One for the 'believers'

Please, no cable debate, but I would be interested to hear from those who find exotic cables make a worthwhile improvement, just how much one needs to spend to get it. I suppose I am asking where you think the upper limit is on sensible spending on a cable.

Those who don't think there is a worthwhile difference between cables (that’s myself, too!) need not vote. Thanks

 

I voted 'A' - however, some of the cables are rrp 50 - 100 but I bought them second hand (of course!) - but I guess I was naive...

 

Just to be picky. If there is no worthwhile difference between cables, then you should safely be picking the less than £50 box, as presumably if there is no worthwhile difference that is all you need spend on a really good cable.

Me? I'd argue that there is no such thing as a really good cable, just one that works well or not quite so well in the context of a particular setup ...

 

It's like asking "how much does a really good amp cost?"
You can spend a few quid and get something you like, you could spend a fortune and get something thats fabulous..... or that makes your ears bleed.

 

Are the choices 'per metre'? Otherwise it is very difficult because it depends on length for speaker cable, or 0.5 or 1m i/c's.

 

I voted A too...but I could fancy one of petes that costs more.

Also, dare I say it , I think you need (for want of a better expression) to match your cable to ability of the rest of the system.....so if you paid £2000 for your amp etc, you might like to try better quality i/cs.....see what they do.

I've treated the values as per i/c.

 

I was thinking along the lines of a 1m IC.

Those who don't hear any difference could pick the sub £50 category, but then it would be difficult to know who just doesn't hear a difference and who hears a difference but doesn't feel you need to spend more than £50 to get something really good.

It seems so far that over 50% of poeple think there is not a lot of point spending over £50 per cable.

 

Good Idea a poll Why dont you amend your rules - ask everyone to vote.
Andy

 

I would spend over £50 if it made an improvement. You spend within your means. If a cable costing thousands and makes an inprovement, and if you have plenty in the bank then get it. For me thats beyond my pocket. Jim.

 

Then it would be difficult to know who just doesn't hear a difference and who hears a difference but doesn't feel you need to spend more than £50 to get something really good.

So do you think it makes an improvement worth the money to spend over £50?

 

Price-efficacy beliefs in the consumer have a well-documented placebo effect. This is used in many different areas of marketing, hi-fi wires being no exception where price is a principle psychological cue to sell the dupe.

 

for £100 i can make whatever i want with whatever silver plugs i desire and i've never heard any benefit from buying anything more expensive

 

If your hifi is balanced then changing cables will be barely audible.

If your hifi hasnt got the synergy and is close to bordering on being too harsh/dull then the a bad cable choice will take it over the edge and make itself very noticable.

 

I guess I didn't read the question properly (I had just finished my night shifts..))

One of petes cables was giving very nice results in my system....he is doing for £200. Not a tenable proposition right now, unfortunately......but thats is what I probably should have rates as a "REALLY good cable". Sorry!

 

This is maybe a bit of a bone comment but..

I agree that it is system dependant not just in terms of a poorly balanced / well balanced one but in terms of cost.

If all your components cost around 200 - 250 then spending 100 quid on a cable would seem to me to be a bit excessive and better spent on saving for a new piece of kit.

However, If you have a system where all the bits are a couple of grand each then 100 quid obviously isn't so much of a leap of faith.

I guess 50.00 for most people is a sum of money they can spend without too much thought.

What do you think would be the answer if you asked how much people thought they had to spend to get a 'really good' amplifier?

0 - 100
200 - 600
30,000 - 50,000

I doubt many would pick the latter option, purely because they couldn't afford it.

Personally The most expensive cable I have tried was one of Pete's at 150.00 and I bought it. Why? Because it worked.

To my ears there was an unquestionable and significant improvement on my present IC and I judged it worthwhile. If I was still working at KFC then I wouldn't have even thought of spending that much but I'm not so I did. If I was a millionaire then I might consider spending 500 - 5000 but I'm not. The rest of my cables are 40 - 50 quid ones and will be replaced as funds allow.

Simon stating that he could make his own for about 100 seems right to me.

A badly balanced system? Probably (check out 'my kit')

 

50 quid!????

I wish......

 

Most definitely.

 

as above......

 

Obviously, I have no opinion about this issue at all

-- Ian

 

At least you have a sense of humour.

P.S. Can we have Power Cords next? And then maybe I'd like to have a long chat about deoxywatsit.

or then again, maybe I'll just get on with my work instead of wasting time.