why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

Just wanted to add my 2 pence to this discussion. I must admit I have always been on the fence with this argument, believing, as most other do, that after a certain price point most cables are equal and that we just buy the look after said certain pric point. I attended the Bristol Audio show in the UK this year (have been a few years now) and purposely sat in on a speaker/interconnect demo being run by the Chord company, just to confirm my thoughts on my cables.

i wouldn’t  say I was shocked but I would say I was surprised. There was most certainly ‘differences’ in how the cables sounded, with some providing more depth and detail in the music. (Things you couldn’t hear with one cable, but could hear in another). 

Id say the demo lasted over 1 hr, the format was piece of music played for say 15 seconds with one cable. Then switched out with an ‘upgraded’ cable, then same piece played again. Totally open setup, all in view, with connectors showing (rear facing) . Very simple setup and no smoke or mirrors at play.

The main thing I picked up on was that most of the differencesi personaly heard we’re minor. I wouldn’t even  they sound better or worse, just different, some I like some I didn’t. I think that is more the point, they just sounded different, to some they may say they sounded better, others worse.

The only major thing I took away from it all, and the only thing that in my opinion DID improve the sound reproduction/detail etc for the better was the use of shielded cables. That for me was the only thing I would now make sure my cables had as this and only this made a big enough difference to the sound that I could 1) actually hear it and 2) say it was a definite improvement.

they also demo’d new silver banana plugs and £3k meter cables all of which I couldn’t say made anything sound better or worse, just ‘different’,  but hey, one mans different is another mans better. 

melbguy1 - The usual reason audiophiles dismiss more expensive cables in a-b comparisons is because to be blunt, their systems aren’t capable of clearly revealing the differences.

IMO, the quoted statement is to generic in that there are different types of cables. Interconnects being one, speaker wire another. In the case of speaker wire, I have reason to believe honest (to themselves) audiophiles dismiss more expensive cables in a-b comparisons because, to be blunt, there is no audible difference that can reliably be detected, and therefore money that would otherwise have been spent can be saved.

This has nothing to do with Bose. Bose sounds like crap! There you make an assumption that I and others can’t get past the marketing crap. Most of us can! Look there are some of us that have never been exposed to truly high end systems that pull the last amount of depth, detail, soundstage and musicality out of music being played in a system. It’s called SYSTEM FOR A REASON! Each of our systems have been put together and tweaked to the last minute details. We have different rooms, acoustic enviorments, power cables, speakers, amps, pre amps, sources, interconnects, speaker cables, music, quality of recording of music we listen to etc, etc. it all plays a part in your ending sound. You will never hear my system in your enviorment! So I tell people if you can hear the difference and you like it go with it. IF IT SOUNDS GOOD THEN BUY IT! THIS IS NOT A LOW BAR. ITS THE ONLY BAR! AUDIO IS TO BE HEARD BY YOUR EAR. I DONT GIVE A CRAP ABOUT MARKETING OR HOW IT MEASURES ON SOME DAMN GRAPH. DOES IT SOUND  GOOD TO YOU? THEN THE REST DOESNT MATTER. Now I have said my piece. If that Bose demo tricked you in the past I hope you can get over it. If you like chicken wire then keep it but don’t tell me I’m crazy cause I have a system that doesn’t like Chicken! Lol. Enjoy your electrodynamic spectrometer that Marvin the Martian used to shoot at bugs bunny! I will keep enjoying my modestly priced cables playing the music through my resolving system that I can actually hear!

Ok now I’m through watching this thread go in circles. Now carry on! I’m out! Peace! MIC DROP! 

Whoa! What?! A taters OP thread on expensive cables is going in circles? Or any thread on cables. The way it’s been going, any topic that’s more than 2 Sigma off the average knowledge of the Standard Audiophile Model. 😳

”Build it and they will come.” ⚾️

kosst_amojan
"It’s audio if it sounds good to you buy it! Ah duh!"

That's pretty much why Bose has sold tons of junk.

I used to draw nude women. I'm pretty good at it. One of the things drawing lifelike nude women teaches you is how to study shapes and proportions. I realized the more nude women I drew, the less I liked what's typically called a sexy woman. I also realized that the interactions between light, curve, and proportion are where the beauty lies. It's a proven fact that people who practice creating visual art consume it in very different ways that those who don't. I find listening to be a similar practice. The more I listen, the more my tastes diversify and the more I listen to what my stereo is really doing. "Sounding good" isn't a standard I find myself ever using. "Sounding good" is an abstract conclusion drawn from the assessment of many factors. Are the hips wide enough, or not enough? Is the bass too round or too punchy? Are the breasts set wide enough apart, or too close? Is the soundstage too etched, or just hazy enough to be more convincing? Just like "sexy" is emergent quality of many factors, "sounding good" is as well.

