Cable budget question please

[Masterlu]

That's a great pic of me!

[-E-]

It used to be the 10% standard... I think that percentage has gone up, though, since the introduction of things like line conditioners, power cables, etc (not standard RCA or speaker cables like way back in the day). In other words, there's a lot more accessories to spend $$$ on.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

My local dealer used to tell me 10-15 percent. Seems appropriate, to me at least.

Pete

I'm a bit unorthodox.

First I buy the very best system I can afford with all of my budget. I buy the least expensive 16 gauge wire and some pure copper interconnects with it. I dial the system in to the best it can possibly be.

Then and only then do I begin to play with cables. Budget? None. I let the system take me where it needs to. The better the system the more rules of thumb go out the window.

But as I said, I'm weird.

[Victor]

Cables can make or break a great system. Forget the price and concentrate on the sound. Then when you find what sounds the best you can decide if the cost is worth the improvement to you.

I just added it up, I'm just over 20% cable cost in my system.

Here's a crazy thought for you, my speakers and speaker wires have the exact same retail price. The not so crazy part is the speaker cables were used and cost me no where near retail price (cables usually have a huge markup).

[Masterlu]

I'm still adding cables to my Cape Rig; just got in a 6.0M Gold Starlight RCA to BNC for my MCD1100.

[jmorgan32]

Originally Posted by djwhog

Great point Randy.

I have purchased and then upgraded in near future than had to do some re-upgrades.

If you can swing it I feel it is ok to over buy on the cables etc if you intend to upgrade the other components in the not to distant future.

So even if the cables exceed what you own, no harm except to the wallet, but in the long run you will be set and $$$s ahead right.


Joe do you have any sort of power AC line power conditioner for the system?

Depending where you live and like more the wall current can be pretty noisy and that is a good investment too. I certain someone on her has some PPPs for a good price

I got one to add to my other unit. Must say great bang for the $$s spent.

take care and great question to post..

Dave,
Thanks for asking. Yes, I have the "basic" Richard Gray 400. I did count this as a "cable expense" when adding up my figures.
In hingsight, I got my system, we went into a great bull market and I went nuts on cables! I am fine with it though. I would have always "wondered", and was not willing to spend the time buying/returning or asking dealers for loaners. I even bought the Cardas headphone cable upgrade & kept my stock cable. (and have not taken the time to do an "ABA" because I do not want to find out they might sound the same!!!!!------ I should correct myself and say "sound the same to ME. I have learned so much on the fora that eveyone seems to have not only different physiological hearing but better or different "listening skills!")

I just read the hype about George Cardas making the cable for his daughter who has the same headphones that I do, and that sold me. (as you probably know it is made for Sennheisers.)

Oh well, as they say "ya can't take it with ya!"

[Tonepub]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

I'm a bit unorthodox.

First I buy the very best system I can afford with all of my budget. I buy the least expensive 16 gauge wire and some pure copper interconnects with it. I dial the system in to the best it can possibly be.

Then and only then do I begin to play with cables. Budget? None. I let the system take me where it needs to. The better the system the more rules of thumb go out the window.

But as I said, I'm weird.

I'm with you on that approach.

I've heard some amazing cable that has been pretty spendy and I've heard a few pretty good things that were not terribly expensive.

[LevelNine]

I too used to follow the 10% approach. Then I found out it just can't be such a fixed amount. Now, I don't go cable hunting all the time, but if I hear something that really brings a positive difference over multiple auditions, then I just whip out the credit card.

Of course, the upper limit I've set myself is no more than 30% of total gear cost. With more expensive gear, I'll drop it to 15 - 20%.

I just steer well clear of the 15 - 20 thousand dollar cables. Power conditions have done much more for me than cables in my system.