What percentage of total system of budget are people allocating to signal cables for optimal results?

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Boogieman

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What percentage of system of budget are people allocating to signal cables for optimal results?
 
Speaker, IC, digital, power, phono, etc?


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I suppose it all depends...

One of the more consistent hi-fi variables at Casa Del Zero has been cables. The variable that isn't so consistent is the gear that I have in the stables. Since this gear varies quite significantly in price, my cables can make up for as much as 70% of the system cost or as little as 1 - 2%. It all depends. Do I have a cheap n' cheerful system running that day, or do I have the financial equivalent of an Alpha Romeo Giulia sitting in my room?

Dang. I think the above post qualifies me as THE classic audiophile. Meh.
 
Boogieman said:
Thanks. But can't you cut that by 10-15% and get better speakers, amp source?
Click to expand...

You can do whatever you want, but when you factor in all the IC's, PC's, etc, I think 20% is about right. Could be more, could be less and I'm actually not sure you can have any hard and fast rules.

I've heard systems with outdoor lighting cable and stock PC's and it sounded good.

I've heard a system where the cables were probably 300% of the system value and it sounded like absolute crap.


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For what it may or may not be worth, my real-world experiences align with Mikes above post. There are no hard/fast rules that can be quantified on this matter.
 
Appreciate the thoughts! I was thinking that someone has Alexias may be better off getting the Alexandrias instead of spending on some ultra expensive Transparent or Nordost cables...or upgrading a D'Agostino stereo for monoblocks...
 
I only have four cables in my system. A set of speaker cables, an RCA cable for turntable, a digital cable to connect my two Devialets and an ethernet cable.

Plus 5 power cables, so my expenditure is relatively low, I would guess less than 1%.
 
I consider cables, power and ICs, along with power conditioners, dedicated AC lines, and vibration control to be the foundation of a good stereo. Get a solid foundation, and any gear you get will work at its best right from the start. So, depending on the current gear, the foundation cost be sizable or minimal.
 
depends on who's cable and is it even worth 20% of the system's total cost. If Magico internally wires their six figure speakers with cable that costs $1.50/ft (Canare 4S11) does that make for a "solid foundation"? Is Canare then woefully underrated and all other cable overhyped?

A good foundation to me starts with a good room, without that the 'best cable' in the world--whatever that means to you--will not save great components plonked in a bad room.
 
puroagave said:
depends on who's cable and is it even worth 20% of the system's total cost. If Magico internally wires their six figure speakers with cable that costs $1.50/ft (Canare 4S11) does that make for a "solid foundation"? Is Canare then woefully underrated and all other cable overhyped?

A good foundation to me starts with a good room, without that the 'best cable' in the world--whatever that means to you--will not save great components plonked in a bad room.
Click to expand...

I find the point about the Magico internal wiring really interesting.

Has anyone tested how Magicos sound with Canare speaker cables?


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