That's my take on it.

>>>>>Wow.

+1

@calvinj

IMO, your 04-19-2018 6:41am post is well stated.

Thanks gdhal I get so tired of folks acting like it’s just our imagination 

Hey guys what are some good brand name cables, that look nice that I can get to elevate my system to the next level? I currently use stock power cords, blue jeans speaker cables, and $5 interconnects (ugreen off amazon, $10/pair) the only slightly "audiophile" cable I have is a $40 coax cable I purchased from dysonaudio.com 

i was looking at nordost and Coincident for speaker cables, furutech for power cords however I don't want to spend more than $2k total. I was thinking I could save a massive buck by buying used but I'm scared of getting ripped off by buying fakes. 

My system is all balanced, pass labs amp/pre, balanced dac, mostly listen to music over USB and coax on my pc / CD player.  Speakers are Harbeth 30.2. 

As ive never seriously put much thought into this until now I'm at a bit of a loss.

also for the record I did not enjoy audioquest rocket 44, I thought it actually sounded worse than my blue jeans cables, I think something to do with the use of silver in the conductive path?

Consider Signal Cable d2girls!  Very good stuff and extremely inexpensive for the quality.

d2girls, for balanced analog interconnects I and more than a few others here have had excellent results with Mogami Gold Studio, which btw is arguably the de facto cable of choice in pro applications.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?sts=ma&fct=fct_brand_name%7cmogami&N=0&Ntt=mogami%...

For other cables and power cords, many here (including me) have been very pleased with Signal Cable products:

http://signalcable.com/

All of the above are very modestly priced, but offer excellent value. Also, keep in mind that balanced interconnections in many cases tend to be less sensitive to cable differences than unbalanced interconnections.


Best of luck.
-- Al

Edit:  I composed this post before seeing Dave's just above.  Great minds think alike :-)

thank you for the suggestions but from what I can see these hardly seem to be much different than my current cabling. i was thinking of trying out something more 'audiophile' like nordost, etc. i was looking to get balanced interconnects in the 1.5 feet variety, do those exist? my amp, preamp, and dac are all right above and below each other on my vertical rack.

I still use two Cardas Parsec XLR in my system. $360 meter pair.I bought them when they came out. and like what they do. One clear feature is an interesting pearl like edge to the notes. Really just a tiny touch, but lovely. Since I bought all of those (like 7 pair 2 XLR 5 RCA) I jumped up the $1000 a pair Kimber KS 1016, mainly due to needing a really good 7 meter IC and I liked the sound of the 7m KS1116 XLR, I bought a few more RCA Kimber for the rest. But I do keep the two Cardas XLR in the system (The Cardas is slightly more veiled than the Kimber, But cost a lot less. So for a step up, I would suggest the Cardas Parsec XLR.     

D2girls...might I suggest a veteran source for free advice who also handles MIT cables online.  Call Joe Abrams at Equus Audio.  He has been in the high end industry for his entire life and can offer exceptional savings on all MIT cables.  He has cables for sale on Audiogon as well.  Enjoy

Do your research and DO NOT take recommendations from people who have already been swayed into spending too much money on exotic, overpriced, ineffective cables.  Accessory interconnects can only, if at all, provide very subtle improvements to audio listening and they are certainly NOT worth the ridiculous premium prices.  

Try to find, for example, any high end speaker manufacturer, who does not also manufacture interconnects, who will suggest that exotic, expensive are needed to enhance their speakers' performance.

Dynaquest14 sounds reasonable and has probably found himself content within his own means, meager as they may or may not be.  My recommendations are based upon over 40 years of owning a very large portion of the gear many people talk about but have not owned.  Many cables have entered my various systems over the years and although there may be some good values available, none have provided the startlingly dramatic improvements that MIT cables have provided....even the lower cost offerings are quite amazing at allowing your listening sessions to transport you to the actual event!  I have put my money where my mouth is and have found that wire definitely is wire...MIT offers a musical experience far beyond just wire.

