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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,396 posts
 
I actually use DNM Reson and MIT ICs.  

Which sounds best best is mostly a function of system used in and personal preference.  The MITs are more laid back and perhaps slightly rolled off on the top end and can take an edge off the music if desired while DNM is probably more balanced and coherent top to bottom.  

I use DNM in one system and MIT in the other both off similar BelCanto Class D amps and the difference in sound reflects that.   
audiolabyrinthandbirdiemayarecommericalshills
12 posts
 
@dracule1 , I think it's all relative. If your system has the resolving capability, dynamics and extension to reap the full benefits of high end cables, then it's possible to justify the cost of $10k or even $30k cables. That's not to say that every cable with 3 or 4 zero's on its price ticket is good value or will synergize with a given system. It just highlights that unless you've reached the pinnacle of high end audio systems, there will be a point of which the benefit of higher priced cables begins to plateau.The problem is, there is too much misinformation/aka: b**s*** posted on this forum about TL and cables with fantastic magnets inside by posters who every man and his dog on here knows are not genuine audiophiles
grm
149 posts
 
Hi,
What is the definition of a genuine Audiophile? I'm new to this hobby and entered it believing its about the music and to a lesser degree the playback hardware and wires. I have spent more on my music collection than on my system. I definitely get more excited about a great recording than on a new piece of wire, not that wire and hardware is not important, as I also believe it important for a system be able to resolve a great recording from a lousy one. For example, I just recently purchased a "Ultra HD 32-bit PureFlection" Miles Davis, Kind of Blue CD. I found the SQ of my system has been significantly upgraded simply by owning a great recording. What is unfortunate is how many lousy recordings there are out there. I also believe that if you are one who can spend a $100k on a system, a lousy recording will still sound lousy.

Thanks! Am interested in reading responses regarding the definition of what a genuine Audiophile is! 
jl35
4,038 posts
 
one of the most interesting points you refer to, is that many want their system to make lousy recordings sound good, or make all recordings sound the same...as opposed to your system presenting the sound as recorded...
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
many want their system to make lousy recordings sound good, or make all recordings sound the same...as opposed to your system presenting the sound as recorded..


Could not agree more, while there are certainly lousy performances I've found that as my system has improved I've been able to find merits in recordings I'd previously dismissed and also found some recordings I'd previously thought to have great sound were only exciting an attractive sympathetic response somewhere else in my system. The last thing we want is homogenization of sound, the purpose of this listener's system should be to enable us to hear into the performance however it was recorded

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