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

7% but my cables were all DIY.

If I bought the same cables ready made it would be higher.

I remember in the olden days, it was 1/3 source, 1/3 speaker and 1/3 cable.

No clue, I bought all my cables used with the exception of the 3 Acrolink cables, those were purchased new.

I agree with @steakster.  I am at 40%.
 

I was taken aback when I tried some crazy expensive cables with my moderate priced system, Chord Dave and Grimm Mu1 on the front end.  Three power cords and a pair of speaker cables.  Suddenly it sounded like systems in the $500k+ range.

I fortunately found another brand that was almost as good at a lower price (which many would also call crazy.)

 I am now of the opinion that cable and power conditioner upgrades make a bigger impact than most component upgrades.