2. cables
  3. 192296-1635

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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,305 posts
 

Cost is really not a very good way to determine what wires to use. Unfortunately often it’s pretty much the only thing you know for sure about a particular product.

My mantra is if you don’t know what it is you are paying for don’t pay it.

Or at least buy used. Like cars, new wires depreciate immediately but wires do tend to physically hold up very well over time.

 

 

rolox
181 posts
 

There is no rule. I’m currently using chinese câbles that sound amazing. But as u’m a diy Guy I also sometimes used cables that were more money than the électronics 

vthokie83
884 posts
 

Right now about 15% to 17%, but once I'm finished with the DIY projects, I'll have 3 to 4 times the cables I need.....kind of like tube rolling. DIY all made with extremely high end Japanese bulk cable (Neotech, SAEC, Acoustic Revive, Furutech, Oyaide) and Euro RAMM Audio.

scottya118
164 posts
 

I have a $50k system. 26% of that budget is cables. Do not regret a single move. In my experience biggest bang for buck was power chord for preamp, interconnect between preamp and power amp, and speaker cable.

tomaswv
229 posts
 

I’ve been as high as 22% but partly because I had monoblocks preamps streamers and cd players. Simplifying my system now and will be down to 12% or so. Thinking of the “engagement ring” rule of thumb, the funniest ad I ever saw was in an audio magazine: young man sitting in a romantic setting with his beloved. Caption: “Diamonds are beneath you, my love. I will bring music into our house”. Wonder how that turned out. 

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