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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
calloway
816 posts
 
...doesn't a kia and porsche accomplish the same goal...that of going from point A to point B ..most of the time at the same allowed speed....if you can afford the porsche...and like its' ride and experience better...you're going to buy it...if the $3000 power cord sounds better in your system ..and you can afford it..guess what?...you're going to buy it...this isn't rocket science!!..is there $70,000 more car in the porsche then in the kia?..probably not.
brianmgrarcom OP
1,317 posts
 
...is there $70,000 more car in the porsche then in the kia?..probably not.

Maybe, maybe not. But I can look at a Porsche and a Kia next to each other and easily see huge cost differences. On the other hand, while one can (sometimes) see cost differences with wire, for me it is hard to understand the huge differences in cost. And there certainly doesn't seem there would be the overhead in cable as in other aspects of audio and warranty work would seem to be lower and easier.

As for percentages of mark up, some of these cables must be far above the 100% - 200% range listed above.
calloway
816 posts
 
....brian...you're probably right, but as long as audiophiles have the financial ability to buy the expensive cables and believe they are sonically better then a less expensive cable .....ie .whatever the market will bear...there will continue to be that niche market.
brianmgrarcom OP
1,317 posts
 
I can understand that Calloway, I guess my question all along is, are cables marked up FAR more than the rest of audio or legit reasons for the costs. The concensus is that they are marked up far more.
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
The pride of bragging about the cost of possesions seems to be relativley common human nature. For many, spending big relieves insecurity and promotes a feeling of self worth when others see a possesion and respond to it. Also, one component of the high end of anything is that there are some individuals who enjoy shopping and buying as an activity all to itself.
I think of mega buck cables, or the desire for same, as a tax on folks who won't blind test. Some folks do seem to enjoy paying the tax however, so perhaps they are getting what they want.
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