why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

I hear notable differences between stock cables and the brands I have used and/or tested in my system from Stealth, Sainline, Audioquest, Cardas, Kimber, Nordost and Shunyata. Every one of the above cables has made a difference, almost without exception for the easily discernible betterment of the overall sound---some raise the bar as much as an upgraded component, others provide a certain house sound to the proceedings.
That being said, I will probably never be convinced that a single cable should cost as much as I am willing to pay for a component.

In order to get the benefit of good expensive cabels, the rest of the system must be equal good.I think you can only get the full potential of your equipment when you use eg. equal good cabels. The same as with decoupling. The weakest link in the chain sets the level and cabels are also a component.
At a certain level of refinement, it becomes much more obvious what changes in the system, does to the sound. It is possibel to get a concert into your lisiningroom but everything in your system must be in ballance and at a very high level.
Better cabels helps the system haveing a open, airy, natural clear 3D view without artifacts at all.
Its like looking at a 300" widescreen, its fantastic but the flaws are easily seen, therefore everything must be perfect or you better stay with the 50" screen and save the expensive cabels.
Getting an ultra highend system to play correct and find the full potential takes years and thats the art about it. The closer you get, the more you fell the transformation of feelings from the musicians.

In order to get the benefit of good expensive cabels, the rest of the system must be equal good.I think you can only get the full potential of your equipment when you use eg. equal good cabels. The same as with decoupling. The weakest link in the chain sets the level and cabels are also a component.
At a certain level of refinement, it becomes much more obvious what changes in the system, does to the sound. It is possibel to get a concert into your lisiningroom but everything in your system must be in ballance and at a very high level.
Better cabels helps the system haveing a open, airy, natural clear 3D view without artifacts at all.
Its like looking at a 300" widescreen, its fantastic but the flaws are easily seen, therefore everything must be perfect or you better stay with the 50" screen and save the expensive cabels.
Getting an ultra highend system to play correct and find the full potential takes years and thats the art about it. The closer you get, the more you fell the transformation of feelings from the musicians.

10-26-15: Tonykay
" ... If you have the means, go for it. But I don't believe you are getting your money's worth."

What we have here is the enduring law of diminishing returns. It's inescapable. Each person must settle the value equation for himself.

Because they have big investments in their systems and are concerned the wires would be the bottleneck otherwise.