$10k Speaker Cables??????????????

OP asks "when will the madness end." It will end when everyone is as smart, savvy and knowledgeable as most of the "naysayers" on this forum. It will end when audiophiles "get" that when they spend exorbitant amounts on audio accessories, they are primarily concerned, not with the quality of their music, but with what their equipment says about them... to other naive beholders.

E.g.: no one buys a Rolex because it tells time better...because it doesn’t.

It is a fallacy to believe that buying ultra expensive speakers warrants ultra-expensive cables.  Besides the difference between $10,000 and $200,000 speakers is likely only on the order of 5% in sound quality (law of diminishing returns).  That would suggest that the very subtle "improvements" that ultra-expensive cables could (maybe) provide ultra-expensive speakers would be barely audible.

However, if you freeze those new cables, put wood blocks under them , attach batteries, put voo-doo goop on the terminals and ensure the the direction is correct...well then the differences could be mind-blowingly jaw-dropping!

Think he is referring to truth in advertising.  Extreme claims for a product that contain no real, substantive performance justification...do just one thing: prey on the uninformed.

Please don't direct me to "get over it."  It makes you appear to hold a position you cannot, and do not qualify to, occupy.  Try to limit your "puffiness" to the point in discussion.

Just like this kind of Audiogon poster to become emotional and transition to political references and derogatory comments about someone else's financial status. I thought we were talking about the questionable efficacy of very expensive cables.

Seems the only "whining" is emanating from that source.

Anyway, its not really a matter of "having more than you" but whether spending a year's salary on speakers (plus cables) is smart.  I'd bet the average Audiogon forum participant has less than $10K in their main speakers.  And I bet they sound great.

OK, Goeffery....here is one example; a USB cable.  an informed person knows that the transfer of ones and zeros either gets to its destination or not.  A cable cannot sonically improve the signal.  Yet for $550.00, Nordost will sell you one of their cheaper ("modestly priced") ones.  And they say:  

The new Purple Flare USB 2.0 Data Cable combines OFC conductors with Nordost’s innovative precision FEP extrusion technology, greatly reducing dielectric properties in order to increase signal speeds and ensure both electrical and sonic integrity. This double-shielded cable provides the detailed and   dynamic results that music servers and DACs are capable of. Audiophiles will be amazed at the amazing improvements that can be achieved at this modest price point.

Digital cables make a difference, and USBs are no exception. The Purple Flare USB 2.0 Data cable is the most efficient and cost-effective digital cable, capable of delivering the ones and zeroes with maximum precision. With this cable in your setup, you will find a lift in your system that is simply not possible when using its stock counterparts.

Monoprice sells a USB cable that does the same thing for 89 cents.  Their gold plated version is $1.49.  Really...a better quality USB cable may have some benefits but improving audio quality is not one of them in my opinion - and in the opinion of just about everybody - except those that manufacture, distribute, market and retail them.  (Follow the money) Oh...and the final group are those who got sucked into buying these and now would never admit they got snaked.

"Mr Smarty Pants?"  Really, Geoff, I know you have no other pastime but hawking this forum (note your zillions of posts) but, please..."Mr Smarty Pants?"

Ditto on the HDMI...digital pass through cannot be improved upon.  You know that, don't you?

Steve: welcome to the alternate world of those "audiophiles" who will defend to the death audio accessories that, while pretty, are overpriced and, in most cases, ineffective in achieving performance claims.  Actually, it seems that the more overpriced they are the more appeal they have.

True...they can spend their money however they want but when challenged to document how or why these voo-doo magic accessories actually work, they babble with numb tongues.   

And during such babble, they lash out, often on a personal level, at those who would dare challenge that, perhaps they are wasting their money to line the pockets of those companies that have cleverly figured out how to scam them.  Our friend Geoff is a classic example of this type "audiophile."