Are audiophiles still out of their minds?

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.

Drac,

If I explain things in a somewhat pedantic fashion; for that I apologize, but I do so in hopes that it will help with your understanding.

I never said mine was the right one. So you are misinterpreting my opinion as fact.

You started the thread and have maintained a derogatory attitude throughout the thread toward people who spend their money in ways with which you disagree. In doing so you don’t just imply but you entirely predicate these suppositions on your view of an ethereal concept like value being the correct one. This is the very basis of your claim. A person can’t call people crazy and/or fools without such claims being founded on a a judgement made by that person.

This really isn’t a very complicated concept. You are an antagonist and thats fine, but at least step up and own it.

You are calling my views on price of cables narrow minded and I’m defacing innocent bystanders.

No, I am calling them meaningless for the reasons I have stated. Allow me to use just one example to make the point as simple as I can: $20,000 cables for some are cheap and DIY cables for those same people are expensive because those people’s time is more valuable than the cost differential. There are a million other permutations of personal circumstances and value judgments that drive an individual’s decision matrix. You are taking your personal matrix and applying it to the masses and then being critical. Thats not very thoughtful or nice.

This concept seams completely lost on you, yet you are the one impugning the intelligence of people making sound financial decisions. Until you can begin to get your head around this perspective (which I fear is unlikely) you will never appreciate how you appear to people.

If you want we can spend time on the numbers cuz it is primarily about math.

Did I call out anyone particular? No.

Ummm, no you did not. I do not understand if you are making a point here. May I ask what this comment has to do the discussions?

While you are on your high horse belittling me and my opinion, look in the mirror?

Goodness, I apologize if I was belittling. My purpose was actually to point out that the premise you were using to do the belittling made no sense. The whole thing is actually kinda funny. You need a paradigm shift. I am just trying to save you from yourself.

Or did I hit a nerve because you have ridiculously priced cables in your system?

Another comment that I have trouble understanding. How do my cables have anything to do with you ripping on people from a position of abject ignorance? I know I am really happy with my cables. Does that help clarify anything for you?

You’re taking this too personally. So take a chill pill, homie.

What have I said that would make you think this has anything to do with me or that I am even a little bit riled up? Intrigued, amused, entertained, I will give you those; but I assure you I am totally chill dude.

Eatts, we have a difference in opinion. Yet you seem to be unable to grasp this simple concept.

First, you claimed $100k for cabling is considered cheap to some. Now you revised that to $20k. That’s factor of 5 differential. Either way it’s ridiculous, but be consistent in your argument. You claim time is more valuable than the cost differential. To a few that may be true, but I guarantee you that for 99.999999999% of the population, spending $100k for wires for an audio system is incomprehensible. You can use whatever permutation you like to justify your purchase, but you’re coming off like a person born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I guess it’s easy to convince yourself of your delusion when you can afford Soluution electronics with your Raidho D3. I was extremely lucky to come on a great deal on a D2, which I would have never purchased otherwise. So I’m looking from a different perspective than yours.

The fact that you don’t want to reveal what cabling you have in you’re system says a lot. It may have everything to do with why you were compelled to comment. You were offended that I called people who spend tens of thousands on cables suckers. Do you fall into this category? Like I said, everyone who got into high end at one point was a sucker, including myself. No shame in that. And I get the distinct feeling I’ve been in this hobby almost as long as you’ve been alive.

So in the end, we have a difference in opinion. You think it’s justifiable to spend $100k on wire. I don’t. If you think I’m ignorant because of that, then there are a lot more who belive you're ignorant for justifying spending a down payment on a house for audio wire. Yes, it all boils down to value judgement. But your sense of value is so far off from the rest of the population, it’s like arguing with Donald Trump. Hopefully, I was pedantic enough for you to be able to grasp my perspective. I see no point in responding to you after this.