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The Cost of Cables

We all know that there have been countless posts with endless debates about cables on every audio forum available. The reason I start this post is to garner thoughts from others on the cost of cables, not necessarily whether they make a difference or not. I find the prices for cables staggering and I (me personally) do not understand where the cost comes from. Some will say R&D, ok, I can go for that to a point, but can the manufacturing of wire really cost much? (In thinking about this, the discussion could be applied to audio as a whole.)

Obviously cable companies survive because we purchase their products, I include myself. But if we quit paying these large prices, would prices fall dramatically or would they just quit making cables such as we know it and/or close their doors?
brianmgrarcom

Showing 3 responses by mrtennis

mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
gentlemen:

it's all about economics, namely cost and value.

the value in use equals the value in exchange. i have indicated this well-known law several times. it applies to cable as well as any component.

if a buyer considers that the price of a component is less than or equal to the value for a product, it is purchased. an audiophile who receives pleasure from the purchase of expensive components is receiving value for the purchase. the value may be of a psychological nature.

value may inhere in the listening or the "pride" of ownership.

two audiophiles may differ as to the value of a component and one may be willing to pay the price , while the other considers the product over-priced.

thus, the price of a cable represent's an estimate of the value to a potential customer.

it is also based upon the possible deman for the product.

whenever considering questions of the price of components, think economics and perhaps psychology as well.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the issue is not the cost of the cable but rather what is a cable worth to a consumer ? if a cable is expensive some will think it is overpriced, while others may consider the cable worth the price.

there is no rational reason for a subjective evaluation of what something is worth.

what is the relevance of the cost of the product to its price ? if it has value to someone it will be purchased. if there is an sufficient demand to ensure the viability of the product, it will be removed from the market, reduced in price or perhaps, recast in a different "package" at a lower price.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
why is there so much of an obsession with the cost of cable ?

consider cable as you would any other expensive object of consumption. if you consider cable "over" priced, don't buy it. why spend so much time and energy on a topic which really is not that important ?

aren't there more significant subjects to discuss ?
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