The Cost of Cables


We all know that there have been countless posts with endless debates about cables on every audio forum available. The reason I start this post is to garner thoughts from others on the cost of cables, not necessarily whether they make a difference or not. I find the prices for cables staggering and I (me personally) do not understand where the cost comes from. Some will say R&D, ok, I can go for that to a point, but can the manufacturing of wire really cost much? (In thinking about this, the discussion could be applied to audio as a whole.)

Obviously cable companies survive because we purchase their products, I include myself. But if we quit paying these large prices, would prices fall dramatically or would they just quit making cables such as we know it and/or close their doors?
brianmgrarcom

Showing 2 responses by eldartford

I have a grandson who makes a good living importing stuff, mostly from China. One kind of stuff is audio equipment. He tells me that he buys some decent-sounding speakers for $50, but had a hard time selling them for $200. He raised his price to $400, and now they sell well. "Who wants a $200 speaker?" is how he explains it.
Mrtennis....You say "why is there so much of an obsession with the cost of cable ?"

It's because the function of a cable is so simple...Provide an electrical conductor from point A to point B, with insulation on the outside. People can understand that, and question why it costs so much. An audio amplifier is a bit of a mystery to many audiophiles, and they are more easily convinced that it is rocket science.