Both! Some people ask, "It's just wire how could it make a difference?". Well... A magnifying glass is just glass isn't it?
As for the internal wiring of components being cheap, that is true. We all pay for the signal that comes OUT of the component. HOW the signal gets the sonic qualities we love is irrelevant.
Cable "science" in the purist form, is designed to preserve signal quality between components. Unfortunately that is nearly impossible. Therfore each cable type/design will add or subtract sonic qualities to your music. To get the best sound, one must have the right cable... Not necessarily the best cable.
The psychology comes when you try to find the RIGHT cable for your system... I think I'm going crazy!
As for the internal wiring of components being cheap, that is true. We all pay for the signal that comes OUT of the component. HOW the signal gets the sonic qualities we love is irrelevant.
Cable "science" in the purist form, is designed to preserve signal quality between components. Unfortunately that is nearly impossible. Therfore each cable type/design will add or subtract sonic qualities to your music. To get the best sound, one must have the right cable... Not necessarily the best cable.
The psychology comes when you try to find the RIGHT cable for your system... I think I'm going crazy!