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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
jazzonthehudson's avatar
jazzonthehudson
277 posts
 
Lars of NordOst (used) to challenge the unbelievers that his cables can improve any system -more than often slapping (too) high priced cables in a mid priced level system - and his (former) company spends 80% of the profit in marketing, begging the question if our money is well spent honoring Nordic gods. I treat cables as part of the audio system infrastructure, enabling the components. I fear the ease of swapping/upgrading cables, as compared to a component, especially a heavy one like amp or speakers, has led to a higher ratio in $cabling/$system.
rafael0054
99 posts
 
Hi Metaphysics.For me cables are SO IMPORTANT, that there is no rule about percentages of a total cost of an audio system.In fact if you have any components of a wellknown Hi End audio trade mark, you could notice improvements in sound performances by upgrading, cables, plugs, wall receptacles, and of course by changing interconnects and speaker cables.As an example I have a friend who has 6000$ in equipment( Fortè amp and preamp, Ps DAC, Proceed cd, Apogee Centaur) and 10000 dollars in cabling( interconnects,digital cable, power cords and Shunyata hydra 6).and the results are amazing.I know his system for many years and it changed for better any time he put a different cable or connector or interconnect cable.So don`t be afraid about investing in cables.It `s a superb idea!Regards!Rafael
ps
760 posts
 
While I agree that cables can and do make a difference, I am increasingly amused by the cost of many high end cables relative to the cost of all the other stuff that goes into this crazy hobby, and relative to the cost of pretty much everything else.

I would guess that the margin of profit on wire far, far exceeds that of virtually every other aspect of high end audio for both the manufacturer and seller. I recently auditioned a pair of Maggie 1.7's at a dealer who was using speaker cables which retailed for SIXTY THOUSAND dollars. Really? Yes, really.

While I will say that these $2000 dollars speakers sounded very good, the take away for me was the audition was a waste of time and that I should have brought my own damn cable had I been warned. I also wondered if twenty thousand dollar cables would have made the Magnepans sound forty thousand dollars worse. How about speaker cables that cost a "mere" 5K? What then?
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
+ 1 with Rafael0054.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Ps, what you describe is life in capitalism. Everyday, people face this issue on every product they need at the grocery store restaurant, filling station, etc.
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