Length of Loudspeaker Cables

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This is an interesting experiment you're doing that I haven't been able to due to a space issue:

Jim Smith in his 'Get Better Sound' book says you should avoid putting your equipment rack in between the speakers if you can. He even states that putting the equipment somewhere on a side wall will increase the sound quality by such a degree that using lamp cord for speaker cable and the equipment on the side wall sounds better than having the rack in between the speakers and using high end speaker cable.
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My system is set up with the electronics on a side wall, although more for the sake of keeping domestic harmony that any thing else...  Having said that, I'm very happy with the result.

I wonder whether there also might be an element of psychology associated with this: I for one enjoy listening to the music without seeing a big stack of electronic gear slap bang in the middle of my field of view.