why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

You're hearing (or system) does not allow you to hear the
difference, but there is no need to be defensive about it
and to post on the forum in hope of finding other people who
cannot hear the difference to make you feel better.

Rja, I've read recommendation for good inexpensive hotel in Rome. When I pointed out that it was over $1k a night, hardly inexpensive, he said "it is inexpensive to me". I would rather speculate where is the point of diminishing returns. If you still can hear the difference between $500 and $2000 cable then the only question is if you can afford it and how good is your system (can you use this money better).

One thing about cables is that it is non-perishable item. Many years from now I might have different amp and speakers but still the same cables.

Country music? Jmcgrogan2, brother, I'm with you.

Calvinj +1

I accept it. I also know that some people have much better hearing than mine.

Calvinj, replacing AQ Indigo with Acoustic Zen Satori brought, in addition to more refined sound, fuller lower midrange I was looking for with my class D amp (try to explain this in terms of R,L,C). Cello now sounds real, male voices have "chestiness" etc.

Acoustic Zen Absolute replaced my AQ King Cobra. Even with short (0.5m) XLR cable I was able to hear increased dynamics, cleaner sound, darker background and more "space" between instruments. Perhaps it was overkill for my modest system (I bought it cheap), but as David12 mentioned it is non-perishable component that will stay with me until I kick the bucket. Would I benefit from even better cables? Perhaps not, getting older, I'm at the point of diminishing returns, have to be careful with the money and my hearing is not going to get any better in the future. Would I tell other people what they can or cannot hear, or would I start thread like this? Hell no.

"Who's to say some spool wire at Home Depot will not float someones boat"

I agree, for many reasons - poor, non-resolving gear, poor hearing and perception affected by strong belief that all wires sound alike.   

Maplegrovemusic, no I was not referring to you.  You presented strawman argument, since people are only sharing their experiences not telling others how much money they have to spend.  If anything I found people telling others, that spending money on cables is silly, that they are cheated by manufactures, that lamp cord from Home Depot is just fine.  Even title of this thread suggests it.

Al, I agree on all points. Very good summary.

The "placebo effect" is real yet completely ignored...i.e.. "if it is supposed to sound better, it will."

...and if you believe it shouldn’t sound better it won’t.

That’s a bit like trying to prove that classical music is superior to jazz?

Of course, it is superior. Jazz musicians don’t even know where the right notes are constantly searching for them. For instance, Jazz bassist "walks" all over the finger-board to find proper note, while classically trained bassist knows where the note is and just plays it.

It is a little bit pessimistic picture. I try to stay optimistic.

Pessimist:  It is so bad it cannot be any worse
Optimist:    Yes, it can!  Yes, it can!