Are audiophiles still out of their minds?


I've been in this hobby for 30 years and owned many gears throughout the years, but never that many cables.  I know cables can make a difference in sound quality of your system, but never dramatic like changing speakers, amplifiers, or even more importantly room treatment. Yes, I've evaluated many vaunted cables at dealers and at home over the years, but never heard dramatic effect that I would plunk $5000 for a cable. The most I've ever spent was $2700 for pair of speaker cables, and I kinda regret it to this day.  So when I see cable manufacturers charging 5 figures for their latest and "greatest" speaker cables, PC, and ICs, I have to ask myself who buys this stuff. Why would you buy a $10k+ cable, when there are so many great speakers, amplifiers, DACs for that kind of money, or room treatment that would have greater effect on your systems sound?  May be I'm getting ornery with age, like the water boy says in Adam Sandler's movie.
dracule1
Eattsperchannel, I’m not your "dude". I never said mine was the right one. So you are misinterpreting my opinion as fact. All of us are expressing our opinion. You are calling my views on price of cables narrow minded and I’m defacing innocent bystanders. Did I call out anyone particular? No. While you are on your high horse belittling me and my opinion, look in the mirror? Or did I hit a nerve because you have ridiculously priced cables in your system? You're taking this too personally. So take a chill pill, homie.
Jmcgrogen, "I ask because you come off the same way as those blokes back in the day (1990’s?).
Acting as if you are out trying to save the world, when inside it seems like all you really desire is a good tussle.
You live for the antagonism, it gives you a natural high.
You are reveling in this troll thread.......ahhh good bait!!!"

Save the world by posting my beef about cables? What have you been smoking?
It seems you’re the one who gets off on a good tussle repeatedly trying to bait me. 😏 Time to ignore you. But I'm certain you'll try to get the last word in and try to bait me with endless dribble. Have you're last say and RIP.
jl35,

"Curious as to which cheap cables you felt sounded as good as your Ridge Streets"

It it depends on which set up I’m using. The ridge street speaker cables are fantastic with the ridge street Sason speakers with tube amplification. But in another system with brighter sounding speakers, it can sound tonally a little thin. In cases like these, cheap copper speaker cables from Signal Cable work very well and I prefer it over the ridge streets.

Some the very best ICs I’ve ever had in my system is using the affordable Signal Silver Resolution IC wire (Ag/Cu hybrid) with Furutech RCA plugs with the solderless clamping nut (under $400 retail).  I was surprised how much solder can degrade sound.  I compared this with ridge street Altheia pure silver IC which retailed for over $1000. Surprisingly in my main setup, the Altheia sounded looser in the bass, more rounded and fuller in the mids, and less extrended in the highs like a classic tube gear. Wasn't really a fan of this type of sound.

Power cords from DH labs are on the expensive side, but 5’ Red Wave PC can still be had for $750 retail and sound great in a variety of systems I’ve tried. Very dimensional, extended, dynamic and detailed without sounding strident. You can get used Red Wave for less than half the price, which IMO is very reasonable for what it does. It definitely is better than the much less expensive PC offerings from Signal.

Cable sound is all over the map and doesn't necessarily correlate with price IME. 
It seems you’re the one who gets off on a good tussle repeatedly trying to bait me. 😏

Now let me see, who cast out the bait? Who originally posted this toxic thread? I'm simply nibbling on your bait.
I have to say that you are a Master Baiter. Gracias, señor

These anti-cable toxic threads pop up once or twice a month, usually by someone looking for a good argument. ;^)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y
So-so - calm down folks.
Yes there is much overpriced cable and yes there is good value to be had too.
Regarding JPS - I had a broken SC3, and they fixed it, for no cost. Even though I had bought it used so they had no obligation to do it. That’s good business sense - in my book.
There are shams I am sure but there are also many people genuinely trying to make better sounding cable.