budget component in high-end system?

I keep many pairs of real world priced interconnects, speaker cables, and power cords for demonstration to prove that components, not wires, are the backbone of a good system.

Dealer disclaimer

I would have to say the Morrison Elad Preamp. I have gone through several amps and speakers in the last 6 years, but I am still impressed with it's lack of identifiable "sound". Having said that, I would still give it up for a McIntosh C200.

Not really a highend system, but in the home office/bedroom I'm using a Technics 5-disc changer as a transport, which cost $150 almost eight years ago. $3000 amp, $5k speakers, etc. The interconnects cost a few hundred more than the CD changer did. I do use the computer as the source more often though.

Audiofeil, which is more important, the heart or the network of veins and arteries? As a reviewer, I'd no more wish poor cabling on someone than for a person with a healthy heart to have Thrombosis.

I'm with Audiofeil regarding cabling. High-end commercial cables have the worst value proposition in audio. Some commercial cables that cost thousands are surpassed with DIY designs at 1/20 the cost in parts. In a megabuck system expensive designer cables can be icing on the cake, but they have no relevance to obtaining high performance on a per-dollar basis. My only real regret in audio has been wasting money on cables.