I am sick of cables

After 35 years in the audio hobby, I don't know what to think about cables anymore.

In 1988, I bought an 8' pair of used MIT Music Hose to drive my Spica TC50 standmounts. The Hose cost like $50 ($100 in today's money?). I still have these cables.

In 2002 (when I was making a lot more money), I bought an 8' pair of Audience Au24 w/ custom Cardas silver plated spades to drive my standmount Wilson Cubs. These cables cost $1200. I never even thought to try the Hose w/ the $7000 Cubs.

Times change; the Cubs are gone, but I still have the Au24s.

Currently, I am running a pair of Dali Ikon6 towers in my nearfield PC system. I have spent a lot of time comparing the sound of the Hose w/ the the Au24s. The Dalis sing with the Hose and are just ho hum w/ the Au24. Go figure.

Mmarvin19,

I am similarly hard pressed to find a reason to change cables in my current system. The MIT Terminator line ICs I use absolutely sing and are affordable when you find them second hand.

$$$s do not necessarily determine utility with ICs I have found. There seem to be many very very good not too expensive wires out there.

Of course anything that costs mega-dollars should be expected to excel without fail. IS that always the case? I do not know since I do not swim in those hallowed waters.

I'm there, said the same thing a couple of years ago and was told by 1 audiophool that my comment was "reckless"

I don't think money should be the factor in determining cables but coherence is what to base judgement upon. Some may say a $500 Ic sounds the best in their system while others believe a $.50 piece of copper wire is perfect. Different flavors for different people. All in the quest of "best sound."

My approach is the same with cables as with any other potentially large investment.

I do some reading on what others have experienced with various products then start small (ie not too expensive) + typically used.

If I am not satisfied, I try something else.

If I try various options around a particular price point and am not satisfied with any, then I look to move up to something more costly when needed.

This is the fast track to landing on an overall system configuration that sings to you without necessarily just throwing $$$s at the problem out of the gate and hoping that solves all problems.

Isn't that the way most folks shop for most things?

You really have to resist the natural inclination to believe that price determines results. It may or may not in the end. You need to take things in reasoned steps, one at a time, to really know for sure.