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

I currently have a system which consists of Vandersteen 5A's, THor Audio TP-150 tubed monoblocks, Thor Line Stage and Thor phono stage, Marantz SACD player SA-114 and will take delivery of the VPI Prime Scout with a Sumiko EVOS 3 Cartridge. I am currently using LAT International Speaker Cables, Power Cords and Interconnects. (They are no longer in business). I am in immediate  need of turntable cables and would like to update my new speaker cables and interconnects. Not willing to spend thousands on this upgrade. Seeking to capture as much of the "magic" that the super expensive cables deliver but at a more realistic price point. I understand that I have really good quality equipment, but at this stage of my life cannot allocate mega dollars towards cables.
 Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 
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dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
I put my cheap cables back in my system to see how much difference it would make.  Of course even my Monster cable stuff was a bit over $100, but hey, ya gotta live a little!  So, I could see how someone who didn’t care all that much about the low level detail and subtle dynamic shifts, or sense of space and lack of strain on loud passages could be satisfied.  It’s all a matter of priorities I suppose.  In the end it should be enjoyable for everyone.  Why can’t we follow our muse wherever it takes us and not judge each other...unless you are trying to exert some sort of “Superiority Trip” upon those who require the subjective value contained within the Higher End marketplace!
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inna
7,354 posts
 
To add to the above.
- everyone needs "psychological herd"
- not everyone wants to feel safe
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
anyway, back to the op’s original question. 90% of the quality for much less money.

That’s a given, an easy one.

It’s due to the point that 95-97% (I mean, pick a percentage, it’s not like there’s some known quantity and standard, here) of what a cable does, at the high end of things..is available for considerably less. The key being that it is only those last few percentage points that we fight for, in most any endeavor. eg, beer, or scotch or any commodity or goods. Tires, cars, and so on. All the same, relatively speaking... and only a few percentage points separate the cheapies from the extreme.

It plays out in cables the same way it does everywhere else in the world.

100% of what we look for plays out in the last few peak percentage points. Everyone’s got almost all of what is attempted at being brought forth, in broad electrical measurement terms, that is.. Even the $0.25 cable that comes with the $29 dvd player at Walmart. 

Those last few given percentage points is where all the effort, brain power, and money is applied.

Results vary, of course.
inna
7,354 posts
 
teo_audio, I disagree with your mathematics, I think we fight for more than a few percentage points. $0.25 cable and even $500 cable are very far apart.
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