why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

10-29-15: Mapman
" ... in some cases, a power cord might serve a shielding function against RFi and/or EMI noise, but neither of those are necessarily a problem to start with in all cases."

I think Mapman hit a bullseye with this remark, which I think applies to all cables, not just PCs. And it accounts for why the same cable can sound different in different systems or, even, different in differing places in the same system.

10-29-15: Zd542
" ... the price of copper is $5 a pound . So , it is not the price of the copper . What's left ? ... "

The raw materials cost is only part of the cost of a manufactured product.

"Why do some people insist on telling others how to spend their money?"

I agree. But nothing wrong with discussing controversial topics that matter and being an educated buyer. If that means buying $5000 wires for someone, so be it.

I do believe that effective shielding against noise IS perhaps the most valuable function that any wire can provide that is most likely to make a difference in sound quality in many cases. I've found Pangea 14 series to accomplish this most effectively, as designed and advertised. I'm sure many others do as well. Its not rocket science and need not cost a fortune IMHO.

The fact that Pangea and I am sure others CAN accomplish this for fairly modest cost is something worth noting.

There are volumes of research on why people buy luxury goods. High end audio is a luxury item and within high end audio expensive cables are even more of a luxury. The literature is pretty clear on a consensus view. Buying a luxury item makes someone feel good about themselves. Whether or not the cables out perform lesser priced cables is somewhat besides the point as long as the buyer perceives them as a good value. Whether or not someone else considers the purchase to be a good value is also besides the point. In some cases, external criticism of the purchases reinforces the purchaser's positive feelings.