I have found very few speaker or electronics manufacturers who will recommend any particular cable, brand or model - probably cannot afford to offend any of their dealers that do not carry that brand. And it certainly would make sales tougher if customers were told they also had to buy expensive cables. Though most manufacturers seem to use expensive cables to demonstrate their gear at shows.

the good news is that it is free or cheap to audition cables in your own system and decide for yourself...

dynaquest4
"Do your research and DO NOT take recommendations from people who have already..."

It doesn't take much "research" to plainly, decisively, and emphatically reveal that you're comments, directions, and protestations are biased, uninformed, and propagandistic when people actually do the research that you suggest they will see this for them selfs.

It’s like I explained to my daughter, everything is a matter of choice. Like Dynaquest4, her sister’s boyfriend bought an expensive convertible sports car. I bought a normal car and an expensive stereo. Life’s choices are based on one’s priorities.

I have even less of an idea what to do after reading through your guys' responses :(
I think I'll try out some nice cables in the near future. Some cheap used nordost, and audioquest. I will do diligent research in the used models I find online. I would feel really bad about spending $5,000 for a 6 foot pair of audioquest redwood speaker cables. Id rather pay half that for a used pair.
And theres the other half of me that says to just stick with what I've got...

@d2girls 

And theres the other half of me that says to just stick with what I've got...

Look at it this way, if you don't "save" $2,500 by spending $2,500 on $5,000 speaker cables, what would you spend the $2,500 on?  My guess, probably something cooler than wire.

If you go with 'Big Name' used, the likelihood of buying way overpriced fakes goes up exponentially. Particularly big name brands and well known cables.I haven't bought a used cable in years. Just too likely to be burned. Plus the cable I really want, never seemed to be for sale anyway. If you have a local dealer who can loan you something to try, that would be ideal. Or "The Cable Company" has cables they loan out. You do pay a fee, but if you eventually buy something/anything, you get that money back as a credit toward any purchase. that way you actually get to TRY the exact cable you are interested in, or several. You can listen and decide with  actual experience of the cable in your own system.

The used high end cable market is pretty stable, so if used cables don’t work out for any reason you should have no trouble recovering your money. If you pay full price for the latest and greatest, however, it’s kind if like buying a new car. It depreciates as soon as it leaves the dealer parking lot. Besides when you buy used the cables are already broken in. 😃 it’s kind of the same philosophy that has shut down many mom and pop high end stores, such as $30,000 amps. In bad economic times like these the savvy audiophile buys used. It’s not rocket science. 🚀

Yeah, Geoff, but knowing when to buy used, vs new is critical. I enjoy high end preamps, I have found used ones as low as 25% of new retail. Last one was 30% of new retail. that means I am just leaping in on a buy I was really not specifically looking for, just because it is neat, and cheap. Works out for me so far.                  
But if I want specific cables. Like say... my seven meter Kimber XLR KS1116. Exactly how many YEARS do you think I will be waiting for one to show up used? Twenty years? Thirty?              
If you just want 'any' fancy cable and are willing to go for it, then yeah you can find good deals on cables. Aside from the chance it is a fake...

I think that’s called penny wise and pound foolish. 🤗

Get the best sounding stereo you can afford. It's perhaps one of the saner things you can do with your money. Get the best (read most comfortable, sleep inducing) bed you can afford. Give as much as you can to those organizations that promote the most public and environmental welfare.Treat yourself and other to the good things in life.
 Who knows how much longer we have? Enjoy it while it, you last.

 The following statement is true.The previous statement is false

I spent over $3000 on some AC duplex (for the stereo of course). Most recent spent $100 for four resistors which happened to be on sale for 50% off.                   
So just how much SHOULD I be spending for interconnects? (naturally this is a rhetorical question, but I am sure I can get some answers... FYI my last two IC spending sprees cost me $9000.)

A rich man has about as much chance of entering audio Nirvana as a donkey has of passing through the eye of a needle. 

Who gives a flying fig!  Buy what you want and enjoy.  Don’t be jealous if someone’s cables are bigger, longer and thicker than yours 😉

+1 Dave b

If you have the money, Geoff, just buy a BIGGER NEEDLE.Buy one big enough to fly a 747 through it. No problem.

