[Deftone]

Just want to know how much do you guys really spend on cables relative to your system? 10% or more.

[Laundrew]

Greetings Deftone 

As a rough estimate, most likely not over the 5% mark for 2 pair of balanced cables and 1 pair of speaker cables.

Be well...

[Elizabeth]

For my two channel system, the wire cost is almost exactly 10% of my actual cost (some used etc) of components.
This includes interconnects and power cables
But excludes powerline conditioning, which is an additional 10%, but the powerline conditioner is shared with the video stuff, so I give 5% to the two channel.
I don't go for the idea of spending a lot on cables. My theory is if I was gonna spend a bunch on the stereo, it would be better to spend it on the electronics before spending it on wires.
Added:one thing is i needed a long pre to amp cable so I bought a Kimber hero that alone cost $750. for 7 meters

[BrysTony]

Rough estimate is 5 %.

[Deftone]

Rough estimate is 5 %.

Will that be new or used cables?So I suppose it should'nt be more then 10% of the total cost of your system.

[nikon]

5 to 10 per cent maximum ...

BDP-1 @ 2100   Bryston digital cable @ 100

BDA-1 @ 2100   Bryston XLR cables @ 200

I would not consider cables other than Bryston for Bryston components or spending additional amounts for same ...

[Napalm]

Good question. May I ask if the real purpose was to have Werd unveil his Pear cables?

http://m.gizmodo.com/302478/7250-speaker-cables-turn-you-into-a-dancin-fool

Nap. 

[werd]

You should spend at least %500 on cables compared to the entire cost of your other gear.

So a Bryston rig worth 20k cables should come in at $100k....thats a ttl $120k.

Seriousily though find the ones you like and insert.... A whole system should be around $ 2500
on average on 20k system. That is if your honest and you don't look at price but just how they tweak your system. This is  probably what it will end up costing, in that ball park.

[BrysTony]

Will that be new or used cables?So I suppose it should'nt be more then 10% of the total cost of your system.

When I said 5% I did not mean that as a "should cost".  It is the cost in my current system.  I am using all Bryston cables except for one cable from my CD to BDA-1.  I think these cables are an excellent value and it keeps the cable % on the low side in my system.
Tony

[Robert D]

Around $2600.00 Here more or less

Robert

[PRELUDE]

What you pay for cables are mark up and brand names I own and owned a lot of stuff and usually %20 brands and %80 DIY. so if I realy need somthing I just buy a cheap ones form any where and when the project is over and the final location for all stuff is decided,I buy the good quality wire and connectors and make them myself.
Just like this

[djmckaytx]

I understand your thought process, assuming the end user has the basic expertise to do the job.  But for those who don't or who don't have the time, I would say 10 to 15% maximum would be about right.

I'll give my recommendation here...so backspace now if you don't care.   

I've been throwing money at this hobby for over 25 years now.  If a listener decides to buy their cables, I'd recommend they opt to go with someone who has a smaller operation and a passion for the craft (along with a great reputation) rather than a larger shop with a passion for mark-up.  That's how I found Grover Huffman.  His rep and references (including Steve Hoffman) are top notch.  Even though it was all on reputation, I took a chance starting with interconnects and digital cables, then speaker cables...and I've never looked back. 

All of my cables (except for USB, HDMI, and power cables) now come from Grover.  I've auditioned cables in my system that cost many times as much and heard a LOT less.

People will tell you that wires are wires, electrons are electrons, and cables make little if any difference.  Well...if it tells you anything, I find myself wandering down to my basement to listen to music more now than I have anytime in the last 10 years.  I attribute that to what I'm able to hear now as much as anything else.

BUT...if you're happy with what you have, then don't change a thing.  I've been a musician for more than 35 years and knew that there was more to hear that I wasn't getting from my system.  His cables have helped me get it out.  I don't have to buy cables or equipment any more...I'm there.

(edited 2011-03-04 for bad grammar)

[skunark]

There's only two large cable dealers right?   

I do stay away from large and small manufactures that describe their digital cables in the same fashion as their analog cables.   I also get annoyed if the manufacture describes the sound improvements in the same fashion a rude teenager describes flatulence.

For an analog interconnect, I will average the value of the components between what I would consider the best source to the speakers, also considering future purchases and not go over 20% per cable. 

For digital cables, I will purchase based on quality of the cable but normally less than 10%

Speaker cables I've paid as high as 25%, but try to keep to my rule-of-thumb for interconnects.     

If money grew on trees, then I would probably just buy the band.

[Phil A]

It's actually hard for me to gauge since I make many of my own.  I do have a WyWires balanced interconnect (between the amp and preamp) which I liked a bit better than my own and I've compared my own to really silly expensive stuff.  I'm on the WyWires tour and looking forward to try more and I realize I could also be spending more.  Even making your own is not cheap.  I have not made some of things I've made in the past as to buy the raw wire I need is no longer available in smaller quantities and it probably means forking over $3.5k.  Yes, I can make the equivent of around 200+ pairs of RCA cables (plus the cost of connectors which are not cheap) and it probably ends up to a per pair cost of around $60 for a pair but it is a steep price if you just make a few.  Below is a pic of a balanced cable I made:

[PierreB]

All my cables come from Bis Audio and it represent about 20% of the total system cost.

[Napalm]

You should spend at least %500 on cables compared to the entire cost of your other gear.

[JBLMVBC]

Mostly Bryston balanced interconnects, just as many professional studio would do.
Large gauge for speaker cables since anyway speakers distance to amps is small.
I was having a laugh the other day exploring some hyper uber-high end website and their cables transmitting information at a percentage of speed light. Of course it started with their best speaker cable, something like 99% of light speed. Then the interconnect went down to 80%  etc... hence in the end it will always be the lower one that will limit the system, provided this would be an audible limit in most conditions.
Then of course, you'd better expect that from recording to studio mixing, editing and post production they all kept the same cables or sheesh, the quality MUST be degraded... LOL And I am not even talking about connections within your electronics...
Better spend money on exceptional pro drivers than wasting it on these marketing claptrap.

Just want to know how much do you guys really spend on cables relative to your system? 10% or more.

[djmckaytx]

If money grew on trees, then I would probably just buy the band.

Depends on how big the tree is...   

[95Dyna]

2 pair of balanced IC's, 1 pair of SC's, 1 tonearm.  Haven't upgraded the phono pre IC's so at this point around 12% and counting.

[skunark]

Depends on how big the tree is...   

Just need a little Miracle Gro