why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

@zephyr24069 well said I agree. It's a balancing test between equipment and cables. You should definitely get the best equipment you can first. Then get the proper cable match but your cables should cost more than your gear. My system is very niche because I have a KR audio va900 and gato fm6 with a resonessence Dsd mirus dac and a e.a.r. Acute CD player. It's a system that demands really good cabling but I don't have to have the top of top to get what I want sound wise but I would not place under performing cables and cords on it. The cables make up 20% of the cost of my system. I'm not going past that. I think that's a good place to be however sometimes it system synergy and recording quality of your music that you mainly listen to. We have to be mindful. For example for guys who have those 50k plus systems you are at a point where you are seeking maximum performance and you are willing to overpay again! We all are overpaying! But it's your money and your ears. I hate when people tell me what to do with my own money! Audio is big business now so you get the best you can can at a price you can afford and live with it. Don't point to others who can and will do more simply because you can't or choose not to

It's funny reading these responses. Just what the OP wanted. Stir them up, start them quarreling.

just for clarification, I don't use the $42k Tara Grandmaster speaker cables that Audiolabyrinth refers to here;

.....Mikelavigne's Grandmaster original model speaker cable's retail for 42,000.00 8ft, his system may be better for such cable's......

my speaker cables are Evolution Acoustics TRSC (Triple Run Speaker Cables) which are the best speaker cables I have heard. approximately $8-9k for an 8 foot pair. not cheap but not crazy. the one step down model of the Evolution Acoustics speaker cables (double run) replaced Transparent Audio Opus MM speaker cables ($34k) in my system. then i upgraded to the EA TRSC i now use. I'm very happy with what i hear from those speaker cables.

for me the price is not the issue. it is performance.

what I do use now is the Tara Labs Grandmaster Evolution 1.5m XLR with the HFX which does list for $31k. i bought it used and got a great deal. and what it did rocked my world enough that i ordered another set of the same cables new but in a 2 meter RCA length. it lists for approximately that same $31k. it should arrive this next week. i would never have even thought about buying those if i had not heard with they did in my system. it's astonishing and they will screw your head up if you listen to them, they are that good.

10 years ago i had Von Schweikert VR9SE speakers and vertically bi-amped them using 2 sets of Transparent Audio Opus MM speaker cables. that was 2 x $34k list price at that time. it sounded amazing.

Mitch2,
your observation is again another proof that most of money paid for luxury and looks just like Prada or Luxotica.
The value is still somewhere in $50 range.

Too many cooks etc...