Never Spend More On Cables Than Your Equipment Cost$$$$$$$$$$

Like so many of the audio "truths" we throw around, the one that says cables should only cost 10% of your system is overly simplistic, IMO. Yes - when you are buying a new system and you have a limited budget, I totally agree that you should spend 90% on the components. No question. But after you have stuff you really like and want to bring out it’s full potential, I think it’s a good idea to at least try some relatively expensive cables after you have saved up some additional funds. Although I’ve been involved in high-end audio since the Dahlquist/Ampzilla days, I never experimented with more expensive cables until recently and I was very surprised by the amount of improvement that can be gained with better cables. For example, I am currently using a $1500 Purist Neptune IC on a 5K amp/dac combo and I was amazed at the improvement over a very decent Black Cat IC. As I said, if I were building the system from scratch, I would not have done it that way, but I really liked the DAC and amp and was curious to see what a good cable could do. And it did a lot. Just my opinion, but at least it's based on first-hand experience, not something I read.

PS - I just did some quick math and, despite the admittedly expensive IC, I’m only into about 20% of my system for cables. Probably because I don’t have room for heavy power cords. So I don’t feel so bad now. Boy, this stuff adds up fast, don’t it?

@jerryg123 RE: ....

but sticking a $600.00 PC on a $699.00 DAC is a freaking waste of money. IMHO.

So here’s the problem with this particular train of thought...

• to start with that "$699 DAC" seldom had a "substantial power supply", because the power supply is often the most overlooked and underestimated part of any "budget component"
• it does not have the capability of handling transient spikes in music
• it does not have the capability of handling the dynamic nature of music
• all of which detract from the overall sound of that component
• poor imaging is often a direct result

Using a really good power cable - and there are some out there starting around $350 - will improve the performance of a component far beyond what a stock power cable can achieve

• Cables like those from Zavfino, use UP-OCC copper, which offer exceptional dynamic perofrmance
• replenishing that energy used in the reproduction of music is critical to achieving excellent perofrmance
• Cable geometry lowers the noise floor making for a much quieter musical rendering
• using the right Insulations also lower the noise floor resulting in improved sound

Whereas - the amplifier has a much more robust power supply

• it is more able to handle those transient peaks and generally offers superior dynamic perofrmance
• but you can still improve performance with the right power cable
• unfortunately, because of their heavier duty power supply, many amps do require even better quality power cable than that used for a source component

Todays electronics tend to perform much better than their power supplies allow. So using a good quality power cable can make a significant perofrmance improvement

I know this after many years of fabricating my own power cables and applying them to a variety of components,.e.g..

• my $250 Yamaha Mini System
• my Bluesound portable streaming speaker
• my Bluesound Node 2 streamer
• my Bifrost DAC
• my Nami 5i amplifer
• my Simaudio Moon phono stage
• my Bryston B135 amp
• and friends audio systems exceeding $70k

All of these benefitted from cable upgrades

Of course - if your other cables (i.e. speaker and interconnect) are not of a similar quality then you will probably have more difficulty hearing the improvements a power cable upgrade might make

I have come to realize that my cables are as important as my components, because they allow each component to operate at peek performance

I realize this may sound counter intuitive, and if I hadn’t tried it for myself, I might believe the same as yourself.

But I have spent many years investigating cable designs and actually proving (to myself and friends willing to listen) what makes a good cable.

Commercial products from Zavfino are a very good place to start because their entry level cables are affordable and they work because they know how to make a very good cable - their UP-OCC cables offer exceptional perofrmance

Hope that helps - Steve

@williewonka - just got Zavfino cables for my new speakers a few weeks ago, and they're great - you are right - excellent cable value for money! Never heard of 'em until this forum.... 

@williewonka Good for you.

Have a great day.

@williewonka you work for CNN?

You left off 1/2 my statement. Not a flat earther and cables can make a difference

I am not a cable denier.

No fight here bubba!