Looking For 90% of the performane of the super expensive cables for much less money

A $50,000 mousetrap is overkill.  It could be better but not 200-300% better than existing methods to kill mice.  In audio reproduction, $50,000 to obtain 200-300% better sound is wildly appreciated if it can be done.  As of now, I haven't heard a high end system which can improve that much for $50,000 unless it could be the Masterbuilt cables of $400,000 replaced with $50,000 in cables.  That is reverse of what mousetrap analogy is.  Then the best system I heard would be only $1,050,000.  I still couldn't afford it.

Sorry, I’m not impressed. I’m sure I’ve heard much better systems than you have. And the cables were nothing special. Do you think these hands have been soaking in Ivory Liquid? It actually sounds like you might have accidentally fallen in with some kind of cult. 😛 Also, the very best mouse trap is a block of wood and a hammer. Works every time! 100%.

Have you heard the von Schweikert/VAC/Kronos/Masterbuilt system which has been raved about every audio show it's been displayed in for the past three years?  You cannot comment on what you haven't heard.  I am surprised that you have authoritatively stated that you have heard better systems than me.  We are not audio equipment cult members.   I am satisfied listening hours on end to my inferior audio system but it cannot reproduce recordings as well as the best I've heard, merely better than nearly all other systems I've heard. 

3 decades ago, I heard what I thought was the finest audio system as well by a man named Michael Lane of Lane Audio.  He had 250,000 78s in mint condition.  He had 30+ styli and was a CalTech engineer with exotic equipment.  When he played early acoustic 78s, the performers sounded as if they were in the room.  Remington LPs on their inferior vinyl had nearly silent surfaces and astounding sound.  He was a genius of recorded music reproduction.

Until you've heard the best systems I've heard, you'd be surprised how captivating the most elaborate and/or expensive systems can sound.   

I am in a cult reproduced music listeners along with Frank, Robert and other friends proximately located as well friends Kevin Gray, Steve Hoffman, Andreas Meyer who know something about music reproduction.  We are in a music cult.  Equipment is a means to an end.     

ggc said " Ideally one would like to spend 25-30% on cables". I'm just below that % (& am happy with the results) but agree that cables are truly that important. If one values getting the most resolution they can out of there system, they need quality cables to accomplish it. I s-u-p-p-o-s-e one could argue that using that % of money to buy better electronics/speakers will give you better sound, however (even though it probably can't be measured) IME inferior wire diminishes that scenario rather abruptly.    

I am so very happy that I found and befriended a manufacturer of high end cables whose retail price is so reasonable that I don't have to spend 25% or 30% on cables.  At $400 per cable, I've purchased all my cables from him, for both audio systems and both video systems.  I use 30' speaker cables at a cost of $1800 bi-wired which I've used for over a decade.  That's a great return on a cable investment.  I wouldn't buy Masterbuilt cables unless my net worth doubled and I heard them one on one against my current cables.  I do like the vonSchweikert speakers though with Masterbuilt internal wiring which increased their cost by several $1000.