr and bnc are good and they sound good with wywires down stream. The speaker cable sounds great in all wire strategies.
I will say that the Audioquest rep isn't correct on the signal chain importance. If you screw up the source cabling its a done deal. A lot of source power and signal don't lay down the beats very well and there is no repair after that.
