Cable Costs Relative to System


Since making a spread sheet with my audio system prices, I have been thinking(shocked) about my total investment in cables. My total system retails at $67,000 (Digital and analog front ends included). I purchased all of it here on Audiogon so my investment is about 50%. Of that I have about 10% invested in interconnects and cables and another 10% in Power Cables (Shunyata Hydra included). That's $13,000 worth of wire. I'm starting to question whether it might be more effective to put some of this budget into acitve components. It would take forever to listen to all possible combinations, but would like to hear others experiences with relatively high end systems and cable selection. It would seem to me that the point of diminishing returns would be reached sooner with cables than with speakers and amps. Do most of you follow the 10% "rule" for cabling? How do PCs fit into this rule? Are there any super bargain cables capable of keeping up with highly resolving electronics?
metaphysics

Showing 7 responses by audiolabyrinth

@ pops, we know cables can make a difference, just depends on the cable and everything else in the system, To me the cables are the most profound part of a given system, I have used top cables on inferrior componets to result better than high cost componets many times over!, the cables are a componet!
@ Aintitgr8, great story on the cables, I believe you 100%!, what I am about to say, I care less what any one thinks or believes!, cables are the most profound important part of any system period!, I have a exspensive system, guess what? the cables cost way more than my very exspensive componets, lets see here, Taralabs very best everything!, man-o-man does these cables make a difference!, I absolutly have no regrets ever!, to each their own, see ya.
this is an interesting forum!I do not know what systems Hifinut604 did test on,I will say I have done the same test with complete oppisite outcome!I even went further with the test than hifinut604 did,$.50cent i/c and $1.00 a foot speaker cable. I can here a huge diference between a $4,000.00 speaker cable and the cheap one,and the same effect with the cheap i/c and a $2,800.00,It was like going from a bycycle to a ferrai!LoL! with all the years I have done test, I believe the cables should cost way more than most eanything in your system,if you know what your doing!,one of my test was a $300.00 yamaha cd-player with resonance control on top and bottom with a $4,000.00 I/C,, woh and behold this out performed a spectral amp,cd-player,and pre-amp with lesser quality cables,,A whole lot of people were laughing! then there was the silence,I thought I about made them cry when they heard the yamaha player with better cables!,very true story!
I like Budburma's 2-18-14 post, Bud, do not go back to the chalk board!, that old adage 10-15% for cables to system is from what I been told, from the cable companys back in the fricken 80s!, I recently read this so called rule of thumb here on audiogon over the last few months, In the 30 years I have been doing audio, that has never worked for me, I have more money in cables than I do the entire system, My amp is $14,000.00 so you can imagine the cables I have are top performers, I do not regret having at all, sounds good to me!
Thankyou Elizabeth, I have to say, I agree with your post 100%, I would never do what I have, not being sure!, makes very good sence to me, I admit, being sure with many other cable brands would be very hard to imagine, you really need to know the brand and models inside and out to make a exspensive decision, It took me years to learn all that I know about the brand I use. cheers.