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What's your investment threshold?

This question only goes out to those like myself who enjoy the system gains running better cables bring.  Non-believers can save their money and comments for another thread.

Do you impose on yourself a percentage range for cable spending relative to other components?

Speaking for myself, I do consider cables to be a component decision worthy of budget, but I seem to have stayed in the 10-30% range of what I've spent on other components.  I can't see spending $1k for a cable on a $1k component for example.  I have spent $1,500 for speaker cables for a $6k amp.  That seems nearer the high end of my range but it still fits. 

I realized I haven't planned this as a hard rule, but that's kind of how this has worked out for me over time.  Anyone out there think a much higher percentage is justified?  I won't argue because these improvements are worth all the enjoyment you can get, so more power to you.

jsm71
dfwhip
6 posts
 
sdj888 - thank you, glad my comments resonated with you. 

Secondhand equipment is indeed a great option to consider when building a system. Besides being very cost effective, it also helps keep the high-end audio industry going because it helps fund another person's upgrades. My system is a mix of new and used. 
jsm71 OP
141 posts
 
The basic premise of these being “investments” is wrong.   these are all expenses, not invest,ents

I disagree.  Per Wikipedia:  In general, to invest is to allocate money (or sometimes another resource, such as time) in the expectation of some benefit in the future. 

The expected benefit for a financial investment is money.  The expected benefit for an audio investment is improved sound.  I invest both money and time toward getting better sound.

kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,394 posts
 
I like this logic.  I invest in booze - my future benefit is to feel good.
wolf_garcia
6,602 posts
 
I think you can't mention the used cable scene enough…I doubt I would have bought a solid silver Audioquest sp/dif cable for my DAC at full price, but found one (years ago now) for cheap on Ebay. Same with a lot of other cables I own bought at 50% or more off the list price, and all in pristine condition. 
tomaswv
206 posts
 
My cables total about 30% of total system cost. Almost everything used or demo, so I don’t hunk it’s a fair comparison 30% seems like a lot but I follow my ears. They told me to buy  Nordost power cables after having bought Nordost ICs (Frey 1 and Heimdall 2) all round and speaker cables (they are acoustic zen holograms).  As long as I hear the difference and they fit within my mid-fi construct,  I’m there. So a $300 Nordost Vishnu and a $400 Frey IC and a $300 Heimdall 2 digital all connected to my $600 Marantz SA8004 CD player seems perfectly natural.   Yes, it’s a disease. 
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