why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

"10-26-15: Maplegrovemusic
zd . thanks for pointing out the manufacturing costs for one cable out of a thousand !"

I gave more than 1. If you do a search for Cardas pics, you'll find some pictures of cables that were stripped down, layer by layer, so you can see how intricate the assembly actually is. The artists drawings in the sales lit doesn't do it justice.

I also mentioned Tara. As far as I know, you can't go out and buy rectangular solid core conductors. That has to be made in house using custom built machines.

I also remember stating that many cables don't have this type of construction cost and are probably over priced. I can name plenty of those as well. I also don't think its a coincidence that Tara, Nordost and Cardas are 3 of the biggest brands of cables in the world. They must be doing something right.

My recollection from retail sales days is that historically all wires tended to be mostly profit to help compensate for the fact that there was little profit in selling electronics. I doubt much has changed except that more people realize the profit in wires versus other gear and jumped on the bandwagon.

Speakers were the next highest profit margin items in general, usually 100%, not unreasonable in order for a store to be able to make a profit because there was little or non to be had selling electronics.

Just look at the prices of wires at BEst Buy even today and it seems things have not changed much. Nowadays, profit is mostly in services, like in cell phone service as opposed to the cost of buying the actual phone.

If you gotta have it, you gotta have it. Profit margins should not deter you. People have to make a living somehow.

Moderately expensive cables are very inexpensive if you buy and sell used, especially with brands that do not change models very often. Nothing much to debate, we each decide what is worth the cost. But this needs to include resale.

I have no doubt that there is HUGE profit in the minimalist designed DNM Reson ICs that I use exclusively these days. But they are reasonably affordable (on teh grand scale of high end audio things) and I can clearly hear the difference they make compared to the others I have tried so there you go.

Same true with Pangea power Cords I use on pre-amp and DAC except the build quality of these is quite substantial and seems to at least somewhat justify the modest on the grand scale of things cost.

For TOSLINK/SPDIF digital cables, I know of and hear nothing to justify any extra expense, as long as they are of good build quality. Amazon basic models do just fine for practically nothing and at a fraction of the cost of similar wires at Best Buy even.

The jury is still out for me in regards to digital USB cables...not enough data points under my belt yet with hifi USB to say, though I am skeptical great expense is needed for top notch results there.

My experience has been that not only are all wires not created equal, but it matters more or less even depending on the specific type and use. Its hard to predict what will work best or provide best value. Throwing money at the problem is easier sometimes perhaps and may help or not but will almost certainly NOT yield the best value in the end, if that is what matters. Continual trial and error with various more modest cost options (especially if used or via a company that specializes in helping people find the RIGHT wires, not just a particular make/model) is the way I would recommend for most interested in excellent performance but at modest cost.