Looking For 90% of the performane of the super expensive cables for much less money

Have you heard the von Schweikert/VAC/Kronos/Masterbuilt system which has been raved about every audio show it's been displayed in for the past three years?  You cannot comment on what you haven't heard.  I am surprised that you have authoritatively stated that you have heard better systems than me.  We are not audio equipment cult members.   I am satisfied listening hours on end to my inferior audio system but it cannot reproduce recordings as well as the best I've heard, merely better than nearly all other systems I've heard. 

3 decades ago, I heard what I thought was the finest audio system as well by a man named Michael Lane of Lane Audio.  He had 250,000 78s in mint condition.  He had 30+ styli and was a CalTech engineer with exotic equipment.  When he played early acoustic 78s, the performers sounded as if they were in the room.  Remington LPs on their inferior vinyl had nearly silent surfaces and astounding sound.  He was a genius of recorded music reproduction.

Until you've heard the best systems I've heard, you'd be surprised how captivating the most elaborate and/or expensive systems can sound.   

I am in a cult reproduced music listeners along with Frank, Robert and other friends proximately located as well friends Kevin Gray, Steve Hoffman, Andreas Meyer who know something about music reproduction.  We are in a music cult.  Equipment is a means to an end.     

ggc said " Ideally one would like to spend 25-30% on cables". I'm just below that % (& am happy with the results) but agree that cables are truly that important. If one values getting the most resolution they can out of there system, they need quality cables to accomplish it. I s-u-p-p-o-s-e one could argue that using that % of money to buy better electronics/speakers will give you better sound, however (even though it probably can't be measured) IME inferior wire diminishes that scenario rather abruptly.    

I am so very happy that I found and befriended a manufacturer of high end cables whose retail price is so reasonable that I don't have to spend 25% or 30% on cables.  At $400 per cable, I've purchased all my cables from him, for both audio systems and both video systems.  I use 30' speaker cables at a cost of $1800 bi-wired which I've used for over a decade.  That's a great return on a cable investment.  I wouldn't buy Masterbuilt cables unless my net worth doubled and I heard them one on one against my current cables.  I do like the vonSchweikert speakers though with Masterbuilt internal wiring which increased their cost by several $1000.

fleschler
I wouldn’t buy Masterbuilt cables unless my net worth doubled and I heard them one on one against my current cables. I do like the vonSchweikert speakers though with Masterbuilt internal wiring which increased their cost by several $1000.

>>>>>I thought I read somewhere that the Von Schweikert ULTRA Mod options of Masterbuilt internal cables cost between $15,000 and $35,000, depending on speaker. Do I have that right? 😛 And one can’t wondering if Von Schweikert is on board the wire directionality train. 🚂 Toot, toot!

I'm looking at the VR55 Aktive.  The quote at asking price included the upgraded Masterlink cable, maybe $5,000 discount to sell the speaker at the asking price or 10% of the original asking price.  The Ultra 11 is substantially more as you say, but the cabling upgrade is still about 10% of the asking price.  So, if I heard 10% or more sound benefit, maybe I would pay it.  If I didn't find it that dramatic a difference, I wouldn't.  I intend to audition the VR55 at the manufacturer sometime later this year.  I will keep using my GroverHuffman cabling outside of the speaker internals.  

As to whether or not Masterbuilt understands the significance and/or applies wire directionality, I have no idea.  I thought that wire directionality becomes apparent after burn-in where the directionality is set after use.  I maybe incorrect.  My cables are labeled as to direction but that maybe for future reference when they are unplugged.