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why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

I have tried expensive cables and one's moderately priced. I would say there were some differences but I can't actually say the expensive cables were better. IMHO I believe a lot of people buy expensive cables because they don't actual trust their ears and are afraid of making a mistake. They figure the expensive cables are better for the fact they cost more. If you have a difference of opinion or share the same thoughts, I would like to hear about it.
taters
d2girls's avatar
d2girls
641 posts
 
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...
illuminator
57 posts
 

d2girls,

First of all, look at your system.  I don't know anything about Schiit products, but I do know about your Pass and Harbeth pieces.  They're very good!  I hope that you are running balanced interconnects, Pass works better with them.  Call John Pharo at The Cable Company and ask him about speaker cables.  He's very knowledgeable and really nice.  He can help guide you.

mitch2
1,911 posts
 
@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.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
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.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
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. 🚀
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