Liz':

One more point... Cables are a great way of manipulating the sound of your system. For example, do you need to do something corrective? (i.e. a system that is too bright? Too veiled?). Or additive? (i.e. more bass). Or are things, to quote Baby Bear, "just right?" (meaning you want neutral cables).

It used to be that you could go to your local hifi store and borrow a few cables to see what you like. But in the days of Internet retailers, those options are harder to find, so I would strongly suggest you Google a few brands you are looking at for reviews. You can also click over to the Cable Asylum at www.audioasylum.com and do a search for a specific cable make/model for user reviews. Another good source is audioreview.com.

Bottom line is, cable are VERY system specific and, unless you have an opportunity to try things in your own system before purchase, you would be wise to do a little homework up front to minimize the chance you'll pick a cable that does not suit your electronics and speakers.