why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

I meant will not guarantee great sound but opens up more options.sorry for typo

Spending crazy money on cables is not the answer.  There has to be balance. Better equipment has to usually be fed better cables. I went up the chain in high fidelity and they do get better going up the chain.  There no way I would spend more on cables than actual equipment. I have a challenging room that affects my sound as well.  Hardwood floors, odd shape and reflections. I also can only put my speakers so far apart. 

Everything matters... That said, I believe a lot of folks get caught up in the PR (b*llsh*t) techno-speak or theory, and often the bling. Yet, good sounding cabling inescapably, has research, materials, and labor associated with its cost.

In any highly resolving system and most situations, I find the choices of good cabling to be a critical part of the HiFi puzzle. 

To what Tonykay just queried, Yes really. Yes, seriously. Melbguy1 is sooo spot on!

I must say that I regretfully agree that everything matters. Last evening I listen to three ways to convert music in digital to analog on my music server. One was JRiver MC 20, another Signalyst, and the third Foobar. I was amazed that there were great differences in how about fifteen cuts sounded. Generally I find the Signalyst best but many cuts sounded better on Foobar and JRiver MC 20. Mostly these were 44.1 recordings but the quad native DSDs shined on Signalyst.

I am going no further in this quest of what sounds better. I will probably forgo using Foobar and with 44.1 will mainly use JRiver MC 21. On my many SACDs converted to DSD and new DSD recordings I will use Signalyst. There is no question that "bits are bits" is not true as all recordings passed being perfect. 

Believe me, I wish this were not true.

Most all of us agree cables are a critical part of a system but Calvin is right, you do not have to spend crazy money for cables - but you might have to spend crazy money to come to that conclusion.