Cables are the conduit through which the signal travels when going from component to component so it is clear that in selecting them care must be taken.

Just how much they matter and in what way is the subject of hotly debated discussions which can help pass away the time should you have it in excess. Suffice it to say that high quality interconnects and speaker cables will allow your entire system to reach its potential, while poor quality ones will become a bottleneck. However, keep things in perspective: high quality doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive in the marketplace.

In the end cables are a matter of personal choice. Indeed, Arcam doesn't supply interconnects with their equipment for this very reason.