" vastly superior' - no, just as good as the equipment - yes.
I heard that there are some fake cables, buy only from sellers that look and sound reliable. Worn connectors can be one issue, bent cables in the wrong places another.
This is my opinion. Forget about suggested retail prices, think in terms of real dollars that you would have to pay. Same with the equipment. Though it may vary, I think 20 % or so of the cost of the entire system is reasonable. Also depends on how many sources you have. I have three sources, though usually use only two.
I heard that there are some fake cables, buy only from sellers that look and sound reliable. Worn connectors can be one issue, bent cables in the wrong places another.
This is my opinion. Forget about suggested retail prices, think in terms of real dollars that you would have to pay. Same with the equipment. Though it may vary, I think 20 % or so of the cost of the entire system is reasonable. Also depends on how many sources you have. I have three sources, though usually use only two.