Why do high-end cables cost so much?
- Thread starter AVphile
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mep
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Whether or not you want to call them tone controls or an equalizer, it's changing the output signal of your amplifier before the signal reaches the crossover network of your speakers.
UltraFast69
New member
mep
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It's not realistic to assume that you can insert a passive circuit stuffed with parts between your amplifier and your speaker crossover network and think nothing is getting "lost" and only sweetness and light emerge on the other side. At a minimum, you will have insertion loss.
Speedskater
Member
Blue Jeans Cable already has. Especially for RCA analog interconnects.
KeithR
Active member
Easy answer - because the market will bear it.
There is nothing in construction methodology that lends itself to $5-10k/meter cables these days.
There is nothing in construction methodology that lends itself to $5-10k/meter cables these days.
still-one
Active member
You can insert any piece of high end audio gear into your response.
Hope this thread doesn’t turn into a “Network Cables” are a scam etc..
Btw, the patents Bruce Brisson holds and what he has contributed to high end audio should speak for themselves.
Likewise for Caelin Gabriel of Shunyata and Garth Powell of Audioquest. These designers are doing their best work now ; MIT ACC , Shunyata Sigma , AQ Dragon Speaker cables. To name a few of these flagships speaker cables.
Unfortunately the best stuff comes at a price. Now wether or not it is a value to you or you believe cables don’t make a difference then please stick to mono price and blue jeans cable.
Vote with your wallet as one of the above highlighted.
Btw, the patents Bruce Brisson holds and what he has contributed to high end audio should speak for themselves.
Likewise for Caelin Gabriel of Shunyata and Garth Powell of Audioquest. These designers are doing their best work now ; MIT ACC , Shunyata Sigma , AQ Dragon Speaker cables. To name a few of these flagships speaker cables.
Unfortunately the best stuff comes at a price. Now wether or not it is a value to you or you believe cables don’t make a difference then please stick to mono price and blue jeans cable.
Vote with your wallet as one of the above highlighted.
AJ Soundfield
Well-known member
Yup. That's always the answer.
There is also solid science behind why some folks should spend as much as they need to for personal satisfaction, including "expensive" cables of course.
a.wayne
Well-known member
Awww Cmon ,
get on the bandwagon , throw out your 5K cable design, less see what you got ....!
get on the bandwagon , throw out your 5K cable design, less see what you got ....!
knghifi
Member
Why stop at any piece of high end audio gear, every commodity.
AJ Soundfield
Well-known member
At least with high end audio gear, you get to keep it. With high end wine, you literally piss it away
cheers,
AJ
Jozua
New member
I agree cables are overpriced.
However when you find a cable that makes your $100K+ system sing like never before - rational thinking (or engineering principles) tends to fly out of the window..
Just accept that not everything in life is rational.
However when you find a cable that makes your $100K+ system sing like never before - rational thinking (or engineering principles) tends to fly out of the window..
Just accept that not everything in life is rational.
It is precisely because high end audio cables are not considered commodities that prices can be detached from the cost (including research and development) of production. For example, go to Monoprice or other similar dealers and you will find cables that are functionally the same as just about all high end cables priced as commodities.
Also you will note that many (most all?) of the high end cable manufacturers price their offerings with clear differentiation of pricing between adjacent lines (e.g. each successively more expensive line is double the price of the lower cost line). This clearly cannot mean that the cost to manufacture each line is double the cost of the adjacent lower price line. A lot has to do with the attempt to create or reinforce the perceived value of the product in the mind of the consumer. If it is that expensive, then it must be great, particularly in my great system.
One exception, if a product is truly hand made, then there can well be a large number of hours in highly skilled labor costs that justifies a high price.
Larry
Also you will note that many (most all?) of the high end cable manufacturers price their offerings with clear differentiation of pricing between adjacent lines (e.g. each successively more expensive line is double the price of the lower cost line). This clearly cannot mean that the cost to manufacture each line is double the cost of the adjacent lower price line. A lot has to do with the attempt to create or reinforce the perceived value of the product in the mind of the consumer. If it is that expensive, then it must be great, particularly in my great system.
One exception, if a product is truly hand made, then there can well be a large number of hours in highly skilled labor costs that justifies a high price.
Larry
Then you should simply go and buy Blue Jeans cable , and be happy.
High end cables are like high end tires for your car. Sure Cooper Tires, Waterfall Eco and Douglas tires will all work. I mean, they’re made of rubber and they’re round. They’re even sold at your local Walmart. But I wouldn’t put any of those on my Corvette Grand Sport or my F-150 truck. Maybe my Father-In-Laws 1983 Pontiac Parisienne or his 1980 LTD Wagon.
A high end stereo system, like a nice car needs the best for ultimate performance. To choose otherwise is to limit your investment in the first place.
A high end stereo system, like a nice car needs the best for ultimate performance. To choose otherwise is to limit your investment in the first place.
AVphile, if your power cord keeps pulling out from the wall socket, then replace the wall socket with an audiograde socket from PS audio, Pangea, Furutech to name a few. They grip way better than a standard socket. Also consider trying cables on the loaner program from the thecableco.com They will let you try up to 5 cables at a time with a deposit.
I just purchased (used) a 1000 power cord. Its brand name is not to be made known. Highly reputable name and I know this company makes excellent products. I also own much lower priced Pangea power cords, and some Audience entry level, Forte 3 power cords.
I find that the Pangea cords (modestly priced, but well made) sound best with certain components and not the others. The entry level Audience Forte 3 cable improved the audio when used with certain components.. But, the 1000 cable? Can't find a place for it where it would produce a better effect than the lower priced ones.
I find that the Pangea cords (modestly priced, but well made) sound best with certain components and not the others. The entry level Audience Forte 3 cable improved the audio when used with certain components.. But, the 1000 cable? Can't find a place for it where it would produce a better effect than the lower priced ones.
UltraFast69
New member
Here’s one for you. I pulled back the sheathing of an unused Ansuz C power cable, wtf, it’s only money [emoji854][emoji2957][emoji23]
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
jadedavid
New member
Here’s one for you. I pulled back the sheathing of an unused Ansuz C power cable, wtf, it’s only money [emoji854][emoji2957][emoji23]
This is more common than you think
Thanks for the great pictures.
Yes, I and a friend have repaired many "High End" power cables for both ourselves and other audiophiles. Mostly this consisted of replacing either the male or IEC plug and or replacing a broken ground pin (very common).
Having seen the construction of these cables truly leaves you wondering 2 questions. !, how can they charge so much for this? and 2, why do we pay so much for this?
The majority of the power cables that we have seen use readily available wire (nothing special). Each manufacturer has his own special build technique I.E. twist, counter twist, foil, shielding, spacing and on and on that they feel gives their cables the "magic".
Seeing things like what you have just posted is of no surprise.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
If it sounds good and you can afford it and it makes you happy then go for it.