The Cost of Cables


We all know that there have been countless posts with endless debates about cables on every audio forum available. The reason I start this post is to garner thoughts from others on the cost of cables, not necessarily whether they make a difference or not. I find the prices for cables staggering and I (me personally) do not understand where the cost comes from. Some will say R&D, ok, I can go for that to a point, but can the manufacturing of wire really cost much? (In thinking about this, the discussion could be applied to audio as a whole.)

Obviously cable companies survive because we purchase their products, I include myself. But if we quit paying these large prices, would prices fall dramatically or would they just quit making cables such as we know it and/or close their doors?
brianmgrarcom
...told that some Canare at cents for the foot are good benchmark cables, he takes offense and wants 'real cables'. You know, those ones that the guys use with their expensive well though out systems which have been properly set up.
Newbee (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)
Does that mean Canare are not used by guys with well thought out systems which have been properly set up?

BTW, I agree with your theory. The vast majority of equipment question threads aren't asking for what the poster needs, but rather they are requesting validation for what the poster wants (which is usually to spend more money on an already identified target purchase...required or not). IMO.
Tvad, Re "Does that mean Canare are not used by guys with well thought out systems which have been properly set up"?

Not by a long shot I know of several, including one guy for whom I have undying respect! In his case it replaced some Cardas due to length requirements. :-)
Re "Does that mean Canare are not used by guys with well thought out systems which have been properly set up"?
I know of several, including one guy for whom I have undying respect! In his case it replaced some Cardas due to length requirements. :-)
Newbee (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)
Clearly, that knucklehead doesn't have a clue about high end cables! :)

Can someone recommend the best speaker cabling under $10,000 for an 8 foot pair?
John, I certainly don't disagree with what you are saying; as I stated in the original post, I think cable costs are staggering. I only recall one person in this thread making a case for the possibility of cables costing a lot.
the issue is not the cost of the cable but rather what is a cable worth to a consumer ? if a cable is expensive some will think it is overpriced, while others may consider the cable worth the price.

there is no rational reason for a subjective evaluation of what something is worth.

what is the relevance of the cost of the product to its price ? if it has value to someone it will be purchased. if there is an sufficient demand to ensure the viability of the product, it will be removed from the market, reduced in price or perhaps, recast in a different "package" at a lower price.