Geoff is definitely more than a few cards short of a deck 😝. He’s also wrong...a rich man can buy his audio indulgences over and over again until he accidentally enters Audio Nirvana!  A poor man has fewer options and needs to get it right the first time...IOW, the deck is stacked against him or her or it or whatever is PC today.  Of course Geoff would convince the poor guy his Bose would sound SOTA if only he would buy some of his audio trinkets and snake oil.  Actually, that makes Geoff worse than a rich man.  At least a rich man wants to have an honest chance at purchasing a slice of ANirvana, while Geoff lives off the poor, desperate wretches looking for a magic potion to convert their electronic grunge generators into heavenly sonic bliss!  I can respect the rich man for his capitalistic purity.  Geoff however, is far worse...for he sells empty dreams.  Then again, perhaps that defines a free society afterall.  Anyone should be able to pursue anything they want, no matter how foolish or baseless it may be.  Carry on dear patriot...let not your conscience be bothered.

Dave, stop projecting. I know you are but what am I? 🤪

dave _b seems to think all audiophiles are mindless fools who are incapable of making decisions. By his lights they all need 'protecting' from charlatans and con men and are universally gullible.  
Where I think audiophiles, like nearly all people ,are intelligent, have an ability to make decisions based on self interest. 
And just because someone chooses to buy a product dave_b thinks is hokum, does not make him right. It is far more likely to mean dave_b is wrong in his assessment.           
As for Geoff. :But what am I you ask? clearly you are a giant gingerbread cookie. Your photo PROVES it. Where I am a giant blank slate with a big "E". I think I escaped from an eye chart...

Elizabeth is obviously very emotional right now.  You missed the tongue in cheek aspect of my post apparently?  That being said, anyone should be able to pursue anything they please.  I was simply riffing on the analogy GK mentioned.  It was sarcastic humor with a thread of truth perhaps...certainly not a treatise or anything worth publishing.  Relax, take a bubble bath and put on some Perry Como for goodness sake!  Geeez

Something is wrong with dave_b. We don’t know what it is. But we suspect ye olde peaches and hamburgers syndrome.

I’m fine GK...no need for any of your special scam sauce on my burgers 🍔 

Whatever you may think of high end cables that cost more than most high end electronics or speakers, the cable manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank. Fool an audiophile once, shame on him.  Fool him twice, shame on cable manufacturer. Fool him thrice, congratulations cable manufacturer.

dracule1 seems to be writing (at least to my understanding of 'High End) ordinary fools are buying $40,000 IC. I don't know anyone buying IC that cost more than most High End gear.I guess it is easy to make up fantasy and expostulate on the fantasy 'as if' it is reality. I also doubt HE knows anyone who "Buys cables that cost more than most High end equipment".               
First I would try to form a basic amount. How much money is the 'high end equipment' dracule1 is using as a basis? To me High End is like preamps and amps costing over $30,000. Speakers costing over $50,000.              
However dracule1 may have a much lower standard than I do as to what 'High End equipment costs.. Maybe as low as $3000?If it is $3000, Yup I own an IC I paid $3,200 for. And do not consider it a big deal. (it took me a number of years to decide to BUY that cable.. Just to add to the discussion, my IC cable percentage for my whole system is under 10%) And in the recent past I used a $1,100 IC cable on a DAC I paid $250 (used) for! (now I use that same $1,100 IC on a $7000 DAC.
Anyway, I disagree about the notion 'fools and their money'. I would just call it what folks choose to buy which makes their stereo sound better. I know some folks write about buying several AudioQuest Hurricane powercords, or even Dragon powercords. (for me, those are way too expensive..But if i could affor them, Yeah I would be buying them too.  just sayin'.)

I do not believe in the effectiveness of expensive, overpriced "wire."  I recently priced out  full stereo cable set up (minus power cables) of Nordhost's Odin line of cables.  If I remember correctly, the retail cost was $137,000.00.

Yes....they target fools with too much money.  Those who "can afford them" and don't have a clue, keep the scam alive.

teo audio speaker cables, starting $22,000 USD 6ft / pairhis reference interconnects available starting at around $11,000 USD
good luck finding where he even manufactures them, dont think its canada, his address on his site leads to a postal box in the middle of nowhere.

I think sometimes if it gets you the sound you chase you do it! That’s why we do it anyway. RIGHT?

Shoulda bought a full loom of Teo’s cables on Tuesday with the money I was gonna lose in Wednesday’s stock market slide 🏦 💸 💥 🤬

It’s not too late. Look out below! 

"Look out below" is what the beach gulls think (and do) to tourists walking the beach. Smart folks just take a step to the side when the gull dives, abruptly pulls up with a little squawk flinging it's **** right at your head. The gulls never figure it out. Some tourists do. Other tourists just swear a lot. I love the sea gulls, and laugh with them.

Best to wear a hat.  Make it a red one.  There is a lot of s*** flying around these days.