why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

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.

Thanks for sharing Onhwy61. I'm feeling better already ;)

By and large, according to many reviews and many comments by individuals, and regardless of whatever silly arguments naysayers might come up with, the more expensive cables are the best sounding cables. That is not to say that the most expensive cables on Earth are the best sounding ones, necessarily, but they should get you into the ballpark. By the same token, if you purchase some High Fidelity cables they should At the very least get you on the ball park. Of someone is sporting some $105,000 Rockport Hyperion speakers and a $102,000 Walker Audio turntable what's the harm in say $20,000 worth of cables? I don't begrudge anyone buying a $205,000 Ferrari California. Live and let die, I say.

The difference in performance between a $205000 Ferrari and an every man's Toyota is pretty clear.

The difference in performance between various wires is often not so clear. Other than price.

That's the difference.

I agree people can and should feel good about buying whatever they want. If they are happy in the end, all is well.

So its a reasonable answer to say the reason they do it is to make themselves happy, whatever the cost.

Audiophiles are notoriously hard to please when it comes to the toys they love most.

So there you go.

The merits of one cable versus another and the value proposition is a much different and more complicated story.

So there you go.

An easy path and a harder one.....