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

Showing 1 response by adhoc

"If a cable makes a significant audible difference it must be altering the signal" said Ojgalli, among other tings.

Yes, and what ? Sophisme.
That only means that there are almost perfect (not alterning signal cables), and others which do alterate, more or less).

For myself, I have just tested different cables with the same outfit :

1) ok, the most expensive cables are not always the best ones, for sure - it's not a rule...like for everything !
It can even happen to be the opposite, sometimes - but not as often as I wish !
But the best are always among the expensive ones.

2) but there are important differences between less expensive and most expensive cables.
The average of the upper ones is much above the under ones.

3)Never forget, beyond that, that among each category, the active outfit is decisive.

NB It's the story of the half-full or half-empty glass, as truth, absolute, are never reached or measurable, objective.
A half-empty glass mind just says : cable is nothing, it has to be good, and it's ok, really nothing more;
a half-full glass mind says : cable is very important.
It's very difficult to make one which is reliable and don't pollute the sound.
Long, hard research, which has its prize.