I never felt the need to buy the most expensive cables just because they were that, quite to the contrary over the last 20 years, and still today. I've been through more than 10 brands that I can remember from entry level to the best my ears could hear and that I could afford at that point in time (not always where I am now price-wise, I can assure you...), then sell everything off, go to another brand I liked the sound of, usually laterally or a few levels down from where I was to experiment and learn while I was looking for 'the sound' I was targeting but I've never put a cable purchase in front of a move for the next/right amp, pre-amp, DAC, Transport or speaker.
MikeL, Dave_b, Melbguy1, Jmc, and others who have put objective thoughts into the thread....."thank you!"
Dave_b: Great thoughts on the 'sweet spot' in manufacturers' line up...definitely agree with you there.
20 years ago and many days since, I was and in some ways still am the ultimate skeptic regarding cable and component purchases; I don't think the most expensive is necessarily the best by any means. I also still hope for that ‘magic brand’ of cables, components, etc…that would give me what i hear today while costing far less, and give me the ability to simplify and cost-conserve/recoup on the cost side of the equation; that hope aside, I’ve not found it yet but i still read alot weekly looking for it :-)
I also think there is ridiculous mark-up in high-end audio by many, not all manufacturers and I also believe there are ridiculous levels of 'hype' regarding manufacturers who only seem to bring out more and more price threshold-breaking gear, speakers, cables, etc...versus developing that sweet spot in the line to the fullest extent for the more frequently occurring purchasers. There is also little value to the sycophantic following that often permeates certain threads regarding 'the next uber offering...' that also happens to be the most expensive option and when you read closely enough, you’ll note that price is noted far more than actual detailed facts about that component, speaker or cable’s performance.
All this may be hard to believe I know given the cost of my system as it exists today which is alot to some, and far from alot, or the highest, to others. It's all the result of a lot of hard work and experimentation, questioning and doubting, taking steps back to re-think and question, scrimping, saving, etc...over the years. It, and the cables in it are alot farther in so many ways including price, than I thought I'd ever be able to, or willing to go to, in order that I would achieve the sound I was looking for.
The most important topic is how things sound when it is all said and done and is the owner happy; that's relative for each person and in some ways it's none of anyone's damned business (;-) where they choose to spend their money . Put another way, what does it matter what somebody else spends anyway????? Last I checked, noone is going to work for someone else/me, dealing with the bullsh^&, stress, expectations, etc.. and sending them/me money for their audio, car, house/other purchases & bills…where I come from that means the first person has little/nothing to say about how that money is spent by the person who actually has worked hard to make it.
Ah…grateful for a nice calm & peaceful Sunday morning in the audio world :-) !!! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
