I agree with Almarg about price correlation. I am absolutely convinced cable change makes an immediately audible difference, speaker interconnect and power, but price is no guide at all to quality.
Everyone I am sure, is aware of the cost content of expensive cables. Most of the cost is marketing, dealers markups etc. Logically smaller manufacturers that don't spend on advertising and sell direct, can be cheaper.
lou Hinkley from Daedalus Audio was over in the UK visiting last week and we tried out Boulder cables new speaker cable, designed for his speakers, against my Virtual Dynamic revelation cables. The boulder cables cost what $1200 for a 6ft single run, the Virtual Dynamics cost I believe about $7000. I bought them much much cheaper, second hand. They were clearly different, but neither of us could say which was better.
More than any other area in HiFi, I believe price is little if any guide to benefit, where cables are concerned.
I have a sneeking suspicion that cable manufacturers produce more and more expensive lines, quietly astonished at what they can get away with. Unfortunately, some of us customers buy on the basis of price, not quality, if it is too cheap, they won't consider it.
Everyone I am sure, is aware of the cost content of expensive cables. Most of the cost is marketing, dealers markups etc. Logically smaller manufacturers that don't spend on advertising and sell direct, can be cheaper.
lou Hinkley from Daedalus Audio was over in the UK visiting last week and we tried out Boulder cables new speaker cable, designed for his speakers, against my Virtual Dynamic revelation cables. The boulder cables cost what $1200 for a 6ft single run, the Virtual Dynamics cost I believe about $7000. I bought them much much cheaper, second hand. They were clearly different, but neither of us could say which was better.
More than any other area in HiFi, I believe price is little if any guide to benefit, where cables are concerned.
I have a sneeking suspicion that cable manufacturers produce more and more expensive lines, quietly astonished at what they can get away with. Unfortunately, some of us customers buy on the basis of price, not quality, if it is too cheap, they won't consider it.