The Physics of Electricity

""Can anyone explain clearly in either common parlance or technical terms the difference between a $1,000.00 cable and/or speaker wire versus a $20.00 (or so) one?""
Yes the difference as has been written is the $1000. cable costs $980. MORE than the $20. cable...

"" What does wire "do" in an expensive cable/wire that an inexpensive cable/wire does not?""
The wire in an expensive cable may or may NOT be purer quality material, with fewer internal crystals and anomalies, the wire in the expensive cable may or may NOT be able to allow the signal to be less degraded in passing through the wire. IN ADDITION the insulation may, or may NOT also contribute to the quality of the signal passing through the wire it shields. AND the physical structure of the cable design may or may NOT also contribute to the ability of the signal to pass through the wire without degradation.

"" Does it conduct more or "better" electricity?""
no. But it may or may NOT allow that same electricity to carry a signal with less degradation.
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So here is the answer to the question verbatum Snofun3.
Happy?
And I am an equal opportunity type. I am no better or worse than anyone else here.
ANY response one reads MUST be taken with the realization that the response is not 'the' answer, nor is a lie. It is the opinion of one person, of a multitude of varying opinions, and the person reading those opinions STILL must use thier OWN critical thinking to decide the merits of the post in question.
Because i write a lot of responses does NOT mean I think I am an expert!! on the contrary, it means I think I am a nutcase with WAY too much time on my hands.
(8^Q...

I'm a bit surprised at the rancor and ill will (by some) that this thread engendered. I'm not sure what "troll" means in this arena, but I'm pretty sure it is used an animadversion. As for the responses...I like Ncarv's, and Bifwynne's "quality electrons" replies. Hey, I know there is difference between a Sony receiver and Krell FPB amplifier (microfarads of capacitance and all that), but the "wire thing" does have me addled.

No ill will toward you Llanger. The word 'troll' is tossed about all the time. it is used for various reasons to describe either a person, or a post.
A troll post is just posted to stir up angry responses, usually so the 'op'(original poster) can get a laugh at the fools who bother to post a response. Like baiting.
The usual problem with questions which have been asked many times before (for us old timers) is that they dredge up the same fights we have all taken part in before, with PLENTY of rancour!! So if the new post seems to be to just dig up old stuff we have been through before, it gets the label 'troll', whether the poster is innocent, or really guilty.
Wires and the wire debate has to be the number one contentious issue in audiophilia.
It ALWAYS will attract a crowd arguing one way or the other, every time.
So much so it is a real joke.
So sorry you find yourself caught up in this (unintentional) mess.
This always happens...
And I can bet several dozen other regular posters would have chimed in, except they are just so tired of the bickering they are not up to the arguing (even though they are just itching to shout out thier point of view!)
The "wire is just wire" vs the "wires make a difference" debate is about as contentious as the political debat between liberals and conservatives, or any nasty religious debate.. Yes THAT bad. A divide that will most likely never be healed.

Guys and Gals: It's not about the dang conductor, it's about the dielectric. That is the part that makes the difference.

Stevecham, have you seen the price of silver lately?