2. cables
  3. 124957-818

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
dracule1 OP
1,085 posts
 
"Drac, If you can’t respect others at least get a little self respect."

Watts, perhaps you should look in the mirror.

dracule1 OP
1,085 posts
 
"Nobody pays retail. Not in this market. Strawman alert. Example: a dealer pays what, 50-60% of retail. And sells them for whatever he can get, let's say 80-90% of retail. So, no one is paying retail. Gee, do you think the manufacturer knows that everyone wants a deal."

No geoff,  try more like 10-20% of retail for dealers for expensive wires.  Nordost dealers will offer close to 50% off retail and still make a huge profit.  Even at 50% off, they're not worth the price to most audiophiles, like those $10k Nordost jumper cables let alone their $50k speaker cables. Reasonable cable manufactures who sell cables in the range up to around $2k have their dealers pay 50% of retail. 
jl35
4,031 posts
 
Nordost has been around a long time.  Someone must be buying their cables. Any idea how many of their top of the line stuff they sell? How many $40,000 pairs of speaker cables are sold in a year? Transparent Audio makes some great low and mid price cables...never tried Nordost

jl35
4,031 posts
 
Why does Nordost and some others bother you so much? no one has to buy their stuff...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
dracule1 OP
966 posts
06-23-2016 8:49pm
GeoffkAit: "Nobody pays retail. Not in this market. Strawman alert. Example: a dealer pays what, 50-60% of retail. And sells them for whatever he can get, let's say 80-90% of retail. So, no one is paying retail. Gee, do you think the manufacturer knows that everyone wants a deal."

to which dracula replied,

"No geoff, try more like 10-20% of retail for dealers for expensive wires. Nordost dealers will offer close to 50% off retail and still make a huge profit. Even at 50% off, they're not worth the price to most audiophiles, like those $10k Nordost jumper cables let alone their $50k speaker cables. Reasonable cable manufactures who sell cables in the range up to around $2k have their dealers pay 50% of retail."

Don't know why you have your panties in a twist. In a capitalist system one is free to make as much profit as possible. Besides it's whatever the market will bear. You say they aren't worth the price but price is defined as what a buyer under no pressure to buy will pay to a seller who's under no pressure to sell. At least in capitalist countries. One assumes you must be one of them socialists. 

Cheers,

geoff 


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