"Value." Isn't that usually in the ear of the listener? Hype? Sure, reams and reams of hype, not only regarding cables, but for a lot of high-end audio, period.
A friend of mine uses all Shunyata cables in his reference system. These wires alone cost more than a new economy car. He maintains the cables give him the "final 5 percent." I don't know if that means resolution, sound stage, etc, or musical enjoyment or if, in his mind, they are one in the same.
All you folks who figure bigbux wires are "worth it" and "must-haves", go for it. Bless you.
Even if I were wealthy, I can't imagine spending umpteen thousands of dollars on wires, no matter how highly touted they are. Earlier this year I auditioned Magnepan 1.7 speakers at a local dealer. The speaker cables he was using retailed around $50,000 for a 12' pair. The entire staff of the store was said to have been able to hear the "difference" between those cables and much more modestly priced cables that sold for about $2500/ pair, even when they weren't in the listening room. For me, $2500 cables are still pretty darn expensive.
Past a certain point, I think most audiophile are certifiably crazy, including perhaps even myself, although my system is relatively modest and based on vintage tube electronics which I've had for decades.
A friend of mine uses all Shunyata cables in his reference system. These wires alone cost more than a new economy car. He maintains the cables give him the "final 5 percent." I don't know if that means resolution, sound stage, etc, or musical enjoyment or if, in his mind, they are one in the same.
All you folks who figure bigbux wires are "worth it" and "must-haves", go for it. Bless you.
Even if I were wealthy, I can't imagine spending umpteen thousands of dollars on wires, no matter how highly touted they are. Earlier this year I auditioned Magnepan 1.7 speakers at a local dealer. The speaker cables he was using retailed around $50,000 for a 12' pair. The entire staff of the store was said to have been able to hear the "difference" between those cables and much more modestly priced cables that sold for about $2500/ pair, even when they weren't in the listening room. For me, $2500 cables are still pretty darn expensive.
Past a certain point, I think most audiophile are certifiably crazy, including perhaps even myself, although my system is relatively modest and based on vintage tube electronics which I've had for decades.