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Cable Costs Relative to System

Since making a spread sheet with my audio system prices, I have been thinking(shocked) about my total investment in cables. My total system retails at $67,000 (Digital and analog front ends included). I purchased all of it here on Audiogon so my investment is about 50%. Of that I have about 10% invested in interconnects and cables and another 10% in Power Cables (Shunyata Hydra included). That's $13,000 worth of wire. I'm starting to question whether it might be more effective to put some of this budget into acitve components. It would take forever to listen to all possible combinations, but would like to hear others experiences with relatively high end systems and cable selection. It would seem to me that the point of diminishing returns would be reached sooner with cables than with speakers and amps. Do most of you follow the 10% "rule" for cabling? How do PCs fit into this rule? Are there any super bargain cables capable of keeping up with highly resolving electronics?
metaphysics
fjoggedelic's avatar
fjoggedelic
11 posts
 
Ooh, i think it`s hard, this cable quest! I didn`t now that i had spend more than 10% off my hole system in cables, before i sat down and thought about it. And is it worth it?????YES, i think it is. Over the last half year, iv`e have had the priviliges of trying a lot of different cables out there, in different price class. Acoustic Zen, Harmony Tech, Dyrholm Audio, Lavardin cables. I listening to these cables for a lot of hours, and i was in a position where i just could choose whatever i wan`t, regardles to price( they where all demo, so therefor cheeper)......I endeed up with AZ cables, wich is not an inexpensive cable, but value a lot for the money. I know some people think thats is crazy spending so much on cables. My interconnect cable between my Rega Saturn CD and my amplifier Lavardin IT cost almost the same as the Saturn, and iv`e have wondered if this maybe was a bit to much to offer for that cable, but no again. My set-up sounded nice to begin with, but after all the new cables it`s in a another ball game (much better). But soon i will try to unplug all these new cables, and getting back to where i started, just to listen to the (maybe) huge different( or not)???? Then i will write again!
irvrobinson
295 posts
 
Psychicanimal says:

My system is resolving enough that anyone can tell apart same models of a power cable treated at different cryogenic facilities. My system is gentle enough that it can successfully play any recording of any musical genre regardless of recording quality.

This is most astounding post I have ever read on Audiogon. Also the most unbelievable. Congratulations for such a unique achievement.

Irv

PS - you don't actually believe this stuff, do you?
gopher
499 posts
 
I've got about $5000 msrp worth of cable in a system worth about $25,000 msrp. Fortunately I did not pay that amount, but I do feel the cables in my system have really allowed the components they are connected to to shine.

Say what you will about cables making a difference, but these have been a major step towards happiness in my rig... as high as that cost proportion may be.
phillipbenson
4 posts
 
I agree with Gopher. Cables have made a noticeable difference in my system, too. I think the 10% rule still applies (I see this thread started almost 10 years ago). But no more than 10%.
chrissain
470 posts
 
Hi , its all relative, I have picked out expensive cables in blind tests over and over again, from interconnects to speaker cables to digital cables, but the main difference is I have not always liked the more expensive cables better, once you get the ego out of the way and stop careing about brand name or cost it is amazing the differences you can hear, for good or bad.
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