2. cables
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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 7 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
a difference that makes no difference is no difference.

if you hear a difference between two components, but you are indifferent to replacing one component with the other, the perceived difference is inconsequential.

it may not be a question of price justifying the difference but rather, "the difference is insignificant".

my point is that for some, an insignificant difference is no difference.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
that component which makes the greatest (positive) difference to the sound of a stereo system is worth the most dollar investment.

aside from the speaker, there is no formula for allocating funds to the other components which makes sense. if one's budget is sufficiently large the task of configuring components is easier than when funds are limited.

unfortunately it is not possible to assemble all combinations of components, so there is an element of luck and the opportunity to listen.

i see no advantage in developing a formula to allocate expenditures on individual components.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i think a lot of the comments complicate the situation.

the question could be : how to get the most improvement in sound for a given sum of money ?

improvement is subjective and there is no definitive answer because it is not possible to audition every component in one's price range. if you can afford the cable and you like what it does, that should be suffiecient.

the cost of the cable relative to the cost of the rest of the system is irrelevant.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
how does one answer this question when it is impossible to ascertain the contribution of cables to the overall sound emanating from a pair of speakers.

there are so many variables, including the room and ac, that questions such as this are at best, highly conjectural.

it ii is possible that some cable may have a profound affect upon the sound of a stereo system to the same extent as a pair of speakers.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi mitchlib:

you raise a basic question: what is a businessman's fair profit ?

have you ever owned your own business ?

as a business owner, with all of his/her fixed and variable costs, what do you think is necessary for a businessman to charge for his product to remain vaible, in relation to all of the costs expended to maintain his operation ?
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
here is a way of looking at bang for the buck.

compare the affect of replacing an amplifier with the affect of replacing a cable (speaker, ic or power cord).

if the affect upon the sound of a stereo system is more "pleasing" when replacing the cable, it would seem that the "new" cable has a more profound affect and could be considered as the wiser purchase , assume one can afford it.

my point is the component which has the greatest positive affect upon the sound of a stereo system should be given top priority. if it happens to be a cable, so be it.

i would therefore conclude that there is no formula to specify how much to spend for cables, relative to some other component.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
elizabeth:

trust yoour ears. one shouldn't be dogmatic or doctrinaire regarding any component.

its a question of value. if an expensive cable makes a big difference, and the difference is worth the price of the cable to the buyer, it's a sensible purchase.

i like to use the analogy of expensive vs inexpensive restaurants.

i generally find that spending a lot of money on food, compared to a good diner, is not worth it. you may disagree. it depends upon how you value the experience.
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