why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

There are two very easy ways to debunk outrageous cable, "power conditioner", "isolator", "speaker cable suspender", "special capacitor", and "special resistor" claims:

1) Measure the electrical and acoustical signals with the allegedly improved "product" versus without. It's the year 2018 folks. We now have cheap devices that detect all aspects of sound (phase, pressure, frequency) at a level that is orders of magnitude better than average human hearing. What once cost tens of thousands of dollars in testing equipment can practically be obtained for several hundred with a high performance laptop, high quality calibrated microphone, and audio test suite freeware.

2) Research the backgrounds of the individuals who own and run the companies that are peddling "special resistors", "speaker cable suspenders" and the like. I've been observing this scam for nearly 4 decades and every single "manufacturer" of said products I've looked into is run by con artists and fast talking salesmen/women.  Just like there are tons of con artists peddling miracle health cures, there are and unfortunately probably always will be con artists selling magic cables and capacitors that some how fix everything that is wrong with your audiofool system.

" Someone needs to use the Yellow Pages to find your local consumer protection agency representative. I’m sure he will help you mount a lawsuit against all these scam artists. Bad scam artist! Bad! Let us know how that works out. Also, try getting a hold of NASA Nd see if they have time to do some testing for you. Report back your results." - geoffkait

I don't need anyone to test for me. I have a full bench of spectrum analyzers, signal generators, multi trace scopes, and a very reliable Earthworks mic that I use on a daily basis. Digital technology exploded a lot of myths. Now that it is fairly cheap and accessible, only those who actively choose to bury their heads in the sand will succumb to foolish arguments involving so called "audible improvements" that can't be measured or tested for. My microphone can pick up low frequency grumbling of a truck approaching a quarter mile away and display it on my software recording dashboard about 20 seconds before it's loud enough for me ti audibly detect. I see evidence of this every day and don't needs anyone's "veils have been  lifted" hype to tell me if there's a difference. And no neither NASA nor the BBB are necessary. All that's needed is a little common sense and a mind that's open to accept science and the scientific method.

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" I anxiously await your results. I had no idea you were so handy. "

I'm no different from any other college educated "joe shmo". You too can buy an Intel 7 based laptop with 4gb of RAM, buy a decent calibrated mic for $300, some balanced cable, a good pro preamp and power amp with balanced I/O, and download Holm Impulse. You don't have to be a NASA rocket scientist. And you certainly don't have to "BELIEVE" or accept as gospel anything I have to say. That's the beauty of science - anybody can do it - even you. You don't have to go along with what any "high priest" of audiophiledom has to say.

There's nothing wrong with choosing high conductivity or high purity copper cable. No one is saying cheap narrow gauge zip cord in long run lengths is a good thing. Again - common sense. Super or oversized cable may help reduce voltage drop and inductance but it increases capacitance. This has been covered by "professionals" ad nauseum.

https://www.quabbin.com/tech-briefs/why-cable-capacitance-important-electronic-applications

https://www.eeweb.com/tools/wire-inductance

Common sense and remarkably in this case too, science, tells us that moderation is the best  and most suitable approach. Regardless, I challenge anyone with $5000 cables to run both a scientific measurement and double blind test to reliably determine if they can improve system performance over cables that have similar resistance and capacitance per foot costing in the vicinity of $2.50 per foot. You don't see these kinds of examinations published because they would reveal what most scientifically oriented people have known since before "audiophiledum" was an accepted hobby. No one (at least I) is advocating for an extreme point of view. Quality cable components that achieve the desired results don't have to cost more than a good used car. Anyone who thinks they do is not playing with a full deck, IMH (fairly informed) O.

@ elizabeth

No, Elizabeth, THANK YOU for adding your $.02 of bloviation. We "freaking idiots" certainly couldn't bloviate very well without your consummate leadership and blithering/bloviating expertise. Most forum rules strongly urge participants to address the issues presented while avoiding personal attacks. I guess that only applies to us "freaking idiots" and not esteemed forum "leaders" like you. Carry on....

Best and Highest Regards

" If the game is lost, then we're all the same
No one left to place or take the blame " - gdhal quoting Bob Weir (yes, the Grateful Dead Bob....)



some more from "wise old" Bob... 

- " Full of hope, full of grace, is the human face
But afraid, we may lay our home to waste "

Does that make it any clearer for you , geoffkait?

Allow me to translate....peaceful coexistence tends to outrank constant war, exploitation and strife. In other words, peaceful, respectful discussions are possible without vehement disagreement and argument that devolves into insult and destruction of any/all dialog....Did I get that right, gdhal?