<1% Tried some variants, particularly bare bones with something a bit better where the differences should be most noticeable, but nothing, absolutely nothing. As long as it has a decent connector, I don't bother with cables. For speaker cables, bare wire, of course. Overall system is around $40K.
What % Of Your System Are Your Cables?
IMO, the “10% rule” for cable expenditure really should be stated as “when you’re building a new system and you have a limited budget, allocate 10% to cables” and I think this is a good idea. But again IMO, this is not necessarily the stopping point. I recently purchased some new cables and I was wondering, hopefully without getting into the cable debate, what percentage of your system do you have invested in cables? No need to go into brands or actual cost, unless you want to. With my new purchase, I would say I’m around 25% depending on whether you count my analog rig as part of the system price, as I did not buy any new cables for the TT, because my TT has captive cables. Probably up to about 30% without the analog. I understand the percentage numbers can be highly deceiving if you bought used. 25% used is probably about 50% of your system price if you bought new. Anyway, just curious to see what you’re doing with cables. Be well.
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Actually a tough question for me since my Bryston 9bsst amp is a five channel unit of which I only use two banks. So if I adjust the price on that for what I actually use it makes more sense. Mine is about 4%. I have DYI Mogami cables of longish lengths with WBT locking spades on amp end Aeco banana plugs (gold over pure copper) on speaker end. I need to use small banana plugs on speaker end due my old Energy Reference Connoisseur's having very limited space for connectors. That location is underneath the cabinet, and what a pain that is. The WBT spades were a gift but if was to add the retail of those with the Aeco banana plugs it actually is more than the cost of of cable itself plus sheathing. The research I did showed that the connectors are as important if not more than the actual cable if you go by actual resistance. |
@oberoniaomnia does this also mean you have no power conditioning? Some people are lumping that in with cabling. And I have to say, adding a Gemini 8 from Shunyata was a massive difference. I preferred a Cardas Parsec power cable for my amplifier over $2k nordost power cables or $400 shunyata ones. I also have a fully treated room that I built so the ability to hear differences is not subtle in there. I was a huge cable hater (copper is copper, 1s and 0s are just that). Until I made friends with a local high store owner. This relationship has cost me some dough. But my system literally sounds twice as good. Shunyata venom x speaker cables, alpha USB for audio interface(yes it makes a difference sorry to say for your bank account) and proper 20A circuits, and proper power cabling is quite massive. Counting the power conditioning, and considering the cost of room treatments etc, I'm probably at 15% cables |
Wow. That many of you keep spreadsheets or are math savants, like me. Not. A true audiophile never kisses and tells his/her/they/them/their spouse what that connect costs. If you are partnered that’s the only person who might be unimpressed. Confess and face cacophony or set it and forget it. I went with door number two. Survey says....Maybe 15% +/- but if counting dedicated room, treatments and furniture then a whee small percentage. |
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