why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

“Proper copper” is all you need to pass the signal along...with all the noise present and intact.  Transparent cable will remove it and lower the noise floor dramatically.  Everything else is just cable!

@joeylawn36111 if you choose to use chicken wire that’s fine but the right cable makes a difference. 

Calvinj - I agree it can make a difference, but most likely only on quality systems like yours ;)*   My gear is mainly "mid-fi" stuff.

I think one can acknowledge that some technologies are better, for example, vinyl being superior to digital/tubes to transistors, etc., but Choose not to go that route for other reasons.

I like listening to music also, but I also have another related part to this hobby. I also dabble in modifying stereo gear, and am also a collector of stereo electronics I like. I'd rather spend my $'s on 'gear' than wire, for example.

*You do have a really impressive setup, BTW.

@joeylawn36111 you are right when you have a certain kind of gear they make more of a difference.  I agree you should spend on components first.  I have a great Dac and a tubed CD player. I’m injoying it all the best I can.  I’m through chasing cables.  I have some that I’m happy with and they get the job done.  My dream source would be a soulutions player to be honest with you.  It’s the most natural analog sounding player with detail I have ever heard in my life! Smooth natural with no listening fatigue.

Components first then decent cables. It’s not that hard! It’s not cables then components. Chicken or the egg. Not!  Lol