Are audiophiles still out of their minds?


I've been in this hobby for 30 years and owned many gears throughout the years, but never that many cables.  I know cables can make a difference in sound quality of your system, but never dramatic like changing speakers, amplifiers, or even more importantly room treatment. Yes, I've evaluated many vaunted cables at dealers and at home over the years, but never heard dramatic effect that I would plunk $5000 for a cable. The most I've ever spent was $2700 for pair of speaker cables, and I kinda regret it to this day.  So when I see cable manufacturers charging 5 figures for their latest and "greatest" speaker cables, PC, and ICs, I have to ask myself who buys this stuff. Why would you buy a $10k+ cable, when there are so many great speakers, amplifiers, DACs for that kind of money, or room treatment that would have greater effect on your systems sound?  May be I'm getting ornery with age, like the water boy says in Adam Sandler's movie.
dracule1
Asvjerry, it takes two to tango.  The sucker who buys $10k+ cable thinking it's money well spent. And the cable manufacturer who thinks there's a sucker around each corner and charges $10k+. You take the sucker out, and no more ludicrously priced cables.  But it's difficult to educate a sucker. I suppose we were all suckers when we started in this hobby, but some of us saw the BS in high end and stopped buying expensive wire lined with fairy dust and infused with rainbow juice.
*LOL*  Drac, you got that straight...

I was just popping back in to respond to the 'Big Question', your #1 at the top of all this...

ABSOLUTELY STONE CRAZY.  Some more that others.  Personally, I just do what I want that amuses me, with a 'budget' that in relation to what I read here approaches zilch.  I'm building my own speakers (not the cabinets...the drivers...) because I can't afford the alternative and would rather 'roll my own' anyway.  Some guys build amps for much the same reason, so I feel in good company in that respect.  The challenge, the satisfaction of doing so.  If they aren't 'perfect', so f'n what.  I don't force anyone to listen to them.  But they do...(DIY Walsh Speakers, on YouTube)
Not an 'audiophile recording', to be sure.  Not a great camera...not a great 'space' to do so in...and recording an omni with a mono mic isn't going to Ever give anyone more of a clue other than 'they work'....

...but they do...and, if you were 'here', I'll bet I can make you blink and the jaw drop a tad.  I'd love to have a 'serious audiophile' come by for a listen.
They don't seem to exist in my local focal locus (west NC).  I've been contemplating inviting anyone from Moog to come by for a beer if I could borrow their ears for an hour for some semi-serious listening....

But that's just me ranting about my 'predilection', much like most of the above previous to this...just more air, heating the room...*G*

Oh, yeah...then there's the fact that I don't listen to that of 'my age group'.  No dead white Europeans on a mega-buck TT for this Medicared mortal.
How about deadmau5 for a break, ya'll?  Turn it up and dust off the woofs.
Good for the blood flow, I've heard...;)
Yup, Crazy.  Guilty.  I'll charge myself, save y'all the trouble. *G*

Enjoy the pursuit of whatever you're pursuing.  Hope you get 'there', wherever that might be....and I'll do that, too. ;)
It just amazes me that these threads go on for as long as they do, resolution-free except for the claims and counters.

@asvjerry , even more amazing is that there are probably two of these "dog chases tail" threads posted a month on these forums.
Amusing. ;^)