Sometimes it takes experimenting, and with hi-end dealers some may let you borrow some demos.
I never spent enough on cables to enjoy that luxury.
I read reviews, but when they start getting into the effects of the earth's magnetic field, I tend to walk away.
Mostly it's experimentation, and what works for YOU. Since cables are 'components' themselves, they are only one part of a total system.
But systems vary a lot, so who is to say what works for one will not work as well as for another?
Doubt I will ever get into it that deeply, more into the enjoyment of music and entertainment of movies than to spend much more time looking for the 'ultimate' cable.
That a more sophisticated system will show up cable deficiencies easier I suppose has some merit. But one man's "increased detail" could be another man's grunge.