Cables more hype than value?

"Value." Isn't that usually in the ear of the listener? Hype? Sure, reams and reams of hype, not only regarding cables, but for a lot of high-end audio, period.

A friend of mine uses all Shunyata cables in his reference system. These wires alone cost more than a new economy car. He maintains the cables give him the "final 5 percent." I don't know if that means resolution, sound stage, etc, or musical enjoyment or if, in his mind, they are one in the same.

All you folks who figure bigbux wires are "worth it" and "must-haves", go for it. Bless you.

Even if I were wealthy, I can't imagine spending umpteen thousands of dollars on wires, no matter how highly touted they are. Earlier this year I auditioned Magnepan 1.7 speakers at a local dealer. The speaker cables he was using retailed around $50,000 for a 12' pair. The entire staff of the store was said to have been able to hear the "difference" between those cables and much more modestly priced cables that sold for about $2500/ pair, even when they weren't in the listening room. For me, $2500 cables are still pretty darn expensive.

Past a certain point, I think most audiophile are certifiably crazy, including perhaps even myself, although my system is relatively modest and based on vintage tube electronics which I've had for decades.

Mapman, well said.

But some still believe Cables are Magic!!

If they were I think you would see real audio companies such as ARC, Cary, VTL, Sanders, Soundsmith, Magnepan, Wilson, Vandersteen, etc really stress cables.

They don't, and just tell you to use a quality cable.

Check out what these guys use at Audio Shows if you want to know what really makes a difference.

Macdad - the investment in developing cable architectures, choosing a wire and plugs, spec-ing you own cable designs is significant and a whole different science compared to circuits and quality parts.

I asked a manufacturer the same question and his answer...
- why should I bother
- the customer will do what they want anyway
- it's a waste of my energies.

And he is right.

At this point in time though, component manufacturers will give you as cheep a cable as they can get away with. It's called designing to a price point.

Most components can perform way above what their provided cables will allow them to - I've personally demonstrated it time and again to others.

And that's why there is a whole cable industry out there!

As for seeing component companies develop cables - it has already started - NAIM has carried their own line for years and their new amps have caused them to bring out a whole new line of cables.

Do you think other companies are going to sit back and let them rule the roost?

I doubt it

Only time will tell :-)

Regards...

Do you think other companies are going to sit back and let them rule the roost?

I think that horse has already fled the barn and is into the next county. Sure, some companies offer their own cables (another is Ayre who offers cables constructed by Cardas) but folks are so into buying what they want that whether a manufacturer offers cables or not is virtually a moot point.
Sure some manufacturers will offer their own cables as a convenience to customers, but more likely as another way to make money because, the cable industry has been a money-maker for many...for the very reason stated in the question that started this thread.

Mitch2 - I used NAIM as an example because their customers seem to be extremely loyal and believe NAIM can do no wrong.

I was on their Forum for a while and it seemed that anyone that even dared to mention another brand would be labelled a heretic - People actually seemed scared to admit they used another companies cables.

With this hobby/obsession getting more complex - if more companies offered their own cables I think you could see more of the NAIM customer mentality.

But thankfully not on this forum :-)

Just thinking out loud.