2. cables
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What % Of Your System Are Your Cables?

IMO, the “10% rule” for cable expenditure really should be stated as “when you’re building a new system and you have a limited budget, allocate 10% to cables” and I think this is a good idea. But again IMO, this is not necessarily the stopping point. I recently purchased some new cables and I was wondering, hopefully without getting into the cable debate, what percentage of your system do you have invested in cables?  No need to go into brands or actual cost, unless you want to. With my new purchase, I would say I’m around 25% depending on whether you count my analog rig as part of the system price, as I did not buy any new cables for the TT, because my TT has captive cables. Probably up to about 30% without the analog.  I understand the percentage numbers can be highly deceiving if you bought used. 25% used is probably about 50% of your system price if you bought new. Anyway, just curious to see what you’re doing with cables. Be well. 

chayro
bigtwin's avatar
bigtwin
1,204 posts
 

Surely the 10% "rule" was developed by the cable industry.  Up there with De Beers convincing the world you should spend one month's income on an engagement ring, if you truly love her.  And lately, they've upped that to 3 months salary.  The cable industry is falling behind. 🤣  Having said that, my cables are +/- 7% of my total system.  

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,520 posts
 

I don’t believe in allocating certain % to cables or tweaks. Cables can easily be your bottle neck so audition as many cables you can within your budget and keep the ones that brings best possible sound out of your components and to your ears. If you can’t hear or believe cables can make a differences….well, good for you!

IME, some components are just immune to aftermarket cables and others responds very favorably.

ghdprentice
7,009 posts
 

In general, I don’t allocate but work towards an optimal system through testing. Then when I am done, I figure out how much I spent. I have done this more than once on systems upgrades... and in general, it turns out to be about 10 - 12 %. I think it’s at 12% right now.


I have done the same with components and in general have ended up with them at around the same value category each.... streamer, DAC, preamp, phono stage and amp. So all my components in my main system are about $18 - $22K. Generally my speakers are a bit more expensive. 

steakster
1,888 posts
 

Over 50%.*

This includes cables, power conditioning, power supplies, distribution blocks, grounding, etc. They’re all intrinsically linked.** They’re all part of the transmission.

IMHO, it was worth every penny. My very modest system can run with some of the big dogs that I hear at audio shows.

The best part is that I had fun putting it all together. It’s been a fascinating exploration into physics - particle theory and wave theory.

- - - -

* This is somewhat skewed since I got some great deals on my primary components.

** Without a transmission, a car won’t function very well. Without a high performance transmission, a Formula One car will not compete very well.

lanx0003
847 posts
 

around 11% here incuding power cables.

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