Speaker cables: $3000 or $380. What do you get??

Here's my experience, without singling out preferred brands for you to try:
years ago (I mean, like around 1987 or 1988), I sat in my listening room all weekend with a pile of speaker cable and my pair of old Quads, hooked up to a good small ARC tube amp (I think then, it was probably a d-70mkii) and just listened. The cables had been loaned to me by a dealer, probably 4 or 5 different brands. I would change cables and listen; then change and listen more. At some point, I came to a conclusion about what sounded most 'right' in that system with its strengths and obvious weaknesses. (No deep bass, for one). I can't remember which cable I chose at that time or whether it was on the pricier or cheaper end of the scale. The moral was that different cables sounded different.
Fast forward many years later. Same experiment, entirely different system, different room. The changes were noticeable, not in my imagination. I chose the cable that sounded best in my system again. Wasn't necessarily the most expensive (particularly given what some of these things cost today).
Recommendation: deal with the Cable Company, or a dealer who can supply a variety of wire for you to try with the understanding that you can buy used or at a significant discount. You'll probably save money in the long run by buying the cable that sounds best over the widest variety of material on your system, assuming there are no major deficiencies in the chain. You can thus avoid the endless cable swapping/upgrading process, which will cost more in the long run.
A couple other suggestions: most cable manufacturers recommend doing the entire system using their product, even if it means cheating by using a lower rung of the product in one part of the system to save money. I found that having the same cable throughout made everything a little more consistent, given that these things tend to have a 'house sound' or signature.
What works in one system and may be the 'best' in some absolute sense may simply not work in yours to maximum effect, for the money.
A long way of saying 'synergy' but I thought it was worth the extra words.
If the system is fundamentally good, there is no reason why those cables can't hold you through various component upgrades. And, when you have the money, you can also upgrade a rung in the brand's hierarchy. (In fact, I think some manufacturers offer such 'trade-ups' giving you additional financial incentives).
Looking at it from a distance, you could add up the retail price of the cable and say it is an exercise in stupidity, but the improvements, made in the considered way I described, in my system, were worth the investment and other than upgrading the cable from the turntable to the phono stage recently for the 'best' one from that particular manufacturer, I've been extremely satisfied.

When I had Dali MS4's I tried the Dali speaker cable, the same wire as was used internally, and though I liked it, I much preferred the Transparent Ultra XL.

Nevertheless, for those who may see me as novice, I am not. Since 1988, the year I bought a real serious high-end system.

You certainly fooled me.

This question has been ask before on this blog: So what do you get for $3000 per 8 foot wire versus $380 pair of speaker wire, say like Anti-Cables Reference 3 or Audio Art SC5E against Audience or Transparent Audio, or even Kimber Kables 3038 speaker wire?? Is there a significant and marked audible difference in the sound?? Does it depend on the speaker, e.g. Wilson's Alexandria III, or Focal's Grand Utopia?? and the ancillary electronics to drive these beast??

Just to show number of years of experience <> competency. If you are clueless, you will always be clueless.

Knghfi. Thanks for being less understanding than other members. I am sure someday your karma will come back on you. Should I ask you out of the most humble deference the span of your audio experience?? For, the record my obsession with this hobby began in 1972, and I have heard more speakers and components than you can imagine.

However, all this geologic time involved in this hobby has taught me one thing:is to have fun, and be surprised. I don't measure my audio enjoyment with either a slide rule or the newest soft ware package. I like experimenting and don't follow the audio playbook to happy and final listening. If that was for the case for most audio files, CES, Newport, Chicago, Munich and all other high-end shows would be peopled by sexy female reps under 30 years old and no one else

I think this may be the wrong hobby for you, why not try your hand at "derivitive" investments on Wall Street; those were calculated by a higher math known only by the crooks that created them

Enough said; I think you get my drift, or does it seem that you were fooled again??

I want to thank "almost" every member for their constructive suggestions and advice. Jim