why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

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.

I agree with many of the comments, particularly "what is expensive?" In the context of my modest system, a $50000+ cable loom of Crystal Cable Dreamline or Nordost Odin say, would be insane, but in a $500000 system, maybe not. It is quite another subject, whether a $500000 system is insane, I think it is, but I am not a Hedge Fund executive, with to much money and not enough to spend it on.

There is no question in my mind, that cables make a difference, sometimes only a difference, not an improvement and that takes time to judge. That is all cables, I was initially sceptical about Power Cables, now I think they can make a massive difference. So I am prepared to pay in the region of $500 to a 1000, retail for cables, preferably a lot less second hand. That to me, my wallet my system, is the comfort zone. It will be different for others and that is for them to decide, it's their money.

Two big areas of advantage in the cable area as opposed to other equipment. Firstly, cost of entry is low, so there are many one man and his dog outfits out there, selling direct, with minimal advertising and non fancy packaging, that I have found are better value for money than some of the bigger outfits. In no particular order, WyWires, Morrow, Silnote and Sablon Audio, come to mind.

Secondly, second hand prices are often very good, particularly for a product with a potential very long life. No transistors, Styli, speaker cones or tubes to be replaced.

So to me, sensible purchase of wires, along with other accessories, vibration devices, power supplies etc, can bring a bigger bang for your buck than replacing Speakers, Amps or sources. They can make a good system great and give long term satisfaction, with no need for further tinkering. That is where I believe I am now, I'd better be, retirement means I can'nt go on indulging in new big purchases.