why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

Geoffkait - I'm afraid it's not that easy. I have heard systems that did not reveal differences in cables. Who knows why?

r u referring to your own system ?

I have had two manufacturers of amps/pre/phono's, both EE's (Electronic Engineers) sit in my listening chair and listen to music.
They both heard differences when I changed out various cables. This included gear running balanced and se signals. Interestingly , when I first reached out to them about their products, they told me cables don't matter. One of them didn't even offer power cables with his gear, because "my customers usually have their own power cables". My opinion is these manufacturers don't play in this space and quite frankly, I think that admitting to customers that cables can make a difference, might imply some kind of weakness in the gear. This totally ignores the fact that The Room and power going into the room are both Alpha over the amp/pre's/ phono's......and everything else in there too.

Yup.lol old people like me. I still use my CD player too.lol. Anyway things can be really system dependent. Some cables are a system match for your gear. Recording, room, acoustics, equipment, type of music, recording quality all play a part. I think when you have heard a really high end system you understand how good it can get. So folks never get to hear the real high need systems. I have. Is it worth what people pay. It depends on you. You put the best cables you can afford on it and roll with it.

Hi zephyr24069, go to taralabs thread, have questions there for you, cheers.

Reading this thread has made me realize a few things. You have guys who either can't afford or won't buy expensive cables calling the guys that do crazy or foolish. Either they envy or think they are smarter than the guys that will. Which brings up another question. Why does it matter if someone else pays for something with their own money? Some people buy houses, cars, jewelry and watches etc. yup! Everyone values things differently. The way it sounds to one's ear sets what someone is willing to pay. It's laughable that anyone thinks what we pay for speakers is reasonable or equipment or cables. Buy what you can afford or willing to pay for. Don't let envy set in if you can't do it. Don't think you are smarter than what you are because you won't do it. We all are addicts when it comes to this music. Accept it don't try to find reason why you are different. Just different levels. The truth is you are no different from the guy who do buy the expensive cables. It's laughable that you think you are. Twwritg. Lol. Yeah lol. I'm old.

Calvinj +1

I accept it. I also know that some people have much better hearing than mine.