I hope anyone reading my post would realize I was raising hypothetical questions, not actual recommendations. I would not be able to, or try to, hook up equipment to the house mains. But I still think it raises valid questions. I hope future posters to this thread will make a thoughtful answer. So, if anyone has a HELPFUL response it would be appreciated.

Yes, you can find tons of opinions and explanations for this fact. Yet, the dichotomy of opinion remains. Doesn't help explain why you have to pay more for a 6' hi-end cable than it does to power your entire neighborhood. Makes no sense to me, yet my stereo sounds much better with a great cable than without. What's going on? I don't expect to have someone come up with an answer, but I hope to generate some thoughts. I would love to engage in some thinking regarding this issue.

I remember back in the day when Tara Labs made an inexpensive cable (solid core copper) and the Absolute Sound raved about it, and they were right. It did sound excellent! Shortly thereafter cable prices rocketed to the moon. Some were good, some OK. Yet I feel like we are missing the forest for the trees. Anyway, love to hear opinions, science, and especially facts regarding this topic.