Look
@Hydra, many of use have been there - defending the very people who ripped us off.
The fact is that there is a lot of "snake oil" out there, products that are hogwash - entirely.
Biases and "confirmation bias", are really tricky things.
Often when you hook up a new lets say cable, you are paying attention in a different way than normal. It can make it seem like there is difference even when in fact there isn't one at all- you are just biased and set-up to confirm the benefit.
I reiterate there are countless products out there that are nothing more than a money delivery system for the manufacturer. These products are a rip off and folks here on this forum are trying to help save folks from the SCAM. Not everyone can understand the technology behind a product and therefore it is easy for a manufacturer to pull the wool over many a buyers eyes.
Sadly many of us have had to learn by first buying and believing in these products only to later find out it was smoke and mirrors.
Believe me if many of these products worked the people on this forum would BUY THEM, however they do not so we DO NOT BUY THEM.
In this example I would buy the $2 optical cable.
Donate the $998.
Why get ripped of? Not only am I out $998 for nothing but some honest person(s) out there are also out $998 and some crook has $1000. No, not a good path.
As
@infinitesymphony stated optical cables do not transmit audio, they transmit light and using that light transmit digital code in the form streaming frequency's representing lots of 1's and 0's. The cable either works or it doesn't.
There is not a way to make it better.
Ever see the optical cables that transmit ALL of the internet (including you music) in a home based fiber optic internet set-up? EVERYTHING is transmitted perfectly on a very, very, very, very, very cheap cable.
Save you money and learn what is is not real.
Subjective experience is really, really important and can be laser sharp but remember it can also very, very easily be fooled